Is climate change “Real”? Absolutely! It is real. Carbon dioxide has a proven greenhouse effect on the world’s temperature. Since the beginning of the Industrial Revolution human activities have increased atmospheric concentrations of CO2 by almost half from 280 ppm to over 415 ppm. During that period global temperature has increased by 1.2°C. Sea levels have risen significantly.
Is climate change caused primarily by “Us”? Through our burning of fossil fuels (coal, oil and gas)? Absolutely! It is us. Since the beginning of the Industrial Age we have released over 1.5 billion tons of CO2 into the atmosphere through the burning of fossil fuels.
Is it “Bad”? It is catastrophic. Excessive heat, drought, wildfires, flooding, stronger more frequent hurricanes and storms, increasing human displacement, spread of disease,” and extinctions of entire species are directly linked to climate change.
The “RUB” above is based on a mass of scientific studies and the conclusions derived by thousands of scientists worldwide. That is the existential question facing us today.
“A” is for action. We must see our way though a fog of misinformation and dis-information about climate change. We must take bold and immediate action based on scientific facts. It is not too late. We can act now to substantially reduce carbon emissions, thereby working to restore a more stable, less destructive climate.
“H” is for Hope. Climate change scientists and policy makers provide us with effective and equitable solutions. If we take bold and immediate actions to transition from fossil fuels, we will make a difference. We can slow climate change down. We can mitigate the impact of climate change on our world, especially on those communities that will suffer the most serious consequences.