Global Warming - Climate
Change
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they are out of date.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
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