We all should be worried about climate change

Submitted by Cyndi Barski
Posted 10/8/19

Dear Editor:

The recent editorial by Kevin Killough was of concern to me. He seemed relieved that none of Powell’s students were enlightened, brave or concerned enough to strike against …

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We all should be worried about climate change

Posted

Dear Editor:

The recent editorial by Kevin Killough was of concern to me. He seemed relieved that none of Powell’s students were enlightened, brave or concerned enough to strike against climate change. He went on to say our youth were being unnecessarily made to worry about the future. I’d like to make the point that most adults are not nearly concerned enough! I’m not a scientist, but neither is he.

One of the sources he cites, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, actually says this:

“Warming of the climate system is unequivocal, and since the 1950s, many of the observed changes are unprecedented over decades to millennia. The atmosphere and ocean have warmed, the amounts of snow and ice have diminished, and sea level has risen. ...

“Human influence on the climate system is clear, and recent anthropogenic emissions of greenhouse gases are the highest in history. Recent climate changes have had widespread impacts on human and natural systems”

I’d also like to point out what NASA scientists have said:

“The heat-trapping nature of carbon dioxide and other gases was demonstrated in the mid-19th century. Their ability to affect the transfer of infrared energy through the atmosphere is the scientific basis of many instruments flown by NASA. There is no question that increased levels of greenhouse gases must cause the Earth to warm in response.

“Ice cores drawn from Greenland, Antarctica, and tropical mountain glaciers show that the Earth’s climate responds to changes in greenhouse gas levels. Ancient evidence can also be found in tree rings, ocean sediments, coral reefs, and layers of sedimentary rocks. This ancient, or paleoclimate, evidence reveals that current warming is occurring roughly 10 times faster than the average rate of ice age-recovery warming.”

I have also found that 97 percent — yes, 97 percent — of scientists have come to the consensus that climate change/global warming is being caused by human activities.

So is that cause for concern?

Global climate change has already had observable effects on the environment. Glaciers have shrunk, ice on rivers and lakes is breaking up earlier, plant and animal ranges have shifted and trees are flowering sooner.

Effects that scientists had predicted in the past would result from global climate change are now occurring: loss of sea ice, accelerated sea level rise and longer, more intense heat waves.

There are many more facts to backup the reality that yes, we all should be worried and concerned. Adults and youth need to educate themselves and be willing to fight for the future of the planet. Write letters, call legislators, strike, march, whatever it takes. I’ll be very proud of any students in Powell that decide to take a stand against climate change!

 

Cyndi Barski

Powell

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