Saturday, 7 August 2010

Still don't believe in climate change?

The recent news about the catastrophic flooding in Pakistan comes as no surprise to those of us who accept man made climate change is fact. The UN estimates that 12 million people have been affected and 1600 have died so far. The death toll could become much higher as the rains continue and the danger of water borne diseases such as cholera increases. Once the floods subside, there will still be problems caused by the devastation such as homelessness and food shortages - 1.4 million acres of agricultural land have been flooded and 10,000 cows have died.

In Russia they are sweltering in heat which has lead to devastating forest fires. In a month long record breaking heatwave temperatures in Moscow reached 39 degrees. Moscow has been swathed in smoke for burning peat fires pushing up carbon monoxide levels to the equivalent of smoking several packets of cigarettes a day. The heat has wilted crops and is likely to cause shortages which will push up the price of grain globally causing further problems.

Today came news that a massive sheet of ice amounting to 100 square miles has broken off the Petermann glacier in Northern Greenland. The ice sheet could pose a threat to shipping. Scientists also reported that the first 6 months of 2010 have been the hottest on recored - ever.

Of course, we've had natural disasters like the flooding and heatwave before. But the point is that these events are becoming more severe and more frequent. They are part of a pattern caused by man made global warming. Still don't believe in climate change?

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