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Climate change report has dire projections for Midwest

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Rising temperatures in the Midwest are projected to be the largest contributing factor to declines in U.S. agricultural productivity, with extreme heat wilting crops and posing a threat to livestock, according to a sweeping federal report on climate change released Friday.

Midwest farmers will be increasingly challenged by warmer, wetter and more humid conditions from climate change, which also will lead to greater incidence of crop disease and more pests and will diminish the quality of stored grain. During the growing season, temperatures are projected to climb more in the Midwest than in any other region of the U.S., the report says.

Without technological advances in agriculture, the onslaught of high-rainfall events and higher temperatures could reduce the Midwest agricultural economy to levels last seen during the economic downturn for farmers in the 1980s.

Overall, yields from major U.S crops are expected to fall, the reports says. To adapt to the rising temperatures, substantial investments will be required, which will in turn will hurt farmers’ bottom lines.

These are some of the findings of the report released by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. The 1,600-page report — vetted by 13 government agencies and written collectively with the help of 300 scientists — is perhaps the most authoritative and comprehensive statement on the risks of climate change, which has contributed to extreme weather that has cost the U.S. nearly $400 billion since 2015, the authors found.

According to the report, the threat to Midwestern agriculture is just one potential blow to the region.

The report is here.

* ABC…

The report concluded that rising temperatures, rising sea levels, and changes in extreme events are expected to “increasingly disrupt” and “critically damage” infrastructure and labor productivity, affecting import and export prices.

Extreme climate disasters could hinder factory production in both the United States and abroad, resulting in price increases in products and crops. According to the report, American businesses rely so heavily on production and supply chains overseas that there wouldn’t be an industry that goes unaffected.

The Midwest region is expected to be hit the hardest, with higher temperatures, drought and flooding contributing to a decline in soybeans and corn — two of the Midwest’s main commodities, the report said. As a result, the region could potentially produce less than 75 percent of the corn it currently produces, and lose more than 25 percent of its soybean yield.

* Inside Climate News…

Climate change will hit the Corn Belt particularly hard. Under a high-emissions scenario, the Midwest will see greater increases in warm-season temperatures than anywhere else in the country, with the frost-free season projected to increase by an average of 10 days from 2016 to 2045.

A rise in temperatures in the Midwest is “projected to be the largest contributing factor to declines in the productivity of U.S. agriculture,” the report says. Agricultural productivity could drop to 1980s levels by 2050, the report said, essentially wiping out gains made in recent decades from improved technologies.

* CNN…

There will be more mosquito- and tickborne diseases like Zika, dengue and chikungunya. West Nile cases are expected to more than double by 2050 due to increasing temperatures. […]

Energy systems will be taxed, meaning more blackouts and power failures, and the potential loss in some sectors could reach hundreds of billions of dollars per year by the end of the century, the report said.

The number of days over 100 degrees Fahrenheit will multiply; Chicago, where these days are rare, could start to resemble Phoenix or Las Vegas, with up to two months worth of these scorching-hot days.

Currently, Chicago sees just one 100-degree day every 4.5 summers.

* And before you comment, read this from NASA…

The difference between weather and climate is a measure of time. Weather is what conditions of the atmosphere are over a short period of time, and climate is how the atmosphere “behaves” over relatively long periods of time.

posted by Rich Miller
Monday, Nov 26, 18 @ 9:52 am

Comments

===with up to two months worth of these scorching-hot days.===

No, thank you. If I wanted to live in the desert, I’d live in the desert. Now it sounds like the desert is moving to Chicago. At least we have water.

And the electricity providers will be happy. Exelon should be a good long-term investment.

Comment by 47th Ward Monday, Nov 26, 18 @ 9:56 am
The head-in-the-sand approach from our state and federal governments in response to this threat is tragic.

Comment by Anonymous Monday, Nov 26, 18 @ 10:17 am
The 800 heatwave deaths in Chicago back in the 90’s was a taste of what is to come. This past summer felt worse because of high heatindexes. I think Springfield touched 119. A heatindex of 126 will kill a healthy person in their sleep in 6 hours. 128 will do it quicker. We are literally the frog being slowly boiled.

