The earth's climate is changing. Some people deny that the change is happening, but using my experience and background in science and engineering, I have concluded that the change is happening.

I have read many of the professional, peer-reviewed scientific articles on the subject, and conclude that the evidence strongly suggests that climate is changing, and the overall trend is a very significant warming of the oceans and air around the planet at an accelerating rate. Our environment is warming at a rapid rate, fast enough to have an effect within my lifetime.

I have also read many of the articles that suggest that the primary cause of the warming trend is anthropromorphic, that is, it is a result of human activity. In particular, the scentific evidence indicates the warming is caused by the rapid increase of "green-house" gases (CO2, Methane, and others) in the earth's atmosphere, and that increase is directly attributable to our civilization's use of the carboniferous fossil remains of past epochs. We are using coal, petroleum, and gas at a prodigous rate, and adding more and more green-house gases to the atmosphere in the process.

Not only have I concluded that the climate is warming, but I have also concluded that the use of fossil fuels by the human race is the primary driver for that increase. This is my personal opinion. Others may disagree, but what I say below is based on my opinion, not theirs.

Climate change matters. Our civilization and society are based upon a set of assumptions about what the world will be in the future, and global warming is tipping that world to a far different place from where it is today.

The IPCC of 2007 made some projections, but already they are out of date. Some of the most significant expectations are:

• Sea-levels will rise by as much as 0.5m by 2050
• Hurricanes will be stronger and more frequent
• Drought will grip many lands, like our SouthWest, China, India
• Hotter temperatures will make some areas unlivable, like sub-Sahara

These changes in environment will affect humanity in significant ways

• Cities and nations will be flooded
• Food supplies will dwindle, and mass-starvation could become common
• Mass migrations could strain borders, and war could start

There are two questions to be answered:

• Is there anything that can be done to prevent or mitigate the climate changes taking place?
• What should we do to prepare for those changes that will happen?
  

What to do to prevent/mitigate climate change






How to prepare for changes that will happen