Community Articles
General News · 11th January 2024
Friends of Cortes - Max
2023 Climate Round-Up: A Wake-Up Call
It was an alarmingly hot year. It was the hottest year on record. This aligns with global trends identified in IPCC reports, indicating an unsafe rate of climate change, an emergency.
Have you noticed ecological changes, or experienced water stress? We're keen to hear your observations. Are you concerned, angry, afraid -- you're not alone. To address this crisis, we need collective action. Join us at climate.focigmail.com.
Educate and Mobilize: Join Our Book Club
To deepen our understanding, we're hosting a book club focused on "Facing the Climate Emergency." We have a copy for you and invite you to the discussion. Synopsis here: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/53014001-facing-the-climate-emergency
Scientific Community Echoes Concerns
2023's temperatures have not only been a topic of public discourse but have also stunned climate scientists. For instance, a researcher at Berkley Earth referred to the September global highs as "gobsmackingly bananas".
Several leading climate scientists published a State of The Climate Report in bioscience. Their abstract reads: "Life on planet Earth is under siege. We are now in an uncharted territory...Unfortunately, time is up."
https://academic.oup.com/bioscience/article/73/12/841/7319571?login=false
The Copernicus Climate Change Service (C3S) provides a comprehensive 2023 review, highlighting the significant, and sometimes unexpected, changes in the Earth's climate systems. More details can be found here:
https://climate.copernicus.eu/global-climate-highlights-2023
and in a related CBC article:
https://www.cbc.ca/news/science/2023-hottest-year-on-record-1.7077959#:~:text=2023%20was%20hottest%20year%20on%20record%2C%20new%20data%20confirms&text=3%3A27-,According%20to%20the%20European%20Union's%20Copernicus%20Climate%20Change%20Service%2C%202023,2016's%20record%20of%201.25%20C.
Underestimation of Climate Change Impacts
Recent studies, including those referenced by the IPCC, suggest that the effects of certain air pollutants in masking global warming were previously underestimated. Stricter air pollution regulations, especially in global shipping, are revealing the true extent of the heating we’ve caused.
Canadian Wildfires: A Stark Indicator
Canada experienced a horrific wildfire season in 2023, leading to the evacuation orders of approximately 250,000 Canadians. The old record for area burned was broken by more than 2x. These events are consistent with IPCC findings that link increased wildfire frequency and intensity to global warming. There is still room for hope and the situation is a bit complicated. A detailed analysis can be found here: https://thetradeoff.substack.com/p/how-will-this-years-insane-wildfire.
Emissions, Trajectories, and Tipping Points
There is cautious optimism that 2023 could mark a peak in global emissions, as per projections in some IPCC scenarios. However, the realization that severe climate impacts are occurring at lower levels of warming than previously expected is concerning. The risk of triggering self-reinforcing feedback loops, even at current warming levels, could lead to catastrophic consequences, as discussed in this OECD report: https://www.oecd-ilibrary.org/environment/climate-tipping-points_abc5a69e-en.
The Need for Radical Change
Our commitments under the Paris Agreement require massive reductions in emissions in the next few years, while we simultaneously support other poorer nations in reducing emissions while attending to much need improvements in living standards. We need people power for this.
Here is a great article explaining our responsibilities under the Paris Agreement:
https://rosagalvez.ca/en/initiatives/climate-accountability/canada-s-fair-share-of-emissions-reductions-under-the-paris-agreement/
To avert the worst of the climate crisis, radical societal and policy changes are necessary, fast. This aligns with IPCC recommendations for urgent and unprecedented transitions in all aspects of society. Your involvement is crucial in building momentum for these changes.
Join us in this vital effort to address the climate emergency. Contact us at foci.climategmail.com.
It was an alarmingly hot year. It was the hottest year on record. This aligns with global trends identified in IPCC reports, indicating an unsafe rate of climate change, an emergency.
Have you noticed ecological changes, or experienced water stress? We're keen to hear your observations. Are you concerned, angry, afraid -- you're not alone. To address this crisis, we need collective action. Join us at climate.focigmail.com.
Educate and Mobilize: Join Our Book Club
To deepen our understanding, we're hosting a book club focused on "Facing the Climate Emergency." We have a copy for you and invite you to the discussion. Synopsis here: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/53014001-facing-the-climate-emergency
Scientific Community Echoes Concerns
2023's temperatures have not only been a topic of public discourse but have also stunned climate scientists. For instance, a researcher at Berkley Earth referred to the September global highs as "gobsmackingly bananas".
Several leading climate scientists published a State of The Climate Report in bioscience. Their abstract reads: "Life on planet Earth is under siege. We are now in an uncharted territory...Unfortunately, time is up."
https://academic.oup.com/bioscience/article/73/12/841/7319571?login=false
The Copernicus Climate Change Service (C3S) provides a comprehensive 2023 review, highlighting the significant, and sometimes unexpected, changes in the Earth's climate systems. More details can be found here:
https://climate.copernicus.eu/global-climate-highlights-2023
and in a related CBC article:
https://www.cbc.ca/news/science/2023-hottest-year-on-record-1.7077959#:~:text=2023%20was%20hottest%20year%20on%20record%2C%20new%20data%20confirms&text=3%3A27-,According%20to%20the%20European%20Union's%20Copernicus%20Climate%20Change%20Service%2C%202023,2016's%20record%20of%201.25%20C.
Underestimation of Climate Change Impacts
Recent studies, including those referenced by the IPCC, suggest that the effects of certain air pollutants in masking global warming were previously underestimated. Stricter air pollution regulations, especially in global shipping, are revealing the true extent of the heating we’ve caused.
Canadian Wildfires: A Stark Indicator
Canada experienced a horrific wildfire season in 2023, leading to the evacuation orders of approximately 250,000 Canadians. The old record for area burned was broken by more than 2x. These events are consistent with IPCC findings that link increased wildfire frequency and intensity to global warming. There is still room for hope and the situation is a bit complicated. A detailed analysis can be found here: https://thetradeoff.substack.com/p/how-will-this-years-insane-wildfire.
Emissions, Trajectories, and Tipping Points
There is cautious optimism that 2023 could mark a peak in global emissions, as per projections in some IPCC scenarios. However, the realization that severe climate impacts are occurring at lower levels of warming than previously expected is concerning. The risk of triggering self-reinforcing feedback loops, even at current warming levels, could lead to catastrophic consequences, as discussed in this OECD report: https://www.oecd-ilibrary.org/environment/climate-tipping-points_abc5a69e-en.
The Need for Radical Change
Our commitments under the Paris Agreement require massive reductions in emissions in the next few years, while we simultaneously support other poorer nations in reducing emissions while attending to much need improvements in living standards. We need people power for this.
Here is a great article explaining our responsibilities under the Paris Agreement:
https://rosagalvez.ca/en/initiatives/climate-accountability/canada-s-fair-share-of-emissions-reductions-under-the-paris-agreement/
To avert the worst of the climate crisis, radical societal and policy changes are necessary, fast. This aligns with IPCC recommendations for urgent and unprecedented transitions in all aspects of society. Your involvement is crucial in building momentum for these changes.
Join us in this vital effort to address the climate emergency. Contact us at foci.climategmail.com.