2010 Diary week 27
Global warming, climate change and weather extremes
Book Review
Part III of the review of Hell and High Water: Global Warming – the Solution and the Politics – and What We Should Do by Joseph J. Romm will be posted in the next few days. These are some snippets: “Most of the media do not get global warming – yet. One publication, however, has consistently delivered timely and powerful stories on global warming, – Time magazine.” “In April 2006, Time published a powerful special report on global warming with a warning on the cover in huge letters, “BE WORRIED. BE VERY WORRIED.
Climate change isn’t some vague future problem – it’s already damaging the planet at an alarming pace.” “Global warming will change American life forever and end politics as we know it, probably within your life time. In the best case, we immediately start changing how we use energy in order to preserve the health and well-being – the security – of the next 50 generations.” “In the 2030s, record-breaking heat waves and searing droughts will be the norm. Relentless super-hurricane seasons, coupled with the reality of accelerating sea-levels rise, will change the landscape of the Gulf Coast and the eastern seaboard.” “Everyone will realize that the world has but one great task – stopping Greenland and the West Antarctic Ice Sheet from melting, avoiding runaway growth in greenhouse gas concentrations.” “I see two possibilities. The first requires that a major climatic event or series of events occur. Second, the public – you – could simply demand change. When people ask me what they should do, I reply, “Get informed, get outraged, and then get political.” “Take steps to reduce your own greenhouse gas emissions, purchasing a hybrid vehicle, buying Energy Star home appliances, buying renewable power, and encouraging your workplace to take action.” “You must become a climate champion, a single-issue voter. You must take whatever action you can. You must use whatever influence you have wherever it would make a difference, even if it is only to educate the people around you.”