On Black Friday, Nov. 23, the United States Global Change Research Program released Volume II of the Fourth National Climate Change Assessment. The report was scheduled to be released a month later, and the timing of the release has caused some environmental advocates to question the priorities of the U.S. government.

Key findings covered the impacts and risks on climate change in the United States and its citizens. The study concluded that Societal efforts to respond to climate change have expanded in the last five years, but not at the scale needed to avoid substantial damages to the economy, environment, and human health over the coming decades. Without substantial and sustained global efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and regional initiatives to prepare for anticipated changes, climate change is expected to cause growing losses to American infrastructure and property and impede the rate of economic growth over this century.

SPA students respond with their thoughts below.

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"I think our government should be doing more. I think it’s the government’s job to protect the environment mainly because we all are affected by the effects of climate change, and the government should be making sure that its citizens are protected, and protecting the environment is part of that, " 9th grader Nan Besse said.