Is Global Warming Happening Faster Than Expected?
Every month, one of our fantastic Climate Change Collective bloggers creates a thoughtful article related to environmental issues and potential solutions.
This month it is the turn of fabulous Molly at Transatlantic Notes to have an in-depth look at a pressing issue – the consequences of temperatures rising more than 1.5 degrees C above pre-industrial levels.
This is a particularly thorough piece which truly explores the complexity of this subject. Molly is well aware of the potential impact of continued global temperature rises but is also mindful of ways we can all help to slow this warming down.
There is still time to make a difference!
Molly says:
‘Immediate and substantial transformative initiatives to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, transition to renewable energy sources, and implement strategies for climate adaptation and resilience cannot be delayed.’
This is the most frustrating part of the discussion around climate change because we seem to always react rather than predict and prepare. It feels as though a lot of politicians and businesses are playing a ‘wait and see’ game rather than accepting the inevitability of rising temperatures.
It seems clear to me that the evidence is already building and doing so at quite a pace. How can governments not be making pollution control and sustainable energy their top priorities?
Why Act Now?
Donald Trump has just signed an executive order to withdraw from The Paris Agreement which suggests that he is not taking climate change seriously. This is particularly weird as California has suffered really badly due to wildfires sweeping through urban areas and desiccating communities. Storms in America have also been more frequent and more powerful. Such storms are costing billions in terms of insurance payouts and repair bills.
Similarly, the new UK government has backed down on its Net Zero targets due to economic needs apparently taking priority. I would argue that climate change is urgent and if we do not deal with it now we are going to see a greater problem, including some (or all) of the following:
- Rising sea levels drowning coastal settlements
- Increased occurrences of deaths caused by air pollution, especially in conurbations like London.
- Reduced crop production due to warmer summers and sodden springs.
- More wildfires across the world causing homelessness and billions of pounds of damage.
- Extensive and long lasting floods which could cut off some villages and towns as well as make large swathes of agricultural land useless.
- More water pollution (already a big issue in the UK).
In A Nutshell
Please take the time to read through Molly’s informative article which provides a lot of insight into the issue of global warming. She examines the potential consequences and suggests realistic ways that we can help to reduce the warming and move towards a more sustainable future.
Are you making changes to your daily life to be more environmentally friendly and reduce pollution?
Trump is such a danger to the climate action movement as he just wants to plunder nature to get more and more money and power for himself and his billionaire allies. It truly is sad, as well as hearing that the UK government has backtracked on a climate promise it made!
Yes Labour have rolled back on what they promised. Very sad.