Comment by Anotheretiree Monday, Nov 26, 18 @ 10:20 am
Springfield didn’t come close to 119. Meanwhile, Springfield has experienced record snowfall during November. The highs the next few days will be 15-25 degrees colder than average.

Comment by Anonymous Monday, Nov 26, 18 @ 10:25 am
From February 2016 to February 2018 (the latest month available) global average temperatures dropped 0.56°C. NASA Goddard Institute for Space Studies (dataset accessed at https://data.giss.nasa.gov/gistemp/).

Comment by on the other hand Monday, Nov 26, 18 @ 10:28 am
It is mindnumbing how many people don’t accept the science.
If we have any hope of mitigating this disaster, our society needs to quickly revolutionize how it produces and uses energy.

Comment by Nobody Sent Monday, Nov 26, 18 @ 10:28 am
===15-25 degrees colder than average.===

The difference between weather and climate is like the difference between money and wealth. I’m always kind of shocked when otherwise intelligent people dismiss climate change because of today’s weather. Climate is weather over time, usually a long, long time. Of course there are fluctuations, but the trend is what is important. And according to the Trump Administration’s Climate Change Report, the trend is not our friend.

Comment by 47th Ward Monday, Nov 26, 18 @ 10:31 am
I’m sure the illinois GOP Congressional delegation will get right on it…

Comment by Anonymous Monday, Nov 26, 18 @ 10:33 am
As a society we’re handling climate change like we’re living through a plot of a bad movie.

At this point I’m just wondering if Baby Boomers are planning on leaving anything out of the bag they’re expecting millennials to hold.

Comment by Anon Monday, Nov 26, 18 @ 10:37 am
And of course to combat lower yields, farmers inject cattle with more antibiotics which contribute to the creation of super bugs. Or they use more pesticides on crops which end up in streams or kill off the bees and other beneficial insects.

Comment by A Jack Monday, Nov 26, 18 @ 10:48 am
===so color me skeptical===

Sigh. From the report:

“These are some of the findings of the report released by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. The 1,600-page report — vetted by 13 government agencies and written collectively with the help of 300 scientists — is perhaps the most authoritative and comprehensive statement on the risks of climate change, which has contributed to extreme weather that has cost the U.S. nearly $400 billion since 2015, the authors found.”

Some people remain stubbornly and willfully immune to facts and reason.

Comment by 47th Ward Monday, Nov 26, 18 @ 10:49 am
Anon-

The difference between weather and climate is a measure of time. Weather is what conditions of the atmosphere are over a short period of time, and climate is how the atmosphere “behaves” over relatively long periods of time.

Comment by Morty Monday, Nov 26, 18 @ 10:50 am
Crazy Horse…. ==the report released by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. The 1,600-page report — vetted by 13 government agencies and written collectively with the help of 300 scientists===

To paraphrase, Presidents own. His administration, his report.

Comment by Jibba Monday, Nov 26, 18 @ 10:54 am
===From February 2016 to February 2018 (the latest month available) global average temperatures dropped 0.56°C. NASA Goddard Institute for Space Studies===

This what is commonly referred to as “cherry picking” data.

You’re also focusing on the wrong data, specifically average temperature rather than levels of CO2.

If you’re not worried about the average temperature, I do wonder if you’ll be alarmed when the ocean becomes so acidic that crustaceans start going extinct because they’re unable to form their shells.

Comment by Anon Monday, Nov 26, 18 @ 10:55 am
===Meanwhile, Springfield has experienced record snowfall during November.===

Weather is not climate change.

Comment by Nick Name Monday, Nov 26, 18 @ 10:55 am
I’ve read that severe cold snaps are related to increased amounts of Arctic air moving south with warmer air back filling and raising average temperatures north of the Arctic circle.

Places such as IL experience temporary cold spells even as average temperatures rise and eventually that reservoir of cold air will be depleted and it will just be hot.

Comment by Hamlet's Ghost Monday, Nov 26, 18 @ 10:59 am
===but I’m also fairly certain we won’t be Phoenix in 30 years===

Based off of your Nobel Prize in climate science?

