Richard94611

'Historically unprecedented summer heat' will no longer be unprecedented.



Writing in the most recent issue of Nature Climate Change, lead author Andrew King and colleagues inform us that the data tell us a grim story of rising temperatures, even if we somehow avoid the worst case scenarios for carbon combustion induced heating of the planet:

On average, in the simulated 1.5oC [increase over current] world, 90 million people (or 11% of the estimated 2010 population of the continent) are exposed to hot summers beyond the observed record (that is, half of the summers would have more than 90 million people exposed to historically unprecedented summer average temperatures). (pg. 550)

The exposure of populations to historically unprecedented summer heat increases dramatically even at the relatively low global warming levels of the Paris Agreement. (pg. 550)

Few of us realize the scope of the public health effects caused by these extreme heat events, but they are dramatic. As Scientific American reports:

Researchers believe that global warming is already responsible for some 150,000 deaths each year around the world, and fear that the number may well double by 2030 even if we start getting serious about emissions reductions today.

A team of health and climate scientists from the World Health Organization (WHO) and the University of Wisconsin at Madison published these findings last year in the prestigious, peer-reviewed science journal Nature. Besides killing people, global warming also contributes to some five million human illnesses every year, the researchers found. Some of the ways global warming negatively affects human health—especially in developing nations—include: speeding the spread of infectious diseases such as malaria and dengue fever; creating conditions that lead to potentially fatal malnutrition and diarrhea; and increasing the frequency and severity of heat waves, floods and other weather-related disasters.

How bad will this get? According to the World Health Organization:

Between 2030 and 2050, climate change is expected to cause approximately 250 000 additional deaths per year, from malnutrition, malaria, diarrhoea and heat stress.

The only rational response is to discontinue the use of carbon combustion, and begin massive mitigation efforts globally.

Of course, no one would accuse the GOP (currently in control of the federal government of two-thirds of the states) of being rational:

After receiving billions in tax cuts at the end of last year, oil and gas companies can expect another year of record-breaking profits. While Exxon alone received $5.9 billion in tax breaks, companies that do oil exploration can expect an additional $190 billion in profits. And yesterday, the second-largest coal company in the country, Arch Coal, announced the new tax plan would lower their tax rate to “effectively zero.” To pay for these giveaways, the Trump budget proposes cutting several programs that enforce pollution laws, fund clean energy innovation, and protect outdoor places. Trump’s cuts effectively subsidize oil, gas, and coal companies, severely hamper renewable energy growth, all while weakening protections for public health and the outdoors.

Chocura750

How does the phrase go: you can't make this stuff up? I think it will get a lot worse a lot sooner.

4430 Loc: Little Egypt ** Southern Illinory

I take it you no longer drive a car and walk instead of taking the bus !

You get your food from the grocery store where no fossil fuel was used to produce it !

bylm1-Bernie

Your statement that "you can't make this stuff up" is interesting. The irony here is that you CAN make this stuff up and it IS made up all the time. The statements frequently made use terms like "possibly" or "scientists expect" without any solid information. If one looks carefully at the REAL temperatures over the past 20 years, you will find very little if any increase. When we have a somewhat warm summer the warmists come out of the woodwork to proclaim we are going to burn up in a few years. Cold winters don't seem to interest them because they don't go along with the plan. Last winter, I would have given anything for a few degrees warmer most of the time. I don't think that most so-called deniers so that there is no climate change occurring, they simply don't see enough evidence that it is caused by humans.

JFlorio Loc: Seminole Florida

Less people. Less carbon footprint. Mother earth is happy, so shut up. Doesn't matter the nuclear meltdown still going on in Japan will end us way sooner than some BS global warming.

Gatsby

"The only rational response is to discontinue the use of carbon combustion, and begin massive mitigation efforts globally."

Without "carbon combustion", how do you propose to grow, process and transport the food that feeds 8 billion people?

While you are solving that problem, how many billions of people will starve to death?

So much for for that claim of "rationality".

Richard94611

Use renewable energy instead.. Several countries have already announced that they will be “carbon-free” within a few years.

4430 Loc: Little Egypt ** Southern Illinory

What countries are those ?

If that's the case they certainly won't be having any farms so will have to import the biggest share of their food !

Personally I think they're nuts and it'll never be achieved !

JFlorio Loc: Seminole Florida

Do us a favor and move there. Then you can tell us how great it is.

Richard94611

You are wrong. Do your own research.

BigMike Loc: yerington nv

Historically unprecedented summer heat' will no longer be unprecedented

Historic since when? Let's start at the beginning.

I believe in climate change.

What I'm not convinced of is that throwing a bazillion dollars in a Quixotical quest to quickly quench the inferno of climate change will make much difference.

I think the people pushing such nonsense rely the general ignorance of people to pull the charade off.

Richard94611

After you. ladies before gentlemen.

BigMike Loc: yerington nv

"Qualifiers". I get the Science Daily newsletter. Every peer reviewed article is peppered with qualifiers. People don't know how to read for content anymore. They just accept what they're told.

BigMike Loc: yerington nv

...and they're planning a world war! Won't help the carbon footprint in the short run.

Richard94611

Whoopie do for you ! I get it, too. Your objection is based on your need for certainty, a fairly common personality attribute among conservatives. Science doesn’t work that way, which you should know but evidently don’t.