Climate Change.. . What Climate Change? J ust over 30 years ago I not expecting the disbelief
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news & articles
was asked to do a ten week when I started talking about course on basic ecology, global warming. basic nature conservation At the time the media (espeand natural history. In my cially in the UK) were predictplanning I decided to in- ing a new ice age and there clude a little environmen- I was in front of everyone tal science as this discipline saying that a crisis was just has a major connection around the corner and that the planet was warming rapwith ecology. For the tenth and final week idly. I felt it would be useful to I remember drawing a graph summarise what had been of the rapid increase in carcovered during the previous bon dioxide levels in the atnine weeks, to deal with any mosphere over the recent outstanding queries and to years (since then the rapid outline difficulties that increase has accelerated). conservation bodies I tried to explain the effect n o click and scientists were of increasing carbon dioxnews st.gr e r o o for m /cretep having. I decided that ide in the atmosphere but http:/ for the ninth week I would it seemed to me that everydeal with a few environ- one believed what they were mental problems – plastic, hearing on TV and reading pollution, usage of limited in the press and were thinkresources, the ozone layer ing that the course had problems and ‘global warm- transformed from reality to science fiction in a few moing’. There was astonishment at ments. mention of plastic and its Very soon after, there were detrimental effect on the European Parliament elecenvironment, especially the tions and the Green party aquatic environment, but gained a lot of votes. Sudthere had been a little media denly the main political parcoverage of the ozone holes ties started to realise that that were appearing so I had there was concern about the little surprise from the course future of the planet and if they did not take heed they members on that subject. There was understanding of would lose votes. the depletion of resources Or perhaps that ought to be but the scale of destruction reworded to “in order to reof rainforests and their biodi- tain votes they realized they versity had not been recog- would have to indicate some nized. I had in a previous week concern for the environexplained about over-fishing ment”. Politicians suddenand problems affecting our ly became ‘experts’ on the seas and oceans but I was Greenhouse Effect and Global Warming.
Since then the term ‘Global Warming’ has evolved into ‘Climate Change’. The new name covers the differing effects on regions due to the warming of the planet, as some may not experience increased temperatures. The new term also indicates that the climate is changing and that new extremes (rain, wind, temperature, snow etc) and new records are being recorded regularly throughout; and more often. Independent environmental and meteorological scientists are in no doubt that the planet has serious problems that need addressing and that urgent remedies were required some years ago. Many scientists employed directly by governments or industry deny the problem or water down the facts because necessary remedial actions would cost the governments votes (due to the unpopular measures) or affect industries financially. It has taken a long time to get to a situation of some accord between nations that necessary actions are required and to obtain some agreements about how to start dealing with this serious problem. But now, the person, that some call the ‘most powerful’ on the planet, thinks this ‘Climate Change’ problem is a hoax! In case you are not certain about who that ‘person’ is this event from June should help you identify him: Tang-
ier Island, Virginia, is one of the most isolated and extraordinary places in the continental US and sits just over 1 metre or so above sea level. A 2015 report suggests that little of it will be left in 50 years because of rising sea levels and accompanying erosion. President Donald Trump, however, disagrees. The Daily Times of Salisbury, Maryland, reports that after Trump saw a CNN report about Tangier Island, the president called Mayor Eskridge to tell him he should not worry about a rise in sea levels. “He said, ‘Your island has been there for hundreds of years, and I believe your island will be there for hundreds more’” Eskridge told The Daily Times. Records indicate that in the mid-1800s, Tangier Island encompassed about 2,060 acres. It was home to watermelon farms, grazing cows, and a variety of plant life. But since then over two thirds of Tangier’s landmass has disappeared underwater. Perhaps, this ‘powerful person’ should give an explanation of his thinking to the relatives and friends of the many who have died in Portugal and Bangladesh, for example, in June as a result of extreme weather conditions and also let the rest of the world know what he says. David Capon