Humans have an overwhelming tendency to be optimistic in their planning. I get that you don’t want to sit there and think about the fact that in the next 50 years there’s a high likelihood that there will be a population collapse for humanity and that billions of people will die.

That’s not a happy thought.

I get that you want to think that things will be better for any kids or grand kids you might have. I get that.

I also get that you don’t want to sit there and spend the rest of your day wondering whether or not a climate change related catastrophe will be what causes the death of your progeny. I get that too.

But, that’s not a basis for suggesting “naaah, we’ll be fine.”

Comment by Anon Monday, Nov 26, 18 @ 10:59 am
Crazy Horse…just own your opinion, OK? Don’t cover it with “Not a climate change denier” then go ahead and call scientists “climate change activists”, state that you heard somewhere that someone falsified data once, speculate about climate 4.5 billion years ago (which has no bearing on today at all), and worry about alarmists when you clearly have not read the report or even summary newspaper articles.

Not a climate change denier? The evidence says otherwise. I bet you herd somewhere that vaccinations are bad, too.

Comment by Anonymous Monday, Nov 26, 18 @ 11:04 am
Climate change is not supported by “climate scientists” alone. Scientists from biology, geology, chemistry, and physics find evidence for climate change as well.

And to suggest that we only “know” what has happened for the last 150 years while acknowledging that the Earth is over 4 billion years old displays the lack of critical thinking that stops many people from being able to add 2 and 2. How do you think we know the Earth is that old? Are there methods used in science to determine things we can’t measure directly? Maybe learn about some of those before commenting on the validity of any findings.

Comment by Anonymous Monday, Nov 26, 18 @ 11:06 am
Anon at 10:55 makes an important point.

Changing the pH of the oceans could be as catastrophic as climate change and that has nothing to do with weather or climate.

Comment by Hamlet's Ghost Monday, Nov 26, 18 @ 11:07 am
==Meanwhile, Springfield has experienced record snowfall during November. The highs the next few days will be 15-25 degrees colder than average.==

Failed to grasp the difference between weather and climate did we? No matter how many times its explained there’s always a mental giant in the crowd who brings up the “it snowed” argument.

Comment by Demoralized Monday, Nov 26, 18 @ 11:13 am
===I’m also fairly certain we won’t be Phoenix in 30 years.===

Well, phew, I was starting to get worried when I read about the 300 scientists and their report with 1,600 pages of data vetted by 13 government agencies clearly showing the consequences of climate change in our region.

But you are fairly certain about this, so I’ll take your word. Thank you.

Comment by pto Monday, Nov 26, 18 @ 11:14 am
And it’s heartbreaking the rate at which the federal government is auctioning off drilling rights and encouraging the use of coal. Short term thinking will kill us all.

Comment by NoGifts Monday, Nov 26, 18 @ 11:18 am
What exactly are we supposed to do about all of these dire predictions? Predictions that are similar to scores of other dire predictions from years past that have not come to fruition.

What are people willing to give up in order to reach climate utopia? Should the developing world be forced to give up fossil fuels? Last I checked its global warming, not america warming.

It’s likely that man made climate change is real. However, it’s problem humanity can grapple with as time goes by, not something we should re-order the world over.

Comment by Saluki Monday, Nov 26, 18 @ 11:23 am
Saluki, the Paris Accord was a start.

Comment by Fish magish Monday, Nov 26, 18 @ 11:35 am
==it’s problem humanity can grapple with as time goes by==

The problem is that we aren’t grappling with it.

Comment by Demoralized Monday, Nov 26, 18 @ 11:38 am
This is the single largest threat to man’s existence. Sounds like Mars soon may be the place to be.

Comment by Glengarry Monday, Nov 26, 18 @ 11:45 am
World wide over population. 2 billion in 1950, to 8 billion today.

Comment by Anonymous Monday, Nov 26, 18 @ 11:46 am
FWIW, the website Skeptical Science is probably the best place to go for information to counter climate science misinformation. The site maintains a database of climate change myths, sorted by recent popularity vs. what the science really says.

https://www.skepticalscience.com/argument.php

Comment by Going nuclear Monday, Nov 26, 18 @ 11:55 am
Thanks Baby Boomers for ruining the world

Comment by PP Monday, Nov 26, 18 @ 12:01 pm
==Thanks Baby Boomers for ruining the world.==

Just curious. Is your furnace running today?

