While the eyes of the world are focused on Copenhagen, I’m halfway around the globe, representing the National Wildlife Federation at the American Geophysical Union’s fall meeting in San Francisco. More than 16,000 geophysicists -- people who study all aspects of the Earth & solar system, including climate -- from around the world will be convening to continue advancing the science. It's often the place where major new discoveries are first announced – including the latest news on global warming.
It’s absolutely baffling to me that as I present & participate in sessions on the latest cutting-edge climate science, the international media has gone hook, line & sinker for a distraction about hacked emails pushed by polluters and science deniers. But it’s a sad reflection of the disconnect between the scientific debate here in San Francisco and the political debates happening in Washington and Copenhagen.
Take, for example, the scientific basis of our current political discussion -- the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change’s Fourth Assessment (PDF). It was released in February 2007, and was based on data collected from 2001 to 2006. That means that in large part, the political discussion is omitting three full years of scientific progress. Scientists have been working to adapt to the increasing urgency of the political debate, issuing The Copenhagen Diagnosis in advance of this month’s climate talks.
But one thing that gets less attention than it should, even in these new reports: what the new science means in terms of what are targets should be. The reports focus on the increasing signs that global warming is happening -- and could be happening faster than anticipated -- but then devote only 1-2 pages to relate that to what sorts of carbon pollution reductions are needed. As the science increasingly supports lower CO2 stabilization levels, there is little discussion about how we might achieve such targets.
That’s critical because as the science has advanced, it’s painting an even more serious picture of the impacts of climate change – both the changes we’re already seeing, and the threats yet to come:
The National Wildlife Federation has worked to connect the latest science to communities here in the U.S. – especially when it comes to
extreme weather:
- An increase in the frequency & intensity of heat waves, particularly putting America’s cities at risk
- Stronger hurricanes threating America’s Atlantic and Gulf Coasts
- In America’s West, wildfire frequency, severity, and damages are increasing because of rising temperatures, drying conditions, and more lightning brought by global warming
- Both more extremely dry periods and more heavy rainfall events triggering floods
Scientists wouldn’t spend endless weeks (and weekends) on their work if they didn’t love what they do. But I’ve found
climate scientists have a special understanding of the real-world importance of their work – both the opportunity to make a difference and the threat of inaction.
We need a climate deal in Copenhagen – and we need Congress to pass clean energy & climate legislation. My colleagues and I at the National Wildlife Federation are doing everything we can to make that happen, and we’re grateful for work of the DailyKos Greenroots community to keep activists across the country informed & connected. Thanks for the opportunity to join the discussion!