National & World Ag News Headlines North Dakota Scientists Form Advisory Panel USAgNet - 12/09/2009 More than twenty North Dakota Scientists from seven North Dakota colleges and universities are the inaugural members of the North Dakota Climate Solutions Partnership (NDCSP) Scientific Advisory Group. "The NDCSP Scientific Advisory Group will provide a forum for communication among those in the North Dakota scientific community on many important issues and the Advisory Group will be able to work together to develop and disperse information on their collective beliefs ," said Mindi Grieve, ELPC Government Relations Specialist, and NDCSP member. The scientists agreed to a Statement of Principles describing their common beliefs about the Earth's climate. "We believe that the Earth's climate is warming and that there is strong scientific consensus that human activity is a significant factor. Scientific consensus on climate change has been affirmed by international scientific bodies and polls of scientists' opinions," said Dr. Andrei Kirilenko, Associate Professor, Earth System Science & Policy, University of North Dakota. The scientists agree that action should be taken to prepare for the impacts of climate change. "Taking action to prepare for climate change impacts can be incorporated into current decision-making and planning strategies," said Dr. John Brauner, Jamestown College. "By combining mitigation efforts and adaptation strategies we can find win-win scenarios that allow us to take advantage of low-carbon opportunities in business, farming, ranching, energy development and other areas." "The voice of North Dakota's scientific community is very important, especially relating to climate and environmental issues," said Mindi Grieve, ELPC Government Relations Specialist, and NDCSP member. To view a complete list of the NDCSP Scientific Advisory Group members and the Statement of Principles, please log on to www.ndclimatesolutions.org. Copyright © 2010 - USAgNet.com. All Rights Reserved.