Climate Change is Real and it is Here
People have been warning us for over 125 years!
Issue #365 OpEd July 17, 2023
As we are currently experiencing weeks of constant 100+°F temperatures in the South and the West, and deadly repetitive flooding in the Northeast, some Americans are finally starting to pay attention to climate change, while others are still pretending it doesn't exist.
"Weather" and "Climate Change" are two different things, and not understood by people like Marjorie Taylor Greene who says: "Of course we have climate change because the seasons 'change' four times a year!" Le Sigh.
Weather is what we experience in the atmosphere day to day. It involves changes we see and feel around us: rain, sunshine, wind, humidity, and temperature. Weather can fluctuate wildly from day to day, and even hour to hour, just ask us residents of Michigan!
On the other hand, climate is the long-term pattern of weather in a specific area. When we talk about climate, we're looking at averages and trends over extended periods. Those averages and trends are becoming more and more common.
Climate change isn't just about hotter summers. It also means more extreme and unpredictable weather events, like hurricanes, droughts, and heavy rainfall.
The primary driver of recent climate change is human activity, specifically the release of greenhouse gases like carbon dioxide and methane. These gases trap heat from the sun in our atmosphere, leading to a gradual increase in Earth's average temperature, a phenomenon known as global warming.
The start of the Industrial Revolution in about 1840 is when human activity started to affect our climate worldwide, and soon after, we started to receive warnings about different kinds of climate change, but very few listened.
People and politicians who benefit from the fossil fuel industry and trying to deny climate change are only making things worse.
In 1896, Swedish scientist Svante Arrhenius suggested that changes in atmospheric carbon dioxide levels could substantially alter our planet’s surface temperature through something he called the greenhouse effect.
In 1938, Guy Callendar connected the dots between increasing carbon dioxide in Earth's atmosphere and global warming.
In 1979, President Jimmy Carter installed 32 panels designed to harvest the sun's rays and use them to heat water. His successor, Ronald Reagan had the solar panels removed.
Since then, the U.S. has seen a consistent increase in average temperatures. In fact, almost every year in the 21st century has exceeded the average temperatures of 1971-2000.
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The Biden administration has made climate change a central focus of its policy efforts. Upon taking office, President Biden was quick to rejoin the Paris Agreement, signaling a renewed commitment to global cooperation in combating climate change.
In April 2021, the administration set an ambitious goal to reduce U.S. greenhouse gas emissions by 50-52% from 2005 levels by 2030. This goal was formalized in an updated Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC), a key aspect of the Paris Agreement.
Trump and the Republicans took America out of the Paris Agreement, even going as far as to say, "What does Paris have to do with us?" Le Sigh.
At the heart of Biden's climate plan is the idea that addressing climate change should also involve boosting the economy and creating jobs. The administration believes that investing in clean energy technologies and infrastructure will not only help to mitigate climate change but also stimulate economic growth and job creation.
Last week, the House Republicans advanced their version of the usually bipartisan and non-political NDAA - National Defense Authorization Act, which included amendments to completely erase the executive orders and other initiatives around climate change instituted by President Biden and the House when it was under Democratic control.
Even the wildfires in Quebec are already putting Canada on pace to have its worst wildfire season in recorded history, and the smoke, decreased visibility, and reduced air quality from the wildfires that have been burning for weeks are affecting around 70 million Americans including residents of Chicago, Detroit, New York, St. Louis, and Cleveland.
There are many books now available that deal with climate change, although some are on the right-wing "banned books" list. Here are a few:
"What Is Climate Change" by Gail Herman presents a fact-based, well-researched look at the subject of climate change from various perspectives. It's aimed at making the concept of climate change more accessible and understandable to younger readers.
"Parable of the Sower" by Octavia Butler is a dystopian novel that explores themes of climate change, survival, and resilience. The protagonist, Lauren Olamina, navigates a world thrust into socio-economic and environmental collapse. The narrative delves deep into the critical issue of climate change, illustrating its devastating effects on society.
"The Lorax" by Dr. Seuss is a timeless children's book that masterfully combines whimsical storytelling with an important environmental message. Through the narrative of the Once-ler and the Lorax, Dr. Seuss weaves a cautionary tale about the consequences of unchecked industrialization and the importance of stewardship for our environment.
Climate change is here, and climate change is real. We continue to ignore it at our own peril. We also cannot let conservatives ad the MAGAs force us to ignore what is happening to our environment right now under their guise of "liberty."
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