21/11/2018

The Ugly Facts Of Climate Change

It’s hard to speak about climate change without using frightening statistics. The science is conclusive. Just this month the United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) stated that our planet’s temperature is rising at an alarming rate, and faster than we initially thought.

By the year 2030 - unless we act now - there will be even more extreme drought, wildfires, floods and food shortages for hundreds of millions of people due to the rise in temperature from dangerous greenhouse gas emissions. Entire cities or countries face catastrophic consequences from the changes in our planet’s atmosphere and ecosystem.

If governments around the world don’t rapidly transition from traditional fossil fuel energy sources that are polluting our environment (i.e., coal, oil and natural gas produced mainly by power plants), dire consequences from extreme weather events are predicted. There is no room for argument; sustainable energies like solar reduce air pollution and get our planet back on track for future generations.

How Warm Is Too Warm For Our Planet?

The year 2030 is right around the corner. In 12 years scientists say our planet will be 1.5C degrees warmer. Doesn’t sound like a lot? It is. Scientists predict that 1.5C degrees of warming could kill up to 90% of our coral reefs. This is a major loss to an important ecosystem that keeps our planet - and the human race - alive and healthy. If the reefs go, the effects will be disastrous.

And if the temperature rises 2C degrees? Sea levels will rise nearly a foot globally. Take a look at what climate change is doing right now to glaciers in this CNN video from Reuters photographer, Lucas Jackson. Sea levels have risen by 7-8 inches since 1900, and half of that happened in the last 25 years. It’s easy to see how flooding can occur as our planet continues to heat up.

Source: Sunrun Team