Comment by Da Big Bad Wolf Monday, Nov 26, 18 @ 12:05 pm
–What are people willing to give up in order to reach climate utopia?–

The old “utopia” strawman, the excuse for being lazy and doing nothing.

No one is calling for a “climate utopia,” (whatever that is). Reducing carbon emissions is the idea.

Comment by wordslinger Monday, Nov 26, 18 @ 12:05 pm
I accept the reality of climate change. And the problems of ocean acidification and micro plastics.

I still have hope that clever people will find ways for humanity to survive and thrive. Don’t think we need 8 billion humans, but that is clearly not my call.

Comment by Last Bull Moose Monday, Nov 26, 18 @ 12:07 pm
When we wanted to beat the russians to a moon landing, we invested in science. We need two things - science to help us switch to the next generation of fuel. For naysayers, we moved from wood to charcoal to coal to petroleum. We can move to the next thing(s). We also need to develop technology to sweep co2 from the atmosphere. I’ve read it is much more concentrated and easier to collect from seawater, so maybe that’s what we should look at first. Science and engineering can save us.

Comment by NoGifts Monday, Nov 26, 18 @ 12:09 pm
Saluki…Seen the “Sinking Cities” episodes on PBS in the last couple of weeks? Miami and NYC are already having significant troubles with flooding. Who will be on the hook for hundreds of billions worth of uninhabitable real estate? You and me, through buyouts from the Federal Government? Hope not, especially to bail out climate change deniers who re-elect Rs to office who then enable continued development of areas projected to flood, making money for the 1% and increasing risk.

Comment by Anonymous Monday, Nov 26, 18 @ 12:12 pm
Hans Rosling (recently deceased but amazing data scientist) says we will get to 10 billion population just based on who is here now. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2LyzBoHo5EI

Comment by NoGifts Monday, Nov 26, 18 @ 12:18 pm
You can say, “God’s in charge” and be absolved of all responsibility.

Comment by Anonymous Monday, Nov 26, 18 @ 12:23 pm
A Jack- “…to combat lower yields, farmers inject cattle with more antibiotics which contribute to the creation of super bugs.”
Almost all cattle are now raised on ranches, mostly in the western states. Very few family farms have cattle anymore, the agri-corps have driven them out of business.

“…they use more pesticides on crops which end up in streams or kill off the bees and other beneficial insects.”
How about all the bats, hawks, eagles, ducks, geese, and other birds killed by wind towers? How about the precious cropland taken out of production by building thirty foot deep foundations for wind towers? How about the farmland covered up by solar panels? Try and sift through all the front companies for the wind generators and figure out which foreign interests really own them, let us know what you find.

Comment by Anonymous Monday, Nov 26, 18 @ 12:23 pm
140,000 to 328,000 avian species worldwide, per year crash into wind towers and die. Per Smithonian.

How many animals die when they crash into an oil refinery cooling tower? How many animals die when an oil pipe has a break? Get us the numbers and let’s see which is worse.

Comment by Da Big Bad Wolf Monday, Nov 26, 18 @ 12:53 pm
Da Big, you may not know it, but you are a laugh riot. I don’t think you’re even trying.

Comment by wordslinger Monday, Nov 26, 18 @ 12:57 pm
Whatever they did to end global cooling back in the 1970s sure worked - so just undo that.

Comment by VanillaMan Monday, Nov 26, 18 @ 12:58 pm
===global cooling back in the 1970s===

Another scholar heard from.

Comment by 47th Ward Monday, Nov 26, 18 @ 1:02 pm
==How many animals die when they crash into an oil refinery cooling tower? How many animals die when an oil pipe has a break? Get us the numbers and let’s see which is worse.==

That is one of the most ridiculous arguments I’ve ever seen. I sincerely hope that was snark and not an attempt at a serious argument.

