Climate Change

“We’re Just Leaving the Ice Age, Man. Pass Me the Joint.”

Regardless of whether or not you believe mankind is responsible, Global Warming is an observed fact of our world. The implications of Global Warming are numerous, and will increasingly effect our lives in the years to come. Indeed, nearly every member of the scientific community is in agreement with this fact.

I am of the belief that science has adequately shown a connection between human activity and climate change, at both regional and global levels. While “green living” may not stop the effects of the current unstable global climate system, I believe it is prudent to pursue such a way of life.

United Nations IPCC Consensus 2007

If you don’t believe me, you should read the Climate Change 2007: Fourth Assessment, a document completed by the United Nations International Panel on Climate Change.

“This report makes it clear, more convincingly than ever before, that human actions are writ large on the changes we are seeing, and will see, to our climate. The IPCC strongly emphasises that substantial climate change is inevitable, and we will have to adapt to this. This should compel all of us - world leaders, businesses and individuals - towards action rather than the paralysis of fear. We need both to reduce our emissions of greenhouse gases and to prepare for the impacts of climate change. Those who would claim otherwise can no longer use science as a basis for their argument.”

- Lord Rees, president of the Royal Society, as published by the BBC

Relevant Background

Below are a few links you might find interesting if you are unfamiliar with the extent and impact of global climate change, or if you desire to see some
of the resources I find most relevant.

Effects on the Northeast

In recent years, mean winter temperatures have been up by nearly 4 degreed Fahrenheit. The Northeast appears to be one of the regions being hit hardest by Climate Change.

Indicators in Europe

What You Should Do About It

  • Don’t own or operate a car. You don’t need one; get a bike.
  • Be a smart consumer. Resist the urge to buy marketed and frivolous products.
  • Support local agriculture. When you buy food from far away, you waste resources to have it transported to your supermarket.
  • Vote third-party. Neither democrats nor the Grand Old Party care much about the environment because there isn’t a significant lobby for it. And hey, there are a thousand other reasons to do this anyway.
  • Study Something Useful. This is not a time to get C’s in Theatre at Farmton State College. Our generation needs competent and capable leaders to solve the complicated issues of global climate change.

Really, all of the above are good ideas regardless of Climate Change. So if for whatever reason you fail to see the implications of this issue, maybe just think about taking those actions, regardless.