Since the year 2000, the science behind climate change has continued to strengthen. Scientists are now much more certain that:
The climate is rapidly changing
That human activity is the main cause
The effects will intensify this century
More importantly, scientists consider it essential that we act now to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, before major and rapid changes to our climate cause irreparable and irreversible harm to the environment and overwhelm our economy.
How climate change affects us
The phrase “global warming” is a bit of a misnomer. What is really happening is better termed “climate change,” or better yet, “rapid climate destabilization.” Not only is the average temperature going to increase, but the climate will become more variable, with a much greater frequency of extreme weather events. This will be especially true for precipitation, with two paradoxical results: a much greater percent of rainfall is anticipated in intense deluges, while extended and intense droughts will also become more common.
The heat is building up. . .
1998 was the hottest year on record, followed by 2002, 2003, and 2004
The ten hottest years ever documented have all occurred since 1990
According to the most recent United Nations report, absent a concerted mitigation effort, the average global surface temperature in the year 2100 will likely be 2.5 to 10.8 degrees Fahrenheit higher than 1990
The ice is melting. . .
The average arctic winter temperature has already increased by 11 degrees Fahrenheit
The northern polar ice cap has decreased in thickness by 40% and in extent by 6% over the past 40 years. It is expected to completely melt within 50 years
Coastal glaciers in Greenland are undergoing rapid thinning by as much as 3 feet per year. Recent modeling indicates that 50 more years of unabated greenhouse gas buildup will irreversibly commit the Greenland ice cap to melt in its entirety over the next millennium, adding 23 feet to the sea level
Glaciers in Glacier National Park are receding so rapidly that the park is expected to have no glaciers within several decades
Climate change affects key natural resources. . .
Reductions in crop yields are anticipated for many regions, especially in later decades as temperatures rise. Recent studies have shown that for rice, the world’s most significant grain crop, yields fall by 10% for each degree of warming
Water availability is expected to decrease, particularly in the sub-tropics, where 5 billion people are expected to be living in water-stressed areas by the year 2025
The World Health Organization estimates that climate change is already responsible for an estimated 150,000 deaths per year
Nature is also at risk. . .
A study published in Nature concluded that climate change could put 25% of all land animals and plants on a path towards extinction over the next 50 years
With Arctic sea ice melting at a rate of up to 9% per decade, Arctic summers could be ice-free by mid-century and polar bears might be driven to extinction within 100 years
Dramatic emissions reductions are needed. . .
Kyoto is meant to be a first step against global warming
UN projections show that Kyoto will halt rising world temperatures by only 0.2 degrees Fahrenheit, compared to a forecast rise of 2.5-10.8 degrees by 2100
Here is what you can doAs an individual:
Conserve electricity and heating
Drive a fuel-efficient automobile
Purchase energy-efficient appliances
Calculate any remaining contribution to global climate change and purchase offsets through www.CarbonCounter.org
Since the year 2000, the science behind climate change has continued to strengthen. Scientists are now much more certain that:
