The Human Induced Climate Change Experiment
Global Warming Research and Educational Materials

The increase in extreme weather events wreak havoc on humans' ability to adapt to the changing environment. For instance, severe droughts followed by severe rains create devastating floods. The parched earth can not absorb the water. The run-off produces contaminated flood waters that pollute the drinking water supply and breed diseases. The extreme weather events in the United States have overburdened FEMA (Federal Emergency Management Agency) and jeopardized flood insurance.

Feedback loops accelerate global warming. For example, global warming has resulted in tree deaths and deforestation. Trees are a natural carbon sink for carbon dioxide, as well as, provide shade and retain moisture. As trees die from the effects of global warming, climate change is accelerated resulting in more tree deaths.

Global warming has caused irreparable damage to our environment. Almost all scientist agree that IN FACT global warming is a problem. Humans have caused the destruction of the Earth's environment. Our planet has become unfit for human life. Now the question is can we adapt in time?

The answer is "probably not." Air and water are the two most basic needs for human survival. Fresh air and fresh water are becoming scarce natural resources. Fresh water is being threatened by a decreasing supply of potable water, as well as, salt water intrusion due to the rising sea level. Air pollution is now the leading cause of death and contributor to illness.

There is a rapid increase in the number of deaths and ailments attributed to climate change. For humans that can survive the effects, they must migrate. The ever increasing numbers of immigrants are known as climate change refugees. (2015)

Hope Versus Climate Change
Global warming is a huge problem; however, we can make it much worse if we keep burning fossil carbon and killing ecosystems.

The hopeful bit is that:

1. Coal is dead. The US energy information administration confirms coal production is declining across the country. Greenpeace reports that globally “coal is in terminal decline.”
2. Solar and battery cost and efficiencies already make sense, so much so that utilities must embrace them or die.
3. Electric cars are coming faster than we imagine.
4. Nearly 200 countries have signed-on to the Paris Agreement. The aim of the agreement is:
   1. Holding the increase in the global average temperature, recognizing that this would significantly reduce the risks and impacts of climate change;
   2. Increasing the ability to adapt to the adverse impacts of climate change and foster climate resilience and low greenhouse gas emissions development, in a manner that does not threaten food production;
   3. Making finance flows consistent with a pathway towards low greenhouse gas emissions and climate-resilient development.

   “Countries furthermore aim to reach global peaking of greenhouse gas emissions as soon as possible.”

5. If we do all this and more, we might save East Antarctica (which is another 150-200 feet of sea level rise over Greenland and West Antarctica melt of 30 feet SLR or so. Many species that are probably crucial to our survival could be saved.)

As for hope, it was said in another war, “It is not necessary to hope, in order to persevere.”