Wiki: Climate change includes both the global warming driven by human emissions of greenhouse gases, and the resulting large-scale shifts in weather patterns. That human activity has caused climate change is not disputed by any scientific body of national or international standing. The largest driver has been the emission of greenhouse gases, of which more than 90% are carbon dioxide (CO2) and methane.
Fossil fuel burning for energy consumption is the main source of these emissions, with additional contributions from agriculture, deforestation, and industrial processes. Because land surfaces heat faster than ocean surfaces, deserts are expanding and heat waves and wildfires are more common. Increasing atmospheric energy and rates of evaporation cause more intense storms and weather extremes which damage infrastructure and agriculture. Rising temperatures are limiting ocean productivity and harming fish stocks in most parts of the globe.
BBC: What does Trump actually believe on climate change? If you judge the president based on his words alone, his views on climate change appear contradictory – and confusing. He has called climate change “mythical”, “nonexistent”, or “an expensive hoax” – but also subsequently described it as a “serious subject” that is “very important to me”.
Perhaps his actions have spoken louder than words. The Trump administration’s actions have widely rolled back on climate change measures. The Climate Deregulation Tracker, run by the Sabin Center for Climate Change Law, has documented more than 130 steps the Trump administration has taken to scale back measures to fight climate change.
What’s real and what’s hype? I’d say that NASA is a pretty reputable source. What do they say? Scientific evidence for warming of the climate system is unequivocal. The current warming trend is of particular significance because most of it is extremely likely (greater than 95% probability) to be the result of human activity since the mid-20th century and proceeding at a rate that is unprecedented over decades to millennia.
The evidence for rapid climate change is compelling:
- Global Temperature Rise
- Warming Ocean
- Shrinking Ice Sheets
- Glacial Retreat
- Decreased Snow Cover
- Sea Level Rise
- Declining Arctic Sea Ice
- Extreme Events
- Ocean Acidification
For more information, NASA offers detailed sections on:
- The Causes of Climate Change
- The Effects of Climate Change
- Scientific Consensus
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Solutions and Resources
VOX: Want to fight climate change effectively? Here’s where to donate your money. These are six of the most high-impact, cost-effective, evidence-based organizations. You may not have heard of them. The six groups here seem to be doing something especially promising in the light of certain criteria: importance, tractability, and neglectedness.
- Coalition for Rainforest Nations Donate
- Clean Air Task Force
- Information Technology and Innovative Foundation
- Rainforest Foundation US
- Sandbag
- Climate Emergency Fund
If you want to have the greatest impact possible per dollar donated to the fight against climate change, please check out the six organizations listed above and give to one or more of them, or to the charity of your choice.
Give. Pray. Post. 