clair031

Summary .   A survey of Americans in spring 2011 shows that almost 40% are grouped as Alarmed or Concerned about global warming . Many of them understand that greenhouse gases arising from burning fossil fuels are responsible for global warming.   10% of respondents are Dismissive of global warming, so that they feel that human activity is not responsible for it.   Those surveyed understand that many remedial actions can be taken to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.   The personal attitudes reflected in the survey results are mirrored in the way people identify with the political parties active in the U. S. Introduction .   In the United States , political action to establish a framework addressing global warming under law has so far not been possible.   In spite of persistent efforts by environmental groups supporting an environmental policy law, other interests have opposed this effort, seeking to weaken or defeat proposed legislation.   In such a p...

Labels . global warming,climate change,greenhouse gases,carbon dioxide,CO2, extreme weather,heat wave,drought,flooding,Pakistani floods,Russian wheat,crop loss,wildfires,bark beetles,economic costs,econometrics Summary .   Global warming is predicted to increase the probability of extreme weather events that have the potential of harming human livelihood.   This post summarizes three extreme events whose occurrence is consistent with predicted effects of global warming: the massive flooding in Pakistan in 2010, the severe drought and failure of the wheat crop in Russia in 2010, and increased numbers and severity of wildfires in recent years in the American west.   Each of these is associated with very large economic and societal costs.   To date we have paid these costs only in a reaction to the event, after the fact.   An alternative strategy is to invest in measures, and undertake policies, that reduce greenhouse gas emissions, so that the increase in globa...

Summary : Wildfires have occurred in the western United States with increasing frequency and greater severity in recent decades.   This has been associated with increased average temperatures, lower precipitation and lower humidity in the affected areas.   The stress on trees from these conditions make them prone to bark beetle infestation as well, leading to extensive loss of trees from the pests, even more pronounced than from wildfires.   Similar patterns arise elsewhere in world as well.   These events, as well as extremes of rainfall, major flooding, and diminished yields of important staple crops, are all attributable to global warming, and are predicted to become worse as more greenhouse gases accumulate leading to even greater warming of the atmosphere.   Humanity is faced with choices concerning global warming.   We may choose preventive investments in policies to minimize the worsening of global warming.   Otherwise we may choose simply to ...