This is old, but worth revisiting given the tone: http://www.seattletimes.com/...
It's the Seattle Times seeming to do their bit to sound the klaxon about climate change... sort of. Very odd tone, I thought. A bit rueful, but mostly a giant virtual shrug of the shoulders. Nothin' we can do about it. Let's have a bit of a collective rumination on the shortened skiing season, and move along.
No call to action. No suggestion that the "new normal" referred to might be bad in any way. Not a peep about what any individual might or might not be able to do to spur political action. Just a heavy sigh. 'Cause hey! What can ya' do?
Thinking about it, let me change my assessment from "puzzling" to "horrifying." This is precisely the kind of story we do not need - and it's the kind of attitude we don't need going into Paris 2015. But I fear I am beginning to feel the mood shift from one of anticipation at the work that will be done, to one of.... eh. Meh. Nothing's gonna happen. What can ya' do?
Like here: http://www.philstar.com/...
And this, which starts with the premise that Paris MIGHT be "another Copenhagen:" http://www.energy-cities.eu/...
And this: http://www.slate.com/...
And this: http://thinkprogress.org/...
As for the original Seattle Times piece, it goes without saying (I think) that the consequences of human-made climate change will not simply be a longer drive to the slopes and a little less snow in winter Seattle. And that Paris 2015 MUST NOT be another Copenhagen also goes without saying, right?
Here's what NASA has to say about the effects of climate change (http://climate.nasa.gov/...) And in case you don't have the energy to follow the link, here's a handy chart -
Contraction of snow cover areas, increased thaw in permafrost regions, decrease in sea ice extent: Virtually certain
Increased frequency of hot extremes, heat waves and heavy precipitation: Very likely to occur
Increase in tropical cyclone intensity: Likely to occur
Precipitation increases in high latitudes: Very likely to occur
Precipitation decreases in subtropical land regions: Very likely to occur
Decreased water resources in many semi-arid areas, including western U.S. and Mediterranean basin: High confidence
And here are the definitions of those likelihood ranges: virtually certain >99%, very likely >90%, likely >66%.
In other words, in sober, scientific terms, SHIT IS GOING DOWN.
And it's starting to feel like we're already starting to shrug our collective shoulders and say, "Paris? Eh. I knew it wasn't gonna be productive. What're'ya gonna do?!"