Comment by Demoralized Monday, Nov 26, 18 @ 1:06 pm
NoGifts: Science may save us, but not without a huge investment. An immediate increase in the Federal science budget of 50% might get us going. Not a chance in Hades that the deniers can support that until water laps at their back porch, or their parents are dying in Southern and Midwestern cities during brownouts.

BTW, the most concentrated source of CO2 is a coal fired power plant chimney. The technology exists to sequester that carbon right now, but politics is preventing that from happening. Not as important as tax cuts for the 1%.

Comment by Anonymous Monday, Nov 26, 18 @ 1:07 pm
==Another scholar heard from.==

Climate change deniers generally aren’t the sharpest tacks in the box.

Comment by Demoralized Monday, Nov 26, 18 @ 1:07 pm
The National Research Council of the National Academy of Science in 1975 issued an excellent report about Climate Change, titled: “Understanding Climate Change: A program for action”

It’s about global cooling.

Very up and up. Very scientific. As good as it got.

It’s as credible as this report about drought, heat and Midwestern disaster, btw.

Comment by VanillaMan Monday, Nov 26, 18 @ 1:17 pm
===It’s as credible as this report about drought, heat and Midwestern disaster, btw. ===

This report is different and the levels of CO2 in our atmosphere are every factual. It’s impact on weather is a problem, but like I said — here’s hoping you’ll be convinced when we pollute the atmosphere to the point where the pH balance of the ocean kills off all of the crustaceans.

Comment by Anon Monday, Nov 26, 18 @ 1:23 pm
You go first.
Want to save the Earth?
Lead the way pioneers.
Prove it while we watch.
Go ahead.
You first.
Turn off your luxuries, do everything you want all of us to do.
But you first.

Comment by VanillaMan Monday, Nov 26, 18 @ 1:25 pm
VMan

Just. Stop. You are making absolutely ridiculous arguments and making yourself look ridiculous at the same time.

Comment by Demoralized Monday, Nov 26, 18 @ 1:27 pm
===It’s about global cooling.===

No. It’s about global climate change, which is why they titled it, “Understanding Climate Change.”

We’ve also done a bit more research into this subject in the ensuing forty years. Perhaps you missed that.

Comment by 47th Ward Monday, Nov 26, 18 @ 1:29 pm
===global cooling back in the 1970s===

One Time Magazine story. Don’t be so deliberately foolish.

Comment by Rich Miller Monday, Nov 26, 18 @ 1:32 pm
You don’t need governments to force you to do the moral thing, right?
So park your cars, turn off your electricity and heat.
If you really believe what you say, you’ll do it and show us how well your ideas work.
Throughout history we’ve had societies committed to a belief, living out that belief. The Mormons didn’t demand that the Federal laws force everyone to live as they did. They did it.

Lead the way oh enlightened ones.

Comment by VanillaMan Monday, Nov 26, 18 @ 1:33 pm
VMan

Nobody is arguing for any of that so stop being so nonsensical. I’m embarrassed for you.

Comment by Demoralized Monday, Nov 26, 18 @ 1:35 pm
You named #7 on the list of top arguments used by skeptics. Nicely done VanillaMan. If you’re interested in learning something about this, try some of the links in this post.

https://www.skepticalscience.com/What-1970s-science-said-about-global-cooling.html

Comment by 47th Ward Monday, Nov 26, 18 @ 1:37 pm
=It’s about global cooling.=

The vast majority of climate science papers in the 1970s predicted warming.

The Myth of the 1970s Global Cooling Scientific Consensus, published by the American Meteorological Society, https://journals.ametsoc.org/doi/pdf/10.1175/2008BAMS2370.1

Comment by Going nuclear Monday, Nov 26, 18 @ 1:52 pm
Anti-rationalism is a prerequisite in some cultural and political circles. Don’t let those smarty-pants tell you anything; whatever screwball “opinion” you have, you can find thousands of like-minded on the inner-tubes for reassurance.

Highly recommend “The Death of Expertise” by Tom Nichols of the U.S. Naval War College.

https://www.nytimes.com/2017/03/21/books/the-death-of-expertise-explores-how-ignorance-became-a-virtue.html

Comment by wordslinger Monday, Nov 26, 18 @ 1:57 pm
–The Mormons didn’t demand that the Federal laws force everyone to live as they did. They did it.–

Really have no idea what point you’re trying to make there.

