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As I See It

Warning clear, action not so much

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The warning is stark and dire. Unfortunately, it seems despite the clear warning, little is likely to change. The Intergovernmental Panel on climate change is a group of scientists representing countries that make up the United Nations. They put out a report this week which, if accurate, gives humans precious little time to change our ways to protect the planet. The report warns that if nation’s don’t work to reduce their carbon emissions, and quickly, the global temperature will continue to rise. The scientists say efforts need to be made to keep the temperature from rising by more than 1.5 degrees celsius by 2030. That means reducing carbon emissions by 45%. The good news, scientists say, is that such an effort is possible. The laws of chemistry and physics say it is possible to limit warming to no more than 1.5 degrees. But the question is whether there is the political will to do so. Our leaders, like President Trump who has worked to roll back emission standards, can’t even seem to agree the planet is warming, much less that humans are largely responsible for it. In order for the goals of this report to be accomplished, it would require an unprecedented by the counties of the world, an effort the likes of which the planet has never seen. If the goals are not met, the report warns, we will see more intense heatwaves, heavy rains, flooding, wildfires, hurricanes and a rise in the sea level. The foremost experts on climate science have told us what needs to be done. But it seems quite clear that apathy and a lack of political will make reaching that goal unlikely.

Scott Robert Shaw serves as WIZM Program Director and News Director, and delivers the morning news on WKTY, Z-93 and 95.7 The Rock. Scott has been at Mid-West Family La Crosse since 1989, and authors Wisconsin's only daily radio editorial, "As I See It" heard on WIZM each weekday morning and afternoon.

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