How Would Just 2 Degrees of Warming Change the Planet?
Updated: Jan 19, 2018
Right now, the world is about 2.1 degrees F (1.2 degrees C) warmer than it was during pre-industrial times. The 144 countries participating in the 2016 Paris Agreement announced that the world should limit the global increase in this century to 2.7 degrees F (2 degrees C) increase. (livescience.com)
A century is a period of 100 years. We are in the 21st century 2001-2100.
So we have 82 years to turn this around! Basically our lifetimes as millennials. We need to take a stand NOW. Lead by example to teach and empower the generations behind us.
Excerpt from livescience.com:
"Changing the average temperature of an entire planet is a big deal, even if it is just by a few degrees."
- Peter deMenocal, paleo climate scientist at Lamont Doherty Earth Observatory at Columbia University in New York.
More from livescience.com:
Earth’s climate changes over time. The last ice age is evidence of that. But the rapid rate of change and the amount of the greenhouse gas carbon dioxide filling up the atmosphere have scientists concerned. Global warming doesn’t just increase temperatures; it also threatens the food, water, shelter, energy grid, and health of humans.
THE THREATS OF CLIMATE CHANGE:
"Even over the last 8,000 years, we haven’t seen a temperature extreme this rapid and this fast and large.”
FOOD
Climate change affects the ecosystems that provide food and therefore our security as a human race. The ocean for example provides people about 20% of their dietary protein. However, ocean acidification caused by climate change makes it almost impossible for oceanic species including oysters, crabs and corals, to form their protective shells which disrupts the food web. Also the amount of plastic and waste being poured into the ocean is alarming. We are eating that...
Watch this video: Zooey Deschanel , h/t The Farm Project »
SHELTER
As temps warm and glaciers melt the corresponding sea level rise can destroy homes and cities. About 40 percent of the worlds population lives within 62 miles of the coast. Collectively that is the single biggest investment at risk due to climate change as sea levels rise.
Watch this: Chasing Ice | The Award Winning Documentary on Climate Change
on YouTube: Chasing Ice
A glacier has already receded equivalent to the size of Manhattan, NY... It is real and it is high time we wake up and take responsibility for our most certain fate.
People can say oh this isn’t affecting me right now, there is so much confusion and distraction portrayed in the media but these are real scientific facts.
ENERGY
About 7 percent of the United States' electricity generation in 2013 came from hydropower, which accounted for 52 percent of the nation's generated renewable energy that year, according to the Department of Energy. However, reduced snowpack and shifting rainfall patterns may reduce hydropower in the long run, deMenocal said.
"This is now threatening the American West and some European areas as well," he said.
HEALTH
Increases in temperature and changing rain patterns are associated with the spread of vector-borne diseases (which another organism transmits between humans from animals to humans), such as Lyme disease and Malaria.
Even if the vector-borne disease is eradicated locally in a particular region, the weather changes associated with climate change can lead to migrations of these vector borne illnesses to new regions.
Middle East and America West may become inhabitable to humans because of extreme temps. Humidity often increases with heat index. When both are high the human body is unable to evaporate sweat to cool itself.” If you are unable to evaporate (sweat) you can actually die from exposure.
All of theses threats are right around the corner. The Earth is anticipated to exceed the 2.7 degree F (1.5 degrees C) milestone in about 15 years - between 2032 and 2039. The planet is expected to surpass the 3.6 degrees F (2 degrees C) benchmark between 2050 and 2100.
“If we’re on our current emissions scenario, it’s sooner than that. Even over the last 8,000 years, we haven’t seen a temperature extreme this rapid and this fast and large.”
HOW CAN I HELP?
Take action right away. Research ways you can reduce the carbon footprint and make an action plan to follow through or raise awareness in your community.
Here are a few ways you can take action / learn right now!