5 Surprising Facts About Climate Change
In March, news broke that Florida had banned use of the phrase ‘climate change’ among state employees. In April, Wisconsin followed suit. And not only that, but other states, including North Carolina, Louisiana, and Tennessee have also attempted to stifle climate science in the government and in the classroom.
But while these 5 states attempt to refute the reality of climate change, there’s plenty of scientific information available on the topic. Here are 5 facts about climate change you might not have known.
1. January, February and March 2015 Set New Temperature Records
The first three months of this year set global heat records — making them the hottest months on record since we began keeping records more than 130 years ago. In fact, 7 of the 11 months leading up to March set new heat records. And according to the NOAA, March was the end of the hottest 12-month period on record.
2. Climate Change has a Direct Impact on World Health
It’s clear that climate change has a major impact on weather, leading to more and more severe storms, a greater number of wildfires, and more. But all those weather incidents also directly affect the health of the people. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), the increase in carbon affects air quality for billions of people and triggers allergies. Flooding leaves water sources potentially laden with diseases. Even extreme temperature changes can cause an increased number of deaths.
3. Mountains Are Growing Taller as a Result
Over the past century, mountain peaks around the world have very slowly been growing taller. It’s not just the polar ice caps that are losing their ice — mountains are losing their glaciers as well. The weight of the ice compressed the mountains, but with that ice gone, the mountains are expanding — albeit at a very slow, almost unnoticeable pace.
4. Eating Meat Contributes to Carbon Emissions
In fact, livestock food production contributes to an estimated 20 percent of all greenhouse gas emissions, one study found. And compared with other protein categories, such as poultry or pork, beef requires 5 times more resources total than any other. Most shockingly, beef requires 28 times more land, 11 times more water, and 6 times more fertilizer.
5. Climate Change Could Raise Average U.S. Temperatures by Another 4 Degrees F by 2100
If current projections stay on course, the average U.S. temperature could rise another 4 degrees, increasing to 11 degrees Fahrenheit. That might not seem like much, but a 4-degree increase overall could have devastating effects everywhere. In the Southwest and Southeast, for example, the average number of days above 90 degrees F could increase from 60 to more than 150 days.
Of course, the exact course that climate change will take depends on a lot of factors, including what steps we take to minimize our carbon footprint and what “green” and sustainable technology we invest in to reduce climate change and potentially even reverse some of its effects.
