It's not just about polar bears
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Dear Leading Ladies,
In more refreshing news from Washington, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) unveiled a revamped website on Climate Change Indicators last Wednesday, calling it a “comprehensive resource.” The Associated Press heralded the update, saying the site now “presents clear and compelling evidence of changes to the climate.” As we all recall, no new information was allowed to be posted on the site during the former administration, and the effects of climate change were regularly disputed and downplayed.
As we get ready for our upcoming May 24th kNOw MORE! Zoom discussion about the documentary Chasing Ice, we thought this would be a perfect time to share some information on climate change, too – specifically about the significance of global warming and shrinking glaciers.
Photo courtesy of worldwildlife.org
Is this all about polar bears?
First, we’ll start with a definition. A glacier, according to the National Geographic Society, “is a huge mass of ice that moves slowly over land...Glaciers fall into two groups: alpine glaciers and ice sheets.”
Second, why are glaciers important? “Glaciers play a crucial role in the prevention of global warming, acting as giant mirrors, deflecting sunlight from the Earth’s surface back into the atmosphere and regulating the temperature of the planet,” explains Kara Rae of Sciencing. “Runoff from glacial melting forms rivers that people around the world depend on for fresh water.” The World Wildlife Fund explains further: “Ice acts like a protective cover over the Earth and our oceans. These bright white spots reflect excess heat back into space and keep the planet cooler.”
So what’s the problem?
“As humans continue to pour greenhouse gases into the atmosphere,” an article in National Geographic explains, “the world’s seas have absorbed more than 90 percent of the heat from these gases, but it’s taking a toll.” As the glaciers melt, the oceans rise. Average sea levels swelled over 8 inches from 1880-2019, with close to three inches from 2016-2019.
And what difference does that make?
Although it is natural for the structures of glaciers to fluctuate and for there to be some melting and restoration (Rae, Sciencing), this recent rapid change can have devastating effects on coastal habitats, and “cause destructive erosion, wetland flooding, aquifer and agricultural soil contamination...and lost habitats for fish, birds, and plants,” according to National Geographic. “Coastal communities will continue to face billion-dollar disaster recovery bills as flooding becomes more frequent and storms become more intense,” the World Wildlife Fund explains. And yes, in the Arctic, walruses and polar bears are losing their homes and food sources. Moreover, the rising sea levels caused by the melting glaciers correlate with more frequent and dangerous hurricanes and typhoons leading to land and property damage and deaths. On a more widespread but less life-threatening level, “The prospect of higher coastal water levels threatens basic services such as Internet access, since much of the underlying communications infrastructure lies in the path of rising seas,” according to Christina Nunez in the National Geographic.
Moreover, the rising sea levels caused by the melting glaciers correlate with more frequent and dangerous hurricanes and typhoons leading to land and property damage and deaths.
To put the threat more strongly, “If all the ice that currently exists on Earth in glaciers and sheets melted it would raise sea level by 216 feet. That could cause entire states and even some countries to disappear under the waves, from Florida to Bangladesh,” says Nunez. “That’s not a scenario scientists think is likely, and it would probably take many centuries, but it could eventually happen if the world keeps burning fossil fuels indiscriminately.”
Is it already too late?
There is no question that irreparable damage has been done. According to the World Wildlife Fund, “Even if we significantly curb emissions in the coming decades, more than a third of the world’s remaining glaciers will melt before the year 2100. When it comes to sea ice, 95% of the oldest and thickest ice in the Arctic is already gone.” Furthermore, “Scientists project that if emissions continue to rise unchecked, the Arctic could be ice free in the summer as soon as the year 2040 as ocean and air temperatures continue to rise rapidly.”
“95% of the oldest and thickest ice in the Arctic is already gone”
But let’s note the important word: “unchecked.”
There is still time to stem the tide and stop more damage from occurring.
What can we do?
Alternative energy sources, such as solar panels, wind turbines, and geothermal energy, as we all know, provide the largest solutions to global warming. We need to stop relying on coal, natural gas, and oil for our electricity and heat. To do this will take far more than our individual efforts, but that doesn’t mean our personal behaviors can’t make a difference.
We clearly can lower our household emissions in several ways. For instance,
Look into purchasing solar panels or buying power from a solar farm
Consider buying an electric or hybrid vehicle
Drive as little as possible and walk, bike, carpool, or use public transportation when we can
Take shorter showers and turn off the water while brushing our teeth
Switch off lights and electronics when they are not in use
Hang laundry outside to dry
And, of course, we can all buy less, reuse, recycle, and compost more
The World Wildlife Fund also advises concerned persons to reach out to their local elected officials to find out if their cities or towns have disaster response plans. Those of us who live on the coast are particularly vulnerable to the rising tides and ocean levels. For example, the Surging Seas Risk Finder reveals that about 230 people in Beverly, Massachusetts live on exposed land below 5 ft (the selected level) and there is a 83% risk of at least one flood over 5 ft taking place between today and 2050 in the area.
In sum, although humans have become used to the burning of fossil fuels to support our way of life, there are alternatives. And those alternatives are crucial to the existence of our planet and its inhabitants. Let’s continue to support the candidates and public officials who are actively working to curb climate change and global warming.
Recommendation
This week, in preparation for next Monday evening’s kNOw MORE! Zoom discussion, we recommend (yes, again!) you watch, Chasing Ice. The startlingly beautiful – and disturbing – photography tells the story of global warming with more urgency than words.
Be well, enjoy some outdoor dining, but don’t throw your masks away yet.
Oh, yes, and keep the hope!
Therese Melden
Judy Klein
Mary Barthelmes
Beth Forbes
Leading Ladies Executive Team
ladies@leadingladiesvote.org
Leadingladiesvote.org