It took two years and more than fifty scientists. On Wednesday, NYSERDA released a report that shows what the impacts of climate change on New York State will be. Tamara Lindstrom spoke with researchers who say New Yorkers need to be prepared and now is the time to act.

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ITHACA, N.Y. -- It's a growing concern that has scientists calling for action.

"What are the climate risks? What might the impacts be, or the opportunities? And then what's our capacity for really doing something about those vulnerabilities?" said David Wolfe, professor of plant and soil ecology at Cornell University.

More than fifty experts from Columbia, Cornell and CUNY examined the potential impacts a warming planet could have on New York State in a 600 page report by the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority known as ClimAID.

"Over time, as summers grow warmer, the growing season grows longer," said Rebecca Schneider, professor of natural resources at Cornell. "So much so that we'll start having droughts in the summer. We'll have less snowfall, and we'll have rain coming in short, intense rain events. And we're seeing that already."

"Flooding is a major issue," Wolfe said. "So an area like Manhattan and Long Island, they're very threatened by the sea level rise combined with more heavy rainfall events and the threat of maybe more severe storms."

Higher temperatures mean changes in natural forests and animal life.

"The major tree species and forest types that we're familiar with in New York are going to be disappearing with climate change," Wolfe said.

And trouble for agriculture.

"Insects and disease organisms and all kinds of things are going to be moving and shifting their range as the climate changes, primarily moving northward, of course in our area," Wolfe explained.

Despite the predictions of severe weather and the challenges that come with a changing climate, the scientists say at least for New Yorkers, the news isn't all bad.

"We've got a warming trend going on here," Wolfe said. "So what that means is, the good news is that means a longer growing season. Maybe some opportunities to grow some new crops."

"We have tens of thousands of miles of rivers. We have 40 inches of rain each year," Schneider said. "Water is actually the underpinning of our economy for our communities."

The report offers solutions to help New Yorkers cope with the changing environment.

"What we are recommending is more monitoring and linking it to preparedness; both for floods and droughts," Schneider said.

"What it comes down to for agriculture is providing farmers with decision tools to decide when it's time to invest, and then how much to invest," Wolfe said.

Along with a firm message: Now is the time to prepare.