But pressure from the federal government eventually persuaded the LDS Church to officially renounce the practice of polygamy and excommunicate those that did not comply.

I read it in a book, by some smart-alec “expert,” so-called “historian.”

Comment by wordslinger Monday, Nov 26, 18 @ 2:05 pm
Park your cars, turn off your electricity and heat? We need mobility, we need electricity and we need heat. Nobody is saying we don’t. We need to find other ways to generate these. So far, human history has been propelled by figuring out how to do the things we wanted to do. What inventions have we seen in our own lifetimes? Why are so many people so pessimistic about our ability go get it done? The only problem we have is with seeing the need to do to.

Comment by NoGifts Monday, Nov 26, 18 @ 2:05 pm
Is it possible to rescind a best commenter golden horseshoe?

Comment by Numada Monday, Nov 26, 18 @ 2:12 pm
“Without technological advancements” That is the key portion of the press release. Those predictions all assume no advances in technology, which includes both new storage techniques, new genetically modified seeds that are perhaps resistant to such diseases, etc.

Clearly, climate change is an issue of monumental importance. The question is how we deal with it. That question can only be answered by weighing trade offs. Does it cost more to correct the problem of climate change than it does to mitigate it or to adapt to it? It is not a question I am qualified to answer, but it is one that reasonable people should consider before jumping to dire conclusions about the end of human kind or simply dismissing a well-documented, strongly supported scientific phenomenom as “fake news”.

What we do is going to be a political question. The best way to answer such questions is to accept the facts, weigh the costs and benefits of different options, and then decide how best to proceed.

Comment by Sen. Blutarsky Monday, Nov 26, 18 @ 2:20 pm
Though I cant remember where I read it, but a recent article mentioned we only have 10 years to reverse the trend of man made climate change, we will reacn the tipping point where nothing can be done. Has anyone else read this?

Comment by Generic Drone Monday, Nov 26, 18 @ 2:27 pm
=It is mindnumbing how many people don’t accept the science.=

Not only the underlying science but the entire premise that it should be “solved”. Many simply don’t accept the premise of considering the longer-term consequences. Another example are the wartime tax cuts during a strong economy - with no plan to repay borrowed money. Like climate change it’s gonna be somebody else’s problem.

Comment by Deadbeat Conservative Monday, Nov 26, 18 @ 2:38 pm
So agriculture can be diminished or impaired?

Comment by City Zen Monday, Nov 26, 18 @ 2:50 pm
The 5 Stages of Climate Change Denial

#1. Deny the Problem Exists
#2. Deny We’re the Cause
#3. Deny It’s Serious
#4. Deny We can Solve It
#5. It’s too Late

Comment by Going nuclear Monday, Nov 26, 18 @ 2:58 pm
===Lead the way oh enlightened ones.===

How about a carbon tax? Finally capture the cost of the externalities inherent in the energy market. Society has been paying for that in the form of asthma and other diseases. Maybe it’s time for a rational system to fairly spread the cost of pumping carbon dioxide into the atmosphere?

Comment by 47th Ward Monday, Nov 26, 18 @ 3:06 pm
==Well, phew, I was starting to get worried when I read about the 300 scientists and their report with 1,600 pages of data vetted by 13 government agencies clearly showing the consequences of climate change in our region.

But you are fairly certain about this, so I’ll take your word. Thank you.==

Well, you can either follow my lead and just trust that as humans we’ll adapt or you can start saving to hopefully join Elon Musk on Mars. The doomsday cult doesn’t scare me but feel free to be the first to say I told you so if Chicago’s climate resembles that of Phoenix in the next 20 years.

==And to suggest that we only “know” what has happened for the last 150 years while acknowledging that the Earth is over 4 billion years old displays the lack of critical thinking that stops many people from being able to add 2 and 2. How do you think we know the Earth is that old? Are there methods used in science to determine things we can’t measure directly? Maybe learn about some of those before commenting on the validity of any findings.==

That is a good point. After thinking about it I agree that I cannot acknowledge that the Earth is over 4 billion years old. Suffice it to say that the point remains. The amount of valid (hard) climate data we have is such a small sample of the total size that it’s almost useless as a forecasting tool. BTW, I have a B.S. in Engineering so it’s not that I don’t engage in critical thinking, it’s merely that I can use that critical thinking to recognize the snake oil salesman when I see them.

