Climate Change
Have you heard the quote that 97% of scientists believe in climate change?
Well, it's not true.
Most people get this statistic from a particular 2013 paper, but we must understand precisely what this paper is saying.
1. It's not about scientists believing in climate change. It's about scientists believing that HUMANS are primarily responsible.
2. This information is outdated. It uses data as old as 1990.
So, that begs the question, what does the more up-to-date data have to say?
The real answer is more like 99.99%. Powell 2013 looked at papers from over 9,000 different authors and found ONE; one guy who didn't think humans were causing climate change. That's it.
Want to hear an even more current statistic? Powell 2019 looked at 11,602 different articles and found that NOT A SINGLE DISSENTER existed.
That's right. Every single author agrees that humans are causing climate change. Do you understand how hard it is to get 11,000 people to agree on anything? That stat is insane.
STUDY NAME: Scientists Reach 100% Consensus on Anthropogenic Global Warming
James Powell
https://doi.org/10.1177/0270467619886266
Thank you, Roy Bualuan (@human.1011 on Tik Tok) for that information.
So what is Climate Change?
Climate change is both global warming and the large-scale shifts the world is experiencing in weather patterns. Unlike any other disasters we provide information on, climate change isn't a single thing that you can protect against. Rather, it makes many of the other things we talk about much worse.
If you are a climate change skeptic or don't believe it's happening at all, we're not going to try and change your mind. We're sharing the facts, as climate scientists worldwide have documented them, so you can prepare for what's coming. There is a description of what climate change is, how it's happening, and its effects on environments around the world. Use this information to see where you're at risk. Then take steps to protect your home, family, friends, job or business.
Video: Don't Choose Extinction
The Financial Toll of Climate Change
It's been challenging to put a finger on how much climate change has affected things until some recent studies.
Hurricane Sandy in 2012 caused damages in the area of about $60 billion. It hit at the perfect time and place to maximize the devastating effects of a storm surge. But to claim climate change caused any of that damage was difficult to pin down.
What researchers did was calculate how much sea level had increased due to global warming. They documented a clear increase of 8.9 centimeters. Then they calculated what damages WOULD have occurred if the sea levels were 8.9 centimeters lower when the storm hit.
It took a giant computer and a massive amount of calculations. In the end, they discovered that about 13% of hurricane Sandy damage wouldn't have happened if the sea levels hadn't risen. That's approximately $8.1 billion in damages that can be considered a direct result of climate change. That was in 2012, and the oceans are still rising.
You can see the study here: Economic damages from Hurricane Sandy attributable to sea level rise caused by anthropogenic climate change https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-021-22838-1
In another study, researchers looked at heat deaths in 732 cities around the world from 1991 to 2018. Those researchers calculated more than one-third, or 9,700 people a year died, just in the cities they studied because of human-caused climate change. Meanwhile, almost every year is hotter than the last.
You can see an abstract of the study here: The burden of heat-related mortality attributable to recent human-induced climate change
https://www.nature.com/articles/s41558-021-01058-x
Tipping Points
Climate Change and Extreme Weather Events
The World Meteorological Organization released a report that from 1970 to 2019, natural disasters have increased five-fold due to climate change and the increase in extreme weather events. You can download the report here: The Atlas of Mortality and Economic Losses from Weather, Climate and Water Extremes (1970–2019)
The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change
The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) is the United Nations body for assessing the science related to climate change. They have stated: "Human influence on the climate system is clear, and recent anthropogenic emissions of greenhouse gases are the highest in history. Recent climate changes have had widespread impacts on human and natural systems."
The most current IPCC report was released in March of 2023. There have been hundreds of studies verifying the results of the IPCC reports over the years. You can download the 2023 report at the link below. Please read the report in full (it's only 186 pages including the index) before making any comments on anything related to climate change.
IPCC Climate Change 2023 Synthesis Report
Climate Change 2022: Impacts, Adaptation and Vulnerability
The Working Group II contribution to the IPCC Sixth Assessment Report assesses the impacts of climate change, looking at ecosystems, biodiversity, and human communities at global and regional levels. It also reviews vulnerabilities and the capacities and limits of the natural world and human societies to adapt to climate change.
IPCC Sixth Assessment Report - Impacts, Adaptation and Vulnerability
The Greenhouse Effect
Greenhouse Gas Emissions
Land Degradation
Sea level Rise
Look at how sea level rise will affect your community. Interactive projections for global, regional and local sea level rise scenarios from 2020 to 2150.
https://sealevel.nasa.gov/task-force-scenario-tool
The sea level scenarios and information contained in this tool originate from a 2022 technical report produced by the Sea Level Rise and Coastal Flood Hazard Scenarios and Tools Interagency Task Force. This report provides the most up-to-date sea level rise scenarios, available for all U.S. states and territories, out to the year 2150. It is the latest product from the Task Force, which includes the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, the National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration, Environmental Protection Agency, U.S. Geological Survey, and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, along with partners in academia. The information in the report and this tool is intended to inform coastal communities and others about current and future sea level rise to help contextualize its effects for decision making purposes.
The Effects of Climate Change on Plants and Animals
Nature is declining globally at rates unprecedented in human history — and the rate of species extinctions is accelerating, with grave impacts on people around the world now likely, warns a landmark new report from the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES), the summary of which was approved at the 7th session of the IPBES Plenary, meeting last week (29 April – 4 May) in Paris.
