Climate Change

• WARMING OF THE CLIMATE SYSTEM IS UNEQUIVOCAL

• MOST OF THE OBSERVED INCREASE IN  GLOBALLY AVERAGED TEMPERATURES SINCE THE MID 20TH CENTURY IS VERY LIKELY (CONFIDENCE LEVEL > 90%) DUE THE OBSERVED INCREASE IN HUMAN GREENHOUSE GAS CONCENTRATIONS  

Often referred to as "Global Warming," it appears likely that Climate Change will actually have much more far-reaching effects than a few more frost-free days and balmy weather.  Because climate systems are non-linear and hence unpredictable, it seems that what is in store is climate chaos -- droughts, floods, and vastly increased incidence of extreme weather events. 

The scientific consensus indicates that if atmospheric carbon dioxide levels aren't reduced to somewhere between 300 and 350 parts per million (we're now at around 389, while pre-industrial levels were probably closer to 285 ppm), we risk triggering climatic "tipping points," such as the melting of the polar icecaps and the release of seabed methane clathrates, that will generate positive feedback loops leading to runaway climate change with catastrophic results for humans and other species. 

This means it's essential not only to vastly reduce human emissions immediately, but also to begin regenerative work to recapture CO2 that's already been released, through approaches like reafforestation and soil restoration.