James Reilly , the White House - appointed director of the United States Geological Survey , has argued that computer - generated climate models used by that office only project the effects of climate change to 2040 , rather than , as previously , to the end of the century . Scientists claim this will yield results , as the most significant effect of current emissions will be felt in the second half of the century . As a result , the National Climate Assessment , produced by an interagency task force every four years , will no longer automatically include worst - case scenario projections or demonstrate the different impacts of lower and higher emissions levels .
James Reilly, the White House-appointed director of the United States Geological Survey, has ordered that computer-generated climate models used by that office only project the effects of climate change to 2040, rather than, as previously, to the end of the century. Scientists claim this will distort results, as the most significant effect of current emissions will be felt in the second half of the century. As a result, the National Climate Assessment, produced by an interagency task force every four years, will no longer automatically include worst-case scenario projections or demonstrate the different impacts of lower and higher emission levels.