The Heat: Climate emergency

The Heat

The Oxford dictionary elected “climate emergency” as word of the year. The usage of the expression grew one hundred times in the last twelve months, but only just recently was used in a scientific report.

The study, signed by more than 11,000 specialists from one hundred and 53 countries, marks the first time a large group of scientists has formally labeled climate change an emergency.

This year, the planet has seen a lot of extreme weather events, like the recent flooding of Venice, Italy – or the bushfires in Australia, that shrouded Sydney with a thick haze. According to the study, they were caused by human actions that increased greenhouse gas emissions. The scientists also listed six major steps to address the crisis.

To discuss:

  • William Moomaw is an Emeritus Professor of International Environmental Policy at Tufts University.
  • Paul Bledsoe is president of Bledsoe and Associates and served as a climate advisor for U.S. President Bill Clinton.
  • Amy Davidsen is Executive Director, North America, Climate Group.
  • Bob Ward is a director at the Grantham Research Institute on Climate Change and the Environment.

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