We revisit some good news and some outreach.
The summary findings of the 4th National Climate Assessment.
Rising CO2, the Science of Climate Change
and the urgent need for ACTION!
By Alan Anderson – 2019
Summary:
- Burning coal, oil and natural gas, adds carbon dioxide (CO 2 ) to the atmosphere.
- Humankind is still burning fossil fuels at an increasing rate each year
- Due to the slowness of the carbon cycle, CO 2 is increasing in the atmosphere, up 46{b5761be34e80a16b6d0e4dabc1869c131a263f96a745c82bebdd3b8a4330bfa9} since the
1800s, increasing from 280 ppm to 410 ppm today - As a powerful greenhouse gas, increasing CO 2 prevents additional long wave radiation (heat) from
escaping back into space, thus warming the atmosphere and the oceans - On the current trend line of increasing CO 2 , global air and ocean temperatures will slowly rise,
changing the climate as we know it, disrupting food production and raising sea levels toward
coastal flooding. Impacts will be irreversible! Global average temperatures are rising. 17 of
the 18 hottest years on record have been in the last 18 years. 2016 was the hottest & 2017
the hottest non-El Nino year on record. - Decreasing atmospheric CO2 is the PRIMARY solution. In this effort:
“All that is necessary to ensure the ruin of our children’s planet, is for good
people to do nothing!” But there are plenty of reasons for hope . . . IF WE ACT!
Here are some actions for now!
Will you take action? (for your kids’, grandkids’ & all future generations’ sake!):
A starter checklist …
__ 1. Write & call your state & national Representatives & Senators, asking them to support energy
conservation, renewable energy and efforts to reduce CO2 emissions (especially the “revenue-
neutral carbon fee & dividend” right now before congress as the Energy Innovation and
Carbon Dividend Act of 2019. Put “Call my reps on Climate” + their phone #s, into your phone
calendar and click “repeat monthly”! When reminded, just call and say “I want you to give
leadership on climate action – like supporting the Energy Innovation and Carbon Dividend
Act of 2019 (which has bi-partisan support!)”
__2. Join organizations working on reducing CO 2 like www.citizensclimatelobby.org
It costs nothing to join and this adds your name & voice to their lobbying & education efforts.
__ 3. Become well educated on the issue, based on science, not pundits or fossil fuel
companies’ PR. See www.ncdc.noaa.gov/indicators & click “Warming Climate”.
Read “Merchants of Doubt” by Oreskes. Subscribe to www.dailyclimate.org (free)
__ 4. Work to understand and reduce your own “carbon footprint” (your family’s
CO 2 emissions). Google “Reducing carbon footprint” for ideas & methods.
__ 5. Courteously challenge climate change skeptics, with info. from www.skepticalscience.com Get
their free smart phone app, to look up challenges and the science based answers on the spot.
__ 6. Help spread climate science. Get Alan or Bruce another speaking opportunity (club, church, work,
school, family, skeptics). If you know a group that would like this talk, have them contact me:
Alan Anderson, Ph. 507-301-4673, Email: luckyduck49@gmail.com No cost to the group.