Global warming is advancing faster than even the worst predictions of a few years ago, and the pace is likely to pick up sharply, a prominent University of Georgia ecologist said Wednesday. A few years ago, climate scientists were predicting the Arctic Ocean might be ice-free during summer by about 2040. Now, scientists believe the summer Arctic could be open ocean as soon as next year, ecologist Jim Porter told a crowd of more than 100 on the UGA campus. Porter cites the increase in polar methane emissions as an ingredient in the acceleration of global warming, and notes that in European countries, where the leaders are much more open and truthful about the facts behind global warming to the public, the rates of fossil fuel consumption are lower.
The important take home message, though, is that global warming is getting worse everyday, simply because greenhouse gases continue to rise in the atmosphere, trapping more and more heat in the atmosphere, land and oceans of our planet. Trying to adapt to a steadily worsening problem is like trying to adapt to an avalanche as it starts. The solution lies in helping elect green leaders who understand the problem and are brave enough to pass effective clean energy and climate change legislation, even in the face of strong lobbyists threatening to scrap their jobs.
For this legislation to pass, we need:
- 60 green senators in the Congress
- A simply green majority in the House
- A green President
We have a chance for change in 2012, but it’s up to us.
Source:
Global warming movng faster, UGA ecologist says
Posted: 18 Jan 2012 10:08 PM PST