Comment by CrazyHorse Monday, Nov 26, 18 @ 3:07 pm
===Well, you can either follow my lead and just trust that as humans we’ll adapt or you can start saving to hopefully join Elon Musk on Mars.===

Ok, I’ll take the first option: follow your lead and wait for someone else to fix it.

Comment by pto Monday, Nov 26, 18 @ 3:14 pm
=Clearly, climate change is an issue of monumental importance. The question is how we deal with it.=

I think the first question is acknowledging what scientists are telling us. And based on some of the comments here that continues to be a challenge. It’s not about finding the most efficient/economical solution, they refuse to acknowledge that the problem even exists. That’s happened throughout history and history has a habit of proving those deniers wrong. Today’s climate deniers were yesterday’s flat earth group.

The reason that we see 13 governmental agencies and 300 scientists telling us this is a glaring problem is to overcome the skeptics and deniers. Not that it would matter. It’s not as if 14 agencies or 400 scientists would somehow tip the scales. They simply don’t want to acknowledge the reality.

Comment by Pundent Monday, Nov 26, 18 @ 3:21 pm
@2:27pm
==Has anyone else read this?==

Yes. The prediction comes from the IPCC’s latest report, handily summarized in this Guardian piece:

https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2018/oct/08/global-warming-must-not-exceed-15c-warns-landmark-un-report

Comment by dbk Monday, Nov 26, 18 @ 3:36 pm
When I was younger Republicans seemed to be intellectual people of science and reason. Now it’s the anti-science party, so deeply in corporate pockets, and the Trump Cult party of blindly believing Dear Leader. Trump denied his own White House’s dire report on climate change. He said America is the “cleanest” it’s ever been.

Trump said California created the forest fire problem by not raking forest floors—never mind that global warming affects jet streams and weather patterns on a huge scale. We’ve entered Stupidville. What an embarrassment to the world and dimininshment of our stature in it.

Comment by Grandson of Man Monday, Nov 26, 18 @ 3:49 pm
Go nuclear. Pass the costs on to all professional sports teams and NASCAR.

Comment by Blue Dog Dem Monday, Nov 26, 18 @ 3:58 pm
The President has just weighed in on this climate change report:

“Trump then directly dismissed the report’s conclusion that climate change will bring severe economic damage to the country.

“I don’t believe it,” Trump continued. “No, no I don’t believe it.” He then appeared to blame China, Japan, and “all of Asia” for being the world’s worst climate change offenders, while claiming that the US is currently the “cleanest we’ve ever been.”

H/t Mother Jones
https://www.motherjones.com/politics/2018/11/trump-climate-report-i-dont-believe-it/

Comment by dbk Monday, Nov 26, 18 @ 4:03 pm
With respect to the extreme cold (and warm) weather we experience, the models and the observations both show us that global warming leads to larger waves in the polar front/jet stream which gives us cold and hot swings in both the summer and winter. (In a few weeks, we could have some days in the 50’s.) Michael Mann discusses the research here: https://news.psu.edu/story/545128/2018/10/31/research/controlling-future-summer-weather-extremes-still-within-our-grasp

With respect to “what can we do?”, Princeton University’s Carbon Mitigation Institute has put forth a set of “stabilization wedges.” Each of which is doable with current tech and economically viable. Each wedge gets us closer to where we need to be, and we do not need to do all of the wedges. http://cmi.princeton.edu/wedges

==Whatever they did to undo global cooling…== VMan is not wrong…There was (and continues to be) a global cooling effect caused by certain types of air pollution that block the sun. (Even today, the contrails from jets create cirrus clouds that help reduce global warming.) However, we decided that poisoning people and the environment was not a good idea, so we cut back on air pollution. I don’t think you really want to go back to that. (Although, there is an on-going discussion about using certain aerosol pollutants to slow the warming until we get our s**t together.)

