Climate Change, Ride or Die

Ride or Die for Climate Change?

Climate Change, is it real? Where are the facts? This is the question many ask on a daily basis. These questions may come from political views, business owners, students, or self-interested individuals.

Politics vs Science

Science

On 11/23/2018, The US issued the Fourth National Climate Assessment(LINK). The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) served as the administrative lead agency for the preparation of this report. A Federal Steering Committee, composed of representatives from USGCRP agencies, oversaw the report’s development. Authors used well-established and carefully evaluated observational and modeling datasets, and technical input reports.

The reports overall theme provided an urgency of Earth’s climate is now changing faster than at any point in the history of modern civilization, primarily as a result of human activities. The impacts of global climate change are already being felt in the United States and are projected to intensify in the future—but the severity of future impacts will depend largely on actions taken to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and to adapt to the changes that will occur.

Politics

The US National Climate Assessment report is an example how a national report is being rejected politically by the governing party, the Trump administration. The Trump administration (LINK) and the republican party historically have looked at climate change as a political view versus a science based one. It leaves many scientists with their hands tied behind their back.

Why does the Trump administration or republican party gain in refusing to back climate change? These are a few reasons:

1. Trump administrations unveils plan to relax car pollution rules;

2. Trump administration eliminates burdensome government regulations on coal burning power plants;

3. Trump administration vows to pull out of the Paris Agreement;

What are the facts?

Climate Change gases

Over the last 100 years, human activities – particularly the burning of fossil fuels – have released sufficient quantities of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases to affect the global climate. The atmospheric concentration of carbon dioxide has increased by more than 30% since pre-industrial times, trapping more heat in the lower atmosphere.

Highest Polluters

Most emissions come from a relatively small number of countries. The seven largest emitters—the United States, the European Union (EU), China, Russia, Japan, India and Canada. An effective strategy to avert dangerous climate change requires commitments and action by all the world’s major economies.

Rising Sea Level

Rising sea levels – another outcome of global warming – increase the risk of coastal flooding, and could cause population displacement. More than half of the world's population now lives within 60 kilometres of shorelines. Floods can directly cause injury and death, and increase risks of infection from water and vector-borne diseases. Population displacement could increase tensions and potentially the risks of conflict.

Ocean Floor

Humans have burned fossil fuels, more and more carbon has ended up in the ocean. In fact, according to NASA, about 48 percent of the excess carbon humans have pumped into the atmosphere has been locked away in the oceans. All that carbon means more acidic oceans, which means faster dissolution of calcium carbonate on the seafloor.

Longer Heat Waves

We can expect more frequent and longer heat waves, and drier summers. Smog forms faster in warmer weather, creating a health hazard for all of us, especially infants, children and the elderly.