FROLITICKS

A climate report based on work conducted by scientists in 13 U.S. federal agencies, known as the Climate Science Special Report, finds it is “extremely likely” that more than half of the rise in temperatures over the past four decades has been caused by human activity.  Moreover, the same scientists have warned that President Trump’s decision to withdraw the U.S. from the 2015 Paris Climate Agreement could make it difficult, if not impossible, for the world to stay on track to reach an internationally agreed-upon goal for limiting dangerous global warming.  The U.S. is now the only country which is not part of the agreement.

Now, let’s review the facts as presented. The U.S. faces temperature increases of 2.5 degrees Fahrenheit over the next few decades even under significantly reduced future emissions. In addition, the record-setting temperatures of recent years will become relatively common in the near future.  An increase in extreme weather patterns has emerged in recent years, as evidenced by record-breaking hurricanes, droughts, flooding, tornados, snow storms and other weather disasters. Climate change represents the greatest risk to human kind, especially in the most vulnerable communities where people are suffering from poverty, water scarcity, food shortages, inadequate housing or other crises.

Climate change denial and downplaying the impact of greenhouse-gas emissions on the climate is nothing less than stupid and arrogant. The American repeal of domestic actions resulting in halting the decline in U.S. emissions will likely make it more difficult and costly to meet the Paris agreement temperature goal of holding warming well below 2°C, and limiting it to 1.5°C.  Indeed, we may have already reached the point of no return.  Without American involvement and support — representing 40% of the world’s wealth — there is a real danger of other countries pulling out of the agreement.  Climate policy experts note that U.S. emissions cuts were set to make up a major part — more than a fifth — of the reductions envisioned under the Paris accord between now and 2030.

What makes the situation even more crazy is that numerous U.S. states, individual cities and major American corporations have banded together in a move to stabilize U.S. emissions, no matter what the Trump administration does on the federal level. It can only be hoped that the Trump administration comes to its senses and gets off its high horse.  Otherwise, every indication is that the future climate will look even bleaker than it already does.  Everyone is affected, and no one will be spared the consequences.