Working with climate scenarios for 20 years, the part that has always struck me the most was the scientific consensus that extreme events will become 'more frequent and more severe'. I think like many of us, we didn't think the scale and scope would be happening so soon. But, I'm most afraid that this is just a sampling of what's to come. I think it's time we stop arguing about scenarios in the future but focus on how we are going to manage socio-economic and ecological systems that have developed under relatively stable climate conditions. The present and the future will no longer look anything like the past. The arguments about which scenario path we are on for 2050 just doesn't seem all that relevant when the fires, floods, hurricanes, droughts, and extreme heat events are happening now and will only get worse.
“Things are crazy. We’re in uncharted territory. And that’s scary. Frightening. I’ve been doing this for over 40 years, and our models of temperature increases have been pretty darn good. But the impacts are more severe, frequent and intense than I expected. Things are happening, in terms of impact, much more rapidly than I expected. It was always like, “Well, yes, I’m really worried about 30, 50 years from now.” Now, I’m worried about what’s going to happen next year, let alone the next 10 or 20 years.” Mike Flannigan , a fire scientist at Thompson Rivers University said. He and other #climate #scientists share their insights and concerns as the #climatecrisis unfolds. The concluding line of the article wisely describes where we are: “ This moment is a strange mix of grief and hope. On the one hand, I know how precarious our situation is. On the other, we have the tools and ideas, if put into action, that can make a world of difference.” Jonathan Parfrey , executive director of Climate Resolve in #california As #hurricanehilary is about to bring unprecedented #flood and #storm damage how more times Bill McKibben needs to say: “If There Was Ever a Wake-up Call, This Is It” ( he said this after #hurricane Sandy back in 2012!) #climatecrisis #climateaction #parisagreement #sustainability #extremeweather
Simone Sala
1y
Your concern is indeed mine, Jamie!
Climate & Legal policy development
1yI'm still getting blackballed for suggesting it would go this way, because of the way IPCC does things- Mann and Hansen fighting about how long it would take net zero w to slow the warming rate.