Leadership Center for Attorney General Studies

There is an urgent need to fight the causes—and address the consequences—of climate change.

The crisis facing our climate is an existential threat. Carbon dioxide levels in the atmosphere are the highest they have been in 800,000 years. The increase in carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases causes the earth to warm. As the global temperature rises, people face extreme weather events like wildfires, drought, and hurricanes. Plant and animal species become endangered. The warming oceans and rising sea levels threaten shorelines. Climate change threatens our health and our economy.

Attorneys general protect the environment, prosecute illegal polluters, and hold the federal government accountable for enforcing environmental laws and standards. Together, they are working to mitigate the effects of climate change and help states reduce their carbon footprint.