A major scientific report has just been published that concludes that the climate is warming, that it is affecting the lives of everyday Americans, and that humans are the driving cause of it. This is well known by now, of course – but what’s strange about this particular report is that the Trump administration released it.
Agreeing with a plethora of
international climate studies that acknowledge that temperatures have risen by
1.0°C (1.8°F) since 1900, it notes that “this period is now the warmest in the
history of modern civilization.”
“This assessment concludes,
based on extensive evidence, that it is extremely likely that human activities,
especially emissions of greenhouse gases, are the dominant cause of the
observed warming since the mid-20th century.
Volume 1 of the 4th National #Climate Assessment - aka the Climate Science Special Report (CSSR) - is out now: https://t.co/PhLKY0mGmk #NCA4 pic.twitter.com/7pwnjpe9cH— Climate Signals (@ClimateSignals) 3 November 2017
“For the warming over the
last century, there is no convincing alternative explanation supported by the
extent of the observational evidence,” it concludes.
Everything else within the
report is exactly what you’d expect to see. Sea levels are rising at
unprecedented rates, and in the last few years, they’ve accelerated rapidly.
Weather extremes are becoming more powerful and destructive; the last three
years have been the warmest on record; the planet is now warming exponentially.
The last time the atmosphere
contained this much carbon dioxide was 3 million years ago, but this time, we’re pumping it into the air at an
unprecedented rate.
This report fits in
perfectly with the overwhelming scientific consensus – so why did the current
US government, one infamous for climate denial, release it?
This analysis is also the part of the
National Climate Assessment (NCA), which was also mandated by Congress back in 1990.
Those behind it release a new updated version every few years, and the last
came out in 2014.
3/— Eric Holthaus (@EricHolthaus) 3 November 2017
Climate change beyond the next few decades will depend primarily on the amount of greenhouse gases emitted globally. We control our fate. pic.twitter.com/A5cFKf5NgD
3/— Eric Holthaus (@EricHolthaus) 3 November 2017
Climate change beyond the next few decades will depend primarily on the amount of greenhouse gases emitted globally. We control our fate. pic.twitter.com/A5cFKf5NgD
The most significant section
of the NCA is the Climate Science Special Report. Composed by researchers across 13 federal agencies,
it’s the defining climate science document the US produces, one that is
specifically designed to influence American policy.
It’s fair to say that the
Trump administration – infamous for suppressing, defunding, and purging climatologists
and their work – would not be pleased to have such a blunt, clear-cut climate
science report released with its name attached to it. Despite some fears they
would try to censor it, the report is legally required to be produced and
published, and there is little anyone opposing it can do to stop this.
Although this report’s work
began way before Trump took office, it’s technically true to say that the Trump
administration released it, something that’s quite thoroughly ironic.
Unsurprisingly, though, the
White House is already seeking to downplay it. In a statement, spokesperson Raj
Shah said: “The climate has changed and is always changing.” He focused on the
report’s use of the word “uncertainty”, but out of context.
Make no mistake: this report
makes it very clear that humans are warming the climate. It specifically links
human activities to the changing climate with the term “extremely likely” – something
that denotes a greater than 95 percent probability.
Remember, this is only one
part of the NCA. The rest is due to be published in 2018, which means another
volley of inconvenient science is around the corner.
Will this or the next part
of the report influence how the Trump administration behaves with regards to
climate science? Of course it won’t – but it reminds the world that although
the White House might have its head in the sand, American scientists are
forging on, burying alternate facts underneath a mountain of truth.
Via IFLScience
“This assessment concludes, based on extensive evidence, that it is extremely likely that human activities, especially emissions of greenhouse gases, are the dominant cause of the observed warming since the mid-20th century."
ReplyDelete"...extremely likely..." Why is it that there's never a study that says, "It is 100% without any doubt what-so-ever that humans are the cause of global warming!" Extremely likely, sounds like a possible maybe, when you boil it down. There's no doubt that humans are spewing a lot of greenhouse gases into the atmosphere, but there's also evidence as observed in several studies that show other factors which can account for much of the rise in temperature. Do we need to do better, absolutely...but there has to be a better answer than the Chicken Little approach.
Fair comment, well thought out.
DeleteBecause that's *not* how science works. You postulate your theory, backed with evidence. The very nature of the scientific method is to allow for competing theories to be presented, if LATER evidence is brought forth to support those competing theories. You will never get ANY scientist who is worth a damn to say '100%' anything.
DeleteThe quote you are looking for (in science-speak) is this one:
"there is no convincing alternative explanation supported by the extent of the observational evidence"
That is a scientists' way of telling you if you think anything ELSE is causing it, you are either an idiot, or an asshole.
I have to agree with A. Nony Maus. And even if we are only 40% responsible, we need to stop being 40% responsible.
Delete