Warmest Ocean Water Ever
January 14, 2025
A snapshot of our science
While the majority of Americans across party lines recognize climate change is happening, many do not understand how it will impact them directly and why there is urgency to address it. To help all of us understand why this is such an important issue, our non-partisan program provides scientifically grounded answers to the five questions many of us have about climate change. Here’s a preview of the science section of our Climate Primer and those questions!
Recent Posts
How do we know climate change is real?
Indicators: Glaciers Melting and Retreating
These two pictures are of the Muir Glacier in Alaska, taken from the exact same place, same time of year—but about 60 years apart. The Muir glacier moved back about 7 miles and its thickness decreased by about ½ a mile.
Unlocking the Past
Using the discipline of paleo-climatology, Scientists can pull up ice cores that are over 800,000 years old, and in those ice cores are little air pockets trapped by frozen snow. Scientists can analyze them for carbon levels, which also gives them a sense of temperature. We are in uncharted territory and that we are at the highest levels of carbon dioxide in our air in 800,000 years.
How do we know climate change is caused by humans?
Scientists have a discipline called atmospheric chemistry, which allows them to analyze the different carbon dioxide molecules to see which ones were put into the atmosphere by man’s activities and which ones were put there through natural occurrences. Molecules produced by burning fossil fuels have a different ratio of carbon isotopes, a different atomic fingerprint, that can be measured.
What is the Scientific Consensus?
Trusted experts
What are the dangers?
The 3 things Americans say are most important when they vote are: jobs and the economy, health and personal security, and geopolitical stability as experienced by refugee crisis, civil chaos, and terrorism. See the effect Climate Change could cause.
Is there hope?
Yes! Here are a few reasons why:
The economic equation has changed. The difficulty and cost of transitioning to cleaner technologies have come down from what they were ten years ago, so we can look at the economic equation very differently. Studies show the U.S. could reach net-zero by 2050 with no significant increase in costs.
Financial institutions and businesses are demanding and driving climate action. The Federal Reserve called climate change a threat to the stability of our financial system. Leading investor Larry Fink said, “climate risk is investment risk” and is pressuring companies to take climate action.
There is great power in nature to regenerate. Large-scale protection, restoration, and better land management practices can help stabilize climate change, pulling almost a third of excess carbon dioxide out of the atmosphere.
Other countries are leading. It’s not just the U.S. by itself. Today more than 110 countries plus many states and cities have all pledged to be carbon neutral by mid-century. Together, they represent more than 70% of global GDP.
New technology is on the horizon. New technologies that reduce, capture, or repurpose greenhouse gas emissions or replace fossil fuel energy will cause a greater tech revolution than telecom in the 90s.
The U.S. is less divided on this issue than we think. Americans as a whole are no longer divided on this issue, with policymakers from both sides of the aisle finding the political will to find common ground.
Resources
There are many ways you can make a difference. We’ve got a great list to get started.
Book a Primer
You’ve seen our preview, now get the details! Bring the C-Change Team to your community.
Ask a Climate Scientist
Have a climate change question that you’ve been thinking about? Ask our advisors!
Stay Connected
Get the latest news on climate change and what inspires us delivered to your inbox.