2021 saw the largest emissions of greenhouse gases in human history. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change reported: The Current State of the Climate * It is unequivocal that human influence has warmed the atmosphere, ocean and land. Widespread and rapid changes in the atmosphere, ocean, cryosphere and biosphere have occurred. * Observed increases in […]
Category Archives: Environment
Observed Increases in Well-mixed Greenhouse Gases
1 in 6 deaths Worldwide Attributed to Pollution
* Pollution is the largest environmental cause of disease and premature death in the world today * 1 in 6 deaths worldwide attributed to pollution * 9 million people per year die from pollution The Lancet Commission on pollution and health was updated for 2022: Pollution and health: a progress update 2022 PDF Key messages […]
Frequency of Flash Floods
As the climate warms, the air holds more moisture. Theoretically, there is a 7% increase in atmospheric water holding capacity per degree Celsius warming. A recent study published in Nature The conterminous United States are projected to become more prone to flash floods in a high-end emissions scenario suggests extreme precipitation might be increasing even […]
Homeowners Insurance and Extreme Weather Events
Homeonwers insurance is becoming more expensive or even unavailable due to the increase frequency and intensity of extreme weather events caused by climate change. NOLA newspapers reports: Louisiana’s homeowners insurance market straining under weight of 600,000 claims Two active Atlantic hurricane seasons in a row have made some insurers insolvent. It’s the latest sign of […]
UN Climate Report: It’s Now or Never
A new flagship UN report on climate change indicating that harmful carbon emissions from 2010-2019 have never been higher in human history, is proof that the world is on a “fast track” to disaster, António Guterres has warned, with scientists arguing that it’s ‘now or never’ to limit global warming to 1.5 degrees. Reacting to […]
Climate Change Feedback Loops: Brown Carbon, Wildfires, and Arctic Melting
Feedback loops accelerate climate change at an exponential rate. In this case, brown carbon from wildfires warms the arctic. The warmer arctic absorbs more heat causing more wildfires. In turn, more wildfires cause more brown carbon resulting in a warmer arctic. The cycle keeps reinforcing itself as it repeats. A study published in One Earth […]
A Foot of Sea Level Rise
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration reports U.S. coastline to see up to a foot of sea level rise by 2050. That is three times the rate of the previous one hundred years. “For businesses along the coast, knowing what to expect and how to plan for the future is critical,” said U.S. Secretary of […]
Biodiversity: Humanity Faces Catastrophic Losses of Aquatic Species and Habitats
by 570 Experts More than 570 Experts from 97 Countries Urge United Nations to Strengthen Freshwater Biodiversity Protections Humanity Faces Catastrophic Losses of Aquatic Species and Habitats World leaders must prioritize urgent and targeted actions to protect and restore freshwater ecosystems and respect the rights of indigenous and marginalised communities disproportionately affected by these losses […]
COVID-19 Delta Variant and Vaccines
By Daniel Brouse What do we know about the Delta variant and vaccines? OVERVIEW The efficacy of mRna vaccines is about 79% against contracting the Delta variant. Non-mRna vaccines are between 40-60% effective against Delta. Vaccines lose efficacy at about 3%/month after six months of being fully vaccinated. Vaccines appear to help contain the Delta […]