It’s been a given for years that, regarding any particular weather-related disaster, one can’t claim it was caused by climate change. Yet, as the disasters multiply – from floods, to droughts to forest fires, to hurricanes – they confirm what climate scientists have been predicting for three decades – that this is exactly what climate change will look like.
Finally, author and climate activist Bill McKibben had enough. In this op-ed, he said it’s time to call a spade a spade – i.e., many weather-related disasters are indications of climate change.
And for the first time, on June 1 I read an article in The New York Times that said it, too. Referring to the massive wildfire in New Mexico, the brief said, “Experts say drought, climate change and shifts in land use and firefighting strategies mean that other Western states will probably see similar giant fires this season.”
And waddya know, a forest fire burning in Colorado has now become that state’s biggest in history.
McKibben’s op-ed says people around the world are beginning to connect the dots, and that was the theme of 350.org’s latest public event. The group in New Haven put on a great event across from the Wooster Square farmer’s market on May 5. Listen to a 5-minute interview I did with 350CT organizer Laura Bozzi about that (or read the transcription).
350.org and other groups have now moved on to the Rio plus 20 conference that marks 20 years since the Earth Summit in Rio. They started a petition (with one million signature!) asking world leaders to end subsidies for fossil fuels, and organized a Twitterstorm on the same subject. Visit their website to learn more and get involved.
Also, for inspiration, check out the speech 17-year-old Aussie Brittany Trilford gave world leaders at the Rio+20 Summit. She won a global contest for young people sharing their concerns about climate change. It's at Grist.org.
Finally, author and climate activist Bill McKibben had enough. In this op-ed, he said it’s time to call a spade a spade – i.e., many weather-related disasters are indications of climate change.
And for the first time, on June 1 I read an article in The New York Times that said it, too. Referring to the massive wildfire in New Mexico, the brief said, “Experts say drought, climate change and shifts in land use and firefighting strategies mean that other Western states will probably see similar giant fires this season.”
And waddya know, a forest fire burning in Colorado has now become that state’s biggest in history.
McKibben’s op-ed says people around the world are beginning to connect the dots, and that was the theme of 350.org’s latest public event. The group in New Haven put on a great event across from the Wooster Square farmer’s market on May 5. Listen to a 5-minute interview I did with 350CT organizer Laura Bozzi about that (or read the transcription).
350.org and other groups have now moved on to the Rio plus 20 conference that marks 20 years since the Earth Summit in Rio. They started a petition (with one million signature!) asking world leaders to end subsidies for fossil fuels, and organized a Twitterstorm on the same subject. Visit their website to learn more and get involved.
Also, for inspiration, check out the speech 17-year-old Aussie Brittany Trilford gave world leaders at the Rio+20 Summit. She won a global contest for young people sharing their concerns about climate change. It's at Grist.org.
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