Duke Energy, other top global polluters must rapidly phase out – not expand – fossil fuels!
An international climate science team led by James Hansen says the acceleration of global heating has been greatly underestimated, that a crucial threshold of 1.5 degrees Celsius is now being crossed and that an even more disturbing international target of 2.0 is “pretty much dead.”
The highly acclaimed Hansen blames rising pollution by fossil fuel corporations and other “greedy interests” for continued long-term heating. A key factor for the surging heat of the past two years is, ironically, a reduction in pollution from the shipping industry, which has allowed more heat to reach the Earth’s surface.
The scientists say there is still a little time to avert the worst effects of climate crisis, but that without major reductions in climate pollution, crucial ocean currents could break down within 20-30 years. This would further accelerate catastrophic weather such as storms, deadly heat waves and droughts, plus lead to rising seas that overwhelm coastal cities.
Duke Energy Corporation – based in Charlotte, NC – is among the fossil fuel giants that simply must stop expanding the burning of fracked gas while blocking the growth of solar power!
Some scientists think Hansen’s results are overly pessimistic, but others point out his decades-long track record of accuracy with long range climate projections.
SHUTDOWN OF KEY OCEAN CURRENTS
Both the Arctic and Antarctic are warming many times faster than other parts of the planet. Because of the fast melting of ice sheets, Hansen’s team says a “shutdown of the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation (AMOC) is likely within the next 20-30 years, unless actions are taken to reduce global warming” (emphases added).
“If it shuts down, the heat stays in the Southern Hemisphere and will lock in many meters of sea level rise,” which Hansen refers to as “the sleeping giant” and “the point of no return.”
Climate scientist Jonathan Overpeck of the University of Michigan said, “If we don’t start phasing out the use of fossil fuels, climate change – and not just the warming – will get much more costly … Weather and climate disasters of the type we’re already seeing more of will continue to get a lot worse.”
###
* Tragically, nearly all US news media have failed to cover this science. A few exceptions include The Guardian, Inside Climate News and Eco Watch and we have used some of their text above.
Now in its 37th year, NC WARN is building people power in the climate and energy justice movement to persuade or require Charlotte-based Duke Energy – one of the world’s largest climate polluters – to make a quick transition to renewable, affordable power generation and energy efficiency in order to avert climate tipping points and ongoing rate hikes.
