Climate change set to make America hotter, drier and more disaster-prone
Source: The Guardian
Future generations of Americans can expect to spend 25 days a year sweltering in temperatures above 100F (38C), with climate change on course to turn the country into a hotter, drier, and more disaster-prone place.
The National Climate Assessment, released in draft form on Friday , provided the fullest picture to date of the real-time effects of climate change on US life, and the most likely consequences for the future.
The 1,000-page report, the work of the more than 300 government scientists and outside experts, was unequivocal on the human causes of climate change, and on the links between climate change and extreme weather.
"Climate change is already affecting the American people," the draft report said. "Certain types of weather events have become more frequent and/or intense including heat waves, heavy downpours and in some regions floods and drought. Sea level is rising, oceans are becoming more acidic, and glaciers and Arctic sea ice are melting."
Read more: http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2013/jan/11/climate-change-america-hotter-drier-disaster
Newsjock
(11,733 posts)The paralyzed and dysfunctional governments of the world, especially ours, aren't going to do diddlysquat about this until it's beyond too late, if we're not there already. And any individual efforts are likely to be overshadowed by the bubbas (apologies to all kind-hearted bubbas) who will simply buy bigger Escalades and drive them even faster in rural Texas because FREEDOM.
Kind of puts me in the mood to simply quit my job, sell my stuff, hit the road, and see as much of the world as I can until the money -- or the world -- runs out.
freedom fighter jh
(1,782 posts)It's already here; we can't stop it entirely. And there's more in the pipeline that we can't stop. But we continue to put even more into the pipeline. That we can stop.
The temperature and the sea level will continue to rise; coastal people will move inland as climate refugees; interior areas will become dry and less fertile. But we can cut back on CO2 emissions to keep things from getting even worse decades from now. And we can plan a way to adjust to the new environment. A planned adjustment will leave us in much better shape than an unplanned one.
dipsydoodle
(42,239 posts)Its what you've made so deal with it.
Canoe52
(2,948 posts)In most every interview with climate scientists that I've watched this past year, they were asked if they think it is already too late to do anything. They pause and then respond with "I think it might be". It looks like they really want to say yes but then back it down a notch.
olddad56
(5,732 posts)Mojorabbit
(16,020 posts)I wish we could get a good discussion going on this board but it never seems to happen. If we don't do something about this nothing else matters.
freedom fighter jh
(1,782 posts)In Washington DC on 2/17 there will be a rally to urge President Obama to reject the Keystone XL pipeline, which (if it goes online) will transport Canadian tarsands, a fossil fuel that would become a huge contributor to atmospheric CO2.
You can learn more and sign up at http://act.350.org/signup/presidentsday .