IS CLIMATE CHANGE CAUSING THE COLDEST WINTER?
Is climate change causing the coldest winter on record in Texas since the 1890s?
Dr. Shahir Masri a Master in Environmental Sciences elucidates misconceptions about greenhouse gas emissions and offers insight into his research in his new book Beyond Debate.
One degree or so seems like no big deal. Some areas are getting cooler and some warmer. Variability is enormous.
Across the polar caps it is about 10 degrees different.
At the peaks and troughs. How are they changing over time? Average is a scientific metric, not very useful to the average person.
Nevertheless, to give this experiment we are conducting with our planet Earth, not doing enough for a fighting chance of survival is an experiment.
The planet might make it but as a species, humans and the animal populations are dying because of climate change now.
We are in the sixth mass extinction. Eighty percent of our animals are being lost right now. A real siege we need to address.
Shahir belongs to the same Climate Reality group in Orange County, California that I do. He says joining a climate action group is the single most important thing anyone can do.
We can read about what is going on or listen to a podcast, as in this case, Tristan Miller interviews Dr. Shahir Masri on the One Earth Podcast where environmental pioneers who are the beacons of tomorrow share what we all need to do collectively.
What can we do? Solutions involve the three pillars of climate action as Shahir likes to address it.
One is civic duty-changing a few policies- make a phone call to the representatives who are supporting climate change initiatives. Of course, voting is at the top, the number one thing to do. Canvas for an elected official.
Two involve outreach and education. It is important to talk about these concerns. Share the ways you are taking action to care for your life and the livelihood of the planet.
Are you composting? Are you planting trees?
Have you worked towards having a more sustainable lifestyle and sustainable fashion?
Well if you are doing any of the things that are moving the planet forward to offset the damage of Co2 then share it with your friends and neighbors.
Be proud of it, whatever you might be doing. It is ok to care about certain topics, write articles and share existing articles.
Tell the average person about the science of accelerating the climate crisis. We have had the twenty hottest years of all time.
Read Bill Gates’s new book.
Three is considering our carbon footprint. Something we have been doing for a long time. Try to turn the a/c off in the summer, buy an electric car, and more by reducing fossil fuel energy on an individual basis.
More of what we can do is to buy from small farmers and local farmers’ markets. Use refill stations for shampoo etc. There are farm-fresh market boxes that can be delivered to your door like one called imperfect foods. You can get 10. Off your first box here. We are not trying to be perfect but trying to do a little more imperfectly.
One way to put it. We have not had carbon dioxide Co2 emissions this high since 3-6 million years ago, the time before that was 65 million years ago.
Potentially it has never happened before. We are living a global experiment.
Careers are dedicated to this experiment and the answers do not look good.
Fossil fuels liberate greenhouse gases releasing bad pollutants. It is a public health hazard on a global level. Air pollution impacts cognitive abilities and impacts cardiovascular disease.
Couple hundred thousand people are dying a year, 3.5 million are dying prematurely.
Scientists are studying Air pollution not only as a human carcinogen but also possibly a cause of autism. A known fact is it affects developing brains.
Ultrafine and fine particles coming out of the air can be reduced and is a huge public health gain.
There are major correlations to disease by virtue of your surroundings.
We have to drive a halt to this experiment. Drive ourselves back to lower greenhouse gasses.
Improved sustainable energy is imperative.
Invoked as the planet but it is a human civilization that stands to lose.
Earth has been around 4.5 billion years.
6.5 million years ago we had a snowball planet. That has happened twice in Earth’s history.
Fluctuations have been extremely dramatic. Have not stood the test of time. The last ten thousand years have been a pretty stable climate.
If the earth becomes unstable, nothing precludes the planet from disrupting or changing, bringing life to a halt.
On a positive note.
This book Beyond Debate is about trying to get the word out to everyday people around the country. It is less an academic approach but more a grassroots call to action to bridge the gap between science and the public. It is about climate outreach. How is it affecting people at a local level? Surveys were done and compiled for a paper shared on the climateAction.com website.
Agriculture production could be more of a community. We should support local permaculture. Check out simple eco-choices to receive hand-harvested organic seeds of your choice to plant this spring as you strive for a sustainable, climate-friendly living!
Grow gardens which are good for our psychology as well.
Consuming less. Heavy marketing on buying things perpetuates a culture of waste.
Pay for more services that benefit our lives.
Have experiences rather than things.
Diet is another main example of that.
Small farming. We have to shift to green infrastructure. It is incredibly important. More subsidies for green energy.
Subsidies for Oil and gas have to dwindle.
Switching to electric vehicles for clean air burning car emissions.
More conservationists like the imperfect food companies to curb the ridiculous 40% of food that is wasted.
Look for ways to get more trees planted.
City officials want to hear from you. Consult a constituent that cares. Ask a climate expert to talk to your group.
Get Your Dressing On! What does it make you think of?
Painting is Peasant Wearing Madras – by Realist Realism painter Gustave Courbet (1870’s)
