Twelve and a half years ago a poll for Reuters News Service reported (May 2, 2012) that “nearly 15 percent of people worldwide believe the world will end during their lifetime”. “Whether they think it will come to an end through the hands of God, or a natural disaster or political events, whatever the reason, one in seven thinks the end of the world is coming,” said Keren Gottfried, research manager at Ipsos Global Public Affairs which conducted the poll for Reuters.
Locally, Arizona is having an endless summer with especially high temperatures. On September 2, 2024 Phoenix hit its 100th straight day with at least 100 degree temperatures. Summer 2024 was Earth’s hottest on record.
Globally, nearly three quarters of the world’s population can expect strong and rapid changes in extreme temperatures and rainfall in the next 20 years; unless greenhouse gas emissions are cut dramatically, according to a new study by scientists from the Center for International Climate Research.
A study, published in the journal Nature Communications by an international team of climate scientists and permafrost experts shows that, global warming will accelerate permafrost thawing and as a result lead to an abrupt intensification of wildfires in the Subarctic and Arctic regions of northern Canada and Siberia.
A 2024 Pew poll on Americans’ top concerns, the economy landed at #1 while protecting the environment came in 14th and dealing with climate change came in 18th. A survey, conducted by Ipsos found that one in two Americans said they are not very or not at all exposed to environmental and climate change risks.
Those perceptions contrast sharply with empirical evidence showing that climate change is having an impact in nearly every corner of the United States. A warming planet has intensified hurricanes battering coasts, droughts striking middle American farms, and wildfires threatening homes and air quality across the country.
And we have learned that about one billion people face crippling heat from a 2C rise in global temperatures, according to the UK’s Met Office predictions. And data from the Lancet Countdown report says heat-related deaths among people over 65 years old reached a record high in 2019 – with about 345,000 deaths.
It is true that human society world wide has changed more rapidly, violently and fundamentally in the last 200 years than in any other period.
Doctors saved the lives of millions. Dictators sacrificed the lives of millions. Populations are exploding in Africa and........