Are we close to the "adaptation"stage of Climate Change?


It is important for people to understand that when we look back fifty years from now, that we see clearly that climate change was THE biggest threat to our health, safety, quality of life and economic security. We have passed the point of debate on whether global warming exists and who is causing it. Scan the headlines this year and you will see THOUSANDS of the top scientists in the world sounding the warning that we are nearing the point where we expand our efforts from decreasing CO2 emissions to adapting to the consequences. People who know me as a generally positive, optimistic person may be surprised to hear that I am truly concerned for the future of our children and their children. I’m afraid that the public will throw their hands up in helplessness and hopelessness and say, “Well there’s nothing we can do to stop this train, so we might as well keep business as usual. How bad could it be?” The scientists are telling us that it could be really bad. We owe it to our kids to educate ourselves, develop a “can do” attitude, tell our leaders that this is something we are paying attention to and make this a priority in each of our lives.

Take a look at these two articles from CNN.com and The LA Times.

World faces ‘irreversible’ climate change, researchers warn:

The world is facing an increasing risk of “irreversible” climate shifts because worst-case scenarios warned of two years ago are being realized, an international panel of scientists has warned.

Drought, flooding, storms and mass extinction in the future will have a heavy social cost as well.

Temperatures, sea levels, acid levels in oceans and ice sheets were already moving “beyond the patterns of natural variability within which our society and economy have developed and thrived,” scientists said in a report released Thursday.

The findings came at the end of a three-day conference in Copenhagen, Denmark, where nearly 2,000 researchers gathered to discuss climate change.

The group called on policy-makers to use all tools available to reduce dangerous emissions of greenhouse gases… Read full article here.

The second hits even closer to home:

California panel urges ‘immediate action’ to protect against rising sea levels

Global warming is projected to cause ocean levels to rise 55 inches or more by the end of the century. Report recommends phased abandonment of coastal areas and moving state infrastructure inland.

As California officials see it, global warming is happening so there’s no time to waste in figuring out what to do.

California’s interagency Climate Action Team on Wednesday issued the first of 40 reports on impacts and adaptation, outlining what the state’s residents must do to deal with the floods, erosion and other effects expected from rising sea levels.

Hundreds of thousands of people and billions of dollars of Golden State infrastructure and property would be at risk if ocean levels rose 55 inches by the end of the century, as computer models suggest, according to the report.

The group floated several radical proposals: limit coastal development in areas at risk from sea rise; consider phased abandonment of certain areas; halt federally subsidized insurance for property likely to be inundated; and require coastal structures to be built to adapt to climate change.

“Immediate action is needed,” said Linda Adams, secretary for environmental protection. “It will cost significantly less to combat climate change than it will to maintain a business-as-usual approach.” Read full article here.

March 13, 2009   Posted in: Uncategorized

2 Responses

  1. Anonymous - March 13, 2009

    Good Lord, get a grip. There are as many scientists that refute the global climate change junk-theories as there are those that support it. Go ahead and continue to ignore sun activity and natural cycles if your goal is to be just like Chicken Little.

  2. Lori - March 16, 2009

    Sorry “Anonymous”. The jury is in. I’d much rather bet my kid’s future on the word of the planet’s top scientists than take a chance on those few who deny that climate change exists. I’d be happy to direct you to my sources if you’d like to learn more.

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