Comment by Pot calling kettle Monday, Nov 26, 18 @ 4:14 pm
A B.S. in Engineering (which field?) and then denies that science can be used to determine the age of the Earth. I can lend you a freshman level textbook that discusses the methods scientists use to determine such things.

Comment by Anonymous Monday, Nov 26, 18 @ 4:22 pm
= The amount of valid (hard) climate data we have is such a small sample of the total size that it’s almost useless as a forecasting tool. BTW, I have a B.S. in Engineering so it’s not that I don’t engage in critical thinking, it’s merely that I can use that critical thinking to recognize the snake oil salesman when I see them. =

Most of the leading scientific organizations worldwide, including the National Academy of Sciences, American Meteorological Association and American Association for the Advancement of Science, have released statements and studies that highlight the overwhelming consensus on climate change science. Even the oil companies now recognize that climate change is real and that we need to take action to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

https://climate.nasa.gov/scientific-consensus/

https://www.uwosh.edu/es/climate-change/oil-company-positions-on-the-reality-and-risk-of-climate-change

Comment by Going nuclear Monday, Nov 26, 18 @ 4:27 pm
==Well, you can either follow my lead and just trust that as humans we’ll adapt…==

It seems to me that “adapting” would include recognizing the problems we are creating and acting in a way that reduces those problems. It’s pretty difficult to adapt to a problem you wish to ignore or deny.

==After thinking about it I agree that I cannot acknowledge that the Earth is over 4 billion years old. Suffice it to say that the point remains. The amount of valid (hard) climate data we have is such a small sample of the total size that it’s almost useless as a forecasting tool. ==

Not only is there ample evidence that the Earth is 4.6 billion years old, the rock, fossil, sediment, and ice records provide us with a climate record that goes back at least 3.8 billion years. That data is quite “valid.”

Comment by Pot calling kettle Monday, Nov 26, 18 @ 4:34 pm
The good news is there is a revolution coming that will save the climate and feed the world of us cellular agriculture and it tastes good too.

Comment by Not a Billionaire Monday, Nov 26, 18 @ 6:09 pm
Europe’s carbon footprint, in spite of the Paris accord, increased again last year. In spite of a large increase in renewable energy sources. I am in favor of increasing renewables at modest,affordable levels. What we must do, and not many are willing to do, is change our lifestyles to lesson our CE.

Comment by Blue Dog Dem Monday, Nov 26, 18 @ 11:32 pm
It’s hot > climate change
It’s cold > climate change
It’s dry > climate change
It’s wet > climate change
Al Gore said in 2006 if the world continues to ignore the issue and refuse to take steps to reduce greenhouse gases within the next 10 years, “the world will reach a point of no return.” 2018 we’re still here. The poles are still frozen and Florida and Manhattan Island haven’t flooded at all. This isn’t the show me state but really??
Which is why many people don’t believe the agenda their pushing whose goal is to raise taxes and fees on fossil fuels. If you’ve been watching the news the last couple days you’ll see the French people don’t seem to be liking their government imposed taxes on fuel and are rioting

Comment by Milkman Tuesday, Nov 27, 18 @ 12:33 am
Milkman, the French are also rioting over low wages.

Comment by Da Big Bad Wolf Tuesday, Nov 27, 18 @ 6:16 am
==The poles are still frozen and Florida and Manhattan Island haven’t flooded at all.==

Great argument Mr. Wizard. It’s evident you don’t have the first clue or you wouldn’t have made such a ridiculous statement. Don’t embarrass yourself further.

==whose goal is to raise taxes and fees on fossil fuels. ==

The goal is to reduce their use. You know, reduce the use of the things that are part of the problem.

Climate change deniers are a joke.

Comment by Demoralized Tuesday, Nov 27, 18 @ 8:51 am
==Al Gore said in 2006 if the world continues to ignore the issue and refuse to take steps to reduce greenhouse gases within the next 10 years, “the world will reach a point of no return.” 2018 we’re still here.==
So when we get to the “point of no return” that’s the time to do something?

Comment by Da Big Bad Wolf Tuesday, Nov 27, 18 @ 1:33 pm