It’s hardly surprising that researchers who spend their lives exploring the dire effects of climate change might experience emotional consequences from their work. Yet, increasingly, Cobb, Shukla, and others in the field have begun publicly discussing the psychological impact of contending with data pointing to a looming catastrophe, dealing with denialism and attacks on science, and observing government inaction in the face of climate change. “Scientists are talking about an intense mix of emotions right now,” says Christine Arena, executive producer of the docuseries Let Science Speak, which featured climate researchers speaking out against efforts to silence or ignore science. “There’s deep grief and anxiety for what’s being lost, followed by rage at continued political inaction, and finally hope that we can indeed solve this challenge. There are definitely tears and trembling voices. They know this deep truth: They are on the front lines of contending with the fear, anger, and perhaps even panic the rest of us will have to deal with.”
Mother Jones 8th July 2019 read more »
Edinburgh will have the climate Paris enjoys now and London the weather of Barcelona within three decades as the UK’s climate effectively moves 900 miles south, according to a landmark study. Over the same period, Leeds and Cardiff will be having Melbourne’s weather, while Manchester’s temperatures will resemble Lyon in southern France. Further afield, the researchers found more than three-quarters of the world’s major cities will see “striking” changes in temperature and rainfall patterns by 2050 – and they say that is a conservative estimate based on relatively low levels of global warming.
Scotsman 11th July 2019 read more »
The i News 11th July 2019 read more »
Guardian 10th July 2019 read more »
Herald 10th July 2019 read more »
Climate crisis activists have announced plans to stage major protests across the UK next week. Extinction Rebellion’s Summer Uprising is part of an ongoing campaign to urge the government to halt biodiversity loss and cut green house gas emissions. Campaigners are demanding politicians reduce emissions to ‘net zero’ by 2025. They have also called for the creation of a citizen’s assembly on climate and ecological justice. The demonstrations will take place in Bristol, Cardiff, Leeds, London and Glasgow. The Scottish protest will focus on justice for climate change refugees. Today the Extinction Rebellion organisers confirmed around 1,000 people have committed to being arrested during the uprising with as many as 500 willing to risk prison over their actions ‘if necessary’.
Scotsman 10th July 2019 read more »
The continuous accumulation of carbon dioxide in the planet’s oceans—which shows no sign of stopping due to humanity’s relentless consumption of fossil fuels—is likely to trigger a chemical reaction in Earth’s carbon cycle similar to those which happened just before mass extinction events, according to a new study. MIT geophysics professor Daniel Rothman released new data on Monday showing that carbon levels today could be fast approaching a tipping point threshold that could trigger extreme ocean acidification similar to the kind that contributed to the Permian–Triassic mass extinction that occurred about 250 million years ago.
Common Dreams 9th July 2019 read more »