Green Patchwork

New evidence that shows that climate change is having a direct impact on animals, plants, and humans has been outlined in a recent report by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC). The bleak conclusion of the report is that people living in poverty would be worst affected by the effects of climate change because they will be the least equipped to deal with the changes. Read more at BBC News’ “Billions Face Climate Change Risk”.

Last month I wrote a post about the Alberta tar sands which currently is providing the U.S. with 16% of their oil imports. I found another article on the topic in OnEarth magazine and what I read gives me a feeling of great sadness. Canadians are destroying a forest the size of Florida and creating a toxic wasteland that is unsafe for wildlife and will continue to emit greenhouse gases for a temporary oil fix. Read the article “Canada’s Highway to Hell”.

I have been to Arizona once just to see the southern rim of the Grand Canyon, but when I think of the rest of the state I think “hot and dry”. I think of it as being a desert state and not somewhere to live, but many people do live there and they deal with the heat thanks to air conditioning and sprinkler systems.

In a climate that would otherwise be inhospitable, we have built large cities and golf courses during times of abundant rainfall. Those times are over and now the dry west is heavily reliant on rainfall and the Colorado River. Rainfall has decreased and the water level of the Colorado River is at an all time low. So what is to become of the western states and their beloved golf courses?

Water is a precious commodity in the wild dry west and water shortages have ignited tensions between urban and rural users. Read this National Geographic article and don’t forget to look at the photo gallery.

With the change in climate zones around the world comes the extinction of plant and animal species. Humans would also be affected and the result would be large migration of peoples to other places. “A new study shows that as climate change intensifies droughts, storms and floods, this will undoubtedly lead to environmental migrations and potential conflicts in the areas migrated to” (Daily Galaxy). Read the article for more details.

In another article posted in the Daily Galaxy,“The Timeline for 21st Century Climate Change Events”, scientist Stephen Hawking described climate change as a greater threat to the planet than terrorism.