Civilization began ~12,000 years ago in a period of relative stability. The last ice age had retreated, the seasons became predictable, and a few ambitious leaders saw an opportunity to grab power and place themselves above everyone else. Cities soon arose, society became stratified, and armies were formed, leading to kingdoms, empires, and finally corporations.
After that the real damage got underway, with the burgeoning growth of the industrial revolution. Factories, skyscrapers, suburbs … millions of acres of rainforest destroyed for agriculture, billions of cars and trucks on the highways, jet planes transporting us on business trips and overseas vacations … giant cargo ships crisscrossing the globe, carrying huge containers of disposable plastic products, fulfilling an insatiable consumer demand driven by advertising.
And what made all this possible? Fossil fuels. The burning of coal, oil, and gas.
As a result, more than a *trillion* tons of carbon dioxide have been pumped into the air over the last two centuries, radically altering atmospheric chemistry in the geological blink of an eye.
Nothing like this has ever happened before in the entire history of our planet. Today we are beginning to see the disastrous outcome of such an insane uncontrolled experiment.
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♦️ In the United States —
A record-breaking heat wave is entering its third week in Texas, as temperatures reach triple digits in the broader US south, and tens of thousands of people in affected states are without power and lack air conditioning.
More than 40 million people in the US are under a heat alert.
Texas cities have reached an unprecedented heat index – which combines temperature and humidity. Corpus Christi has hit 125F (51C), while Rio Grande Village notched 118F (47C), and Del Rio marked 115F (46C). States including New Mexico, Louisiana, Arkansas, Kansas and Missouri are also experiencing scorching heat, with the National Weather Service predicting the temperatures to rise further and last into the week of 4 July.
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2023/jun/24/texas-heatwave-high-temperatures-power
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♦️ In Canada's boreal forests —
Wildfires across Canada this year have burned 6.5 million hectares (16 million acres), raising concern over Canada’s ability to rebuild.
The 6.5 million hectares burned this year during the spring wildfire season is a figure higher than the entire 2016, 2019, 2020, and 2022 seasons combined.
https://www.digitaljournal.com/world/op-ed-will-canadians-bounce-back-after-the-worst-wildfire-season-ever/article
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♦️ In China —
Beijing and parts of northern China are experiencing record temperatures, with authorities urging people to limit their time outdoors.
The Nanjiao observatory in southern Beijing for the first time ever recorded temperatures above 40C (104F) on a third consecutive day.
Beijing experienced its second-hottest day on record on Thursday – with temperatures soaring to 41.1C. It was also the highest temperature ever recorded in China’s capital during the month of June.
Temperatures have also soared above 40C in recent days in nearby Hebei province and the port city of Tianjin, prompting authorities to issue red alerts for extreme weather.
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/jun/24/northern-china-swelters-in-record-temperatures
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Also...
♦️ Ocean temperatures are off the charts, startling scientists.
♦️ Global sea ice is at record low levels and shows no sign of recovering.
Let's face it. This is not the climate and environment your ancestors lived in. This is not even the climate and environment YOU were born into.
It's a completely different and very dangerous world now.
#Environment #Climate #ClimateChange #ClimateCrisis #ClimateEmergency #Capitalism #CO2 #Emissions
