Climate Lynx

 "The true test of a first-rate intelligence is the ability to hold two opposed ideas in the mind at the same time and still retain the ability to function."   F. Scott Fitzgerald The United Nations Conference of Parties, COP28, ended in Dubai last week. Was the conference a COP OUT or a fantastic feat? The UN climate conferences aim to find ways to reduce the concentration of greenhouse gases in our atmosphere. By doing this, we can slow and eventually stop the rapid rise in global temperatures. Dubai is one of seven emirates of the United Arab Emirates, UAE. An emirate is simply a little dictatorship nation run by a Sheik. The UAE borders Saudi Arabia and floats on the world's largest oil reserve from which these countries have accumulated unimaginable wealth or "capital." In a world whose economic rule book is titled "Capitalism," the Arab dictators of the UAE and Saudi Arabia are the biggest winners in history. That is, if we judge success ...

What ranks as a catastrophe? My mother, who remained mentally sharp through her 80s, started to slip a bit in her 90s. When the beloved family dog died, she was convinced it was catastrophic and the end of the world was near.  Recently, in a LTE in this newspaper, a gentleman opened his LTE with, "The climate alarmists have been peddling doom and gloom for many years. None of their catastrophic predictions have come true."    Let ’ s look at predictions made by scientists and the science-literate vs what has happened. Scientists have predicted the earth would warm, and it has. It has warmed a little over 1 degree C or a little less than 2 degrees F since the Industrial Revolution. With this warming, the scientists predicted the weather would, while varying from region to region, experience more high heat events. They predicted longer and deeper droughts in drought-prone areas and more heavy rains with floods in wet areas. In other words, scientists have predicted a...

In 2013, I decided it was time to investigate the scientific basis of climate change. This endeavor came with a risk. If true, I then expected myself to muster the courage to do something about it.  The overwhelming scientific consensus then, 97%, confirmed we are the cause of rapid warming. Since then, I have applied myself in various ways and through different groups to raise awareness. I am glad I did because there is joy in righteous action.     Here, David Gelles of the New York Times examines joy in climate action: “There’s no shortage of reasons to be alarmed by climate change these days. This year is almost certain to be the hottest in recorded history. Extreme weather is wreaking havoc around the globe. Fossil fuel production and emissions are still rising, and world leaders are not moving fast enough. But take a moment to imagine: What if we actually succeed in addressing the climate crisis and emerge into a new, more bountiful, more prosperous future?...

The Fifth National Climate Assessment is the US Government’s preeminent report on climate change impacts, risks, and responses. It is a congressionally mandated interagency effort that provides the scientific foundation to support informed decision-making across the United States. The following is the official summary.   Whatever your understanding of climate change, I encourage everyone reading this to take a few minutes and review the entire assessment which can be found at, https://nca2023.globalchange.gov/ Earth’s climate is changing because humans are increasing the concentrations of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere by burning fossil fuels and through other activities. The increase in greenhouse gases is warming the planet and driving other observed climate trends, including increases in the frequency and severity of many types of extreme weather events. Future changes and impacts depend largely on the choices humans make about future greenhouse gas emissions. Human ...