“The overwhelming evidence of the IPBES Global Assessment, from a wide range of different fields of knowledge, presents an ominous picture,” said IPBES Chair, Sir Robert Watson. “The health of ecosystems on which we and all other species depend is deteriorating more rapidly than ever. We are eroding the very foundations of our economies, livelihoods, food security, health and quality of life worldwide.”
Click Here to read the report: Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES
Earth's Cryosphere is Shrinking by 33,000 Square Miles Every Year
The cryosphere is all the area with frozen water on earth. Researchers tracked the average coverage of the cryosphere from 1979 through 2016. They discovered that the cryosphere SHRANK by about 87,000 square kilometers (roughly 33,000 square miles) EVERY YEAR.
Sea ice and snow cover are essential because their bright white surfaces tend to be very effective sunlight reflectors. Bounce the sunlight back into space, and the planet stays cooler. But when that melts, you have dark seawater or dark earth that loves to absorb heat, creating a vicious cycle of ever more trapped heat.
This is another one of those landmark studies that show how drastically things are being affected today because of global climate change.
Click Here to read the study: A Holistic Assessment of 1979–2016 Global Cryospheric Extent
Catastrophic Temperature Increases Coming - Despite Promises by World Governments
According to the Paris climate accord, world governments have pledged to limit carbon emissions so that global temperatures won't rise above 1.5 degrees celsius. Unfortunately temperatures have already risen 1.2 degrees celsius above pre-industrial levels and a new report indicates we're on track to hit a potentially catastrophic 2.4 degrees Celsius.
You can read the full report from the Climate Action Tracker, an independent network of scientists that track the commitments governments have made on cutting emissions. Click the link below to read their report.
Climate summit momentum: Paris commitments improved warming estimate to 2.4°C
“Back to normal” puts us back on the path to climate catastrophe
The data is in: The pandemic did nothing to slow climate change.
Click Here to learn the four ways to understand the new "normal" of the climate crisis. https://www.vox.com/22522791/climate-emissions-post-covid
Those reports and studies tell us a few things. First, climate change is real; the data document it happening. Second, it's costing billions of dollars in damages and has been for a while. Third, it's already killing thousands of people a year. It's our job to prepare for what's coming. Videos explaining things in more detail follow.
Climate Change - We are the PROBLEM & the SOLUTION (Animated Infographic)
Climate change is a real and serious issue. In this animated infographic we dive into the science behind human accelerated climate change, how it is affecting our planet, why we need to act on this issue, and how you as an individual can contribute to the solution.
Why Climate Change Denial Still Exists In The U.S.
Despite overwhelming scientific evidence, some American politicians continue to deny that climate change exists, while others question the severity of its impact. But public opinion is shifting, and today even oil and gas companies publicly admit that climate change demands action. So why does climate denialism continue to influence U.S. politics? Here's a look into who is funding the movement, and why denial is mainly a U.S. problem.
The Truth Why Stupid People Think They're Smart
The 1.5˚C Charter
In 2015, 196 heads of state and climate experts agreed in Paris to limit global heating to 1.5˚C, compared to pre-industrial levels. Why? Because exceeding 1.5˚C of warming puts life on earth as we know it at risk. Since then, we’ve heard a lot about how much it will cost to meet this goal, but should we be really talking about the cost of exceeding 1.5˚C?
Scientists from UCL, the University of Exeter and the International Centre for Climate Change and Development (ICCCAD) have the launched the charter to highlight how breaching the 1.5˚C target will cost far more than paying poorer nations to help the global efforts to reach it.
Click Here to learn more about The 1.5˚C Charter: https://www.ucl.ac.uk/climate-change/partnerships/15-degree-charter/15c-charter-cop26-and-beyond
Preparation - Survival
Typically in this section, we provide links to the most reliable sources with checklists of actions you can take. How you can prepare before, survive during and recover after. But with climate change, that's not possible.
To deal with climate change, you need to encourage politicians and corporations to reduce their carbon footprint and stop using fossil fuels. Your vote is essential.
To personally prepare for climate change emergencies, you have to protect yourself from the effects of more dangerous storms. So first, look at how to deal with problems typical in your area like floods, heatwaves, hurricanes, wildfires, etc. Then increase the intensity of what's expected and prepare for new, more extreme scenarios.
WHO WE ARE
An independent organization of leading scientists and journalists researching and reporting the facts about our changing climate and its impact on the public.
WHAT WE DO
Climate Central surveys and conducts scientific research on climate change and informs the public of key findings. Our scientists publish and our journalists report on climate science, energy, sea level rise. Read More
ABOUT OUR EXPERTISE
Members of the Climate Central staff and board are among the most respected leaders in climate science. Staff members are authorities in communicating climate and weather links, sea level rise, climate. Read More
Learn More at Climate Central: https://www.climatecentral.org/
How YOU Can Make A Difference -
JUMP Campaign
“The research is clear that governments and the private sector have the largest role to play but it is also equally clear from our analysis that individuals and communities can make a huge difference.”
The Jump campaign asks people to sign up to take the following six “shifts” for one, three or six months:
- Eat a largely plant-based diet, with healthy portions and no waste
- Buy no more than three new items of clothing per year
- Keep electrical products for at least seven years
- Take no more than one short haul flight every three years and one long haul flight every eight years
- Get rid of personal motor vehicles if you can – and if not keep hold of your existing vehicle for longer
- Make at least one life shift to nudge the system, like moving to a green energy, insulating your home or changing pension supplier
Good luck.
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This information is presented to make people aware of the larger world around them. If you can prepare for something as devastating as this, you're much more likely to be ready for smaller disruptions. Be aware and prepare.
6/9/2020
Updated 2/11/2021
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