Climate change is real

You'd think that by 2013, 99.9% of the world would agree that humans have disrupted the balance of the hydrologic, sulfur, nitrogen, phosphorus and carbon cycle. There's too much evidence in our every day lives to ignore it. 

We're not quite there yet. As of Friday, September 27th,  95% of the scientific world agrees that climate change exists. 

On Friday, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) confirmed, with scientific investigations, research, and data to back it up (especially for all the nonbelievers), that "half of the observed increase in global average surface temperatures since the 1950s" is human caused. 

Compare the 95% consensus to the general mindset in 2001; 66% to 95% is a big jump. Several organizations, such as 350.org and The Consensus Project attempt to bring awareness to the masses with simple graphics and campaigns. Their one goal is to educate the public about the degradation of the planet and possible solutions. 

Their reasoning is clear. When the public understands climate change, the causes behind devastating hurricanes and floods stand out. Air pollution and heat waves will be seen as effects of anthropogenic activity. People will begin to realize the impact (financial, environmental, and social) of thermal expansion on ice, glaciers and ice caps melting, and sea levels rising. They'll start reflecting on humanity's actions, think of innovative solutions, and mold the rigid economic systems that restrict much needed actions. 

The 399 parts per million of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere isn't going to disappear over night. Hundreds of factors come into play when making decisions that will mitigate the adverse consequences of climate change. Reaching the truth is definitely one of them. 

Climate change alerts

Floods are devastating the Indian state of Uttarkhand. This is a clear example of climate change. Unstable grounds, mass tourism, and torrential rains during the monsoon season are highlighted as the primary reasons for such a natural disaster. 

I keep thinking back on my time as a facilitator at the GIN conference for the Natural Disaster Prevention and Mitigation team when I read news reports claiming that the Indian government did not warn the local people about the possibility of floods. 

While June to September is usually the monsoon season in India, the heavy rain coupled with frequent landslides has culminated in losses of life and disaster. 

Prayers going out to Uttarkhand. 

The ultimate conclusion: We need to fight climate change.