Carbon Dioxide Emissions as a Cause of Climate Change
Global carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions from burning fossil fuels will rise to a record 36 billion metric tons this year, a study by 49 researchers from 10 countries found, showing the failure of governments to rein in the main greenhouse gas.
A minor but very important component of the atmosphere, carbon dioxide is released through natural processes such as respiration and volcanic eruptions and through human activities such as deforestation, land use changes, and burning fossil fuels. Humans have increased atmospheric CO2 concentration by a third since the Industrial Revolution began. This is the most important cause of climate change.
Over the last 40 years, carbon dioxide emissions have more than doubled: In 1970, global carbon dioxide emissions were approximately 15.6 billion metric tons; by the year 2010, that number has increased to 33 billion metric tons.
CO2 Emission and U.S. Annual Temperature Data: The U.S. temperatures have changed year by year, but there was a warming trend that coincided with the increase in carbon dioxide emissions. Data archives showed that the amount of carbon dioxide emissions and the U.S. annual temperatures had gradually increased over the years—15.8 billion metric tons of emissions with an annual temperature of 51.7 °F in 1971, 17.5 billion and 52.3 °F in 1973, 17.4 billion and 51.5 °F in 1975, 18.9 billion and 52.6 °F in 1977, 20 billion and 50.9 °F in 1979, 19.4 billion and 53.1 °F in 1981, 19.2 billion and 51.9 °F in 1983, 20 billion and 51.3 °F in 1985, 20.4 billion and 53.3 °F in 1987, 22.0 billion and 51.8 °F in 1989, 22.7 billion and 53.2 °F in 1991, 22.8 billion and 51.3 °F in 1993, 23.6 billion and 52.7 °F in 1995, 24.4 billion and 52.2 °F in 1997, 24.8 billion and 53.9 °F in 1999, 25.4 billion and 53.7 °F in 2001, 27.2 billion and 53.3 °F in 2003, 29.3 billion and 53.6 °F in 2005, 31.4 billion and 53.6 °F in 2007, 31.6 billion and 52.4 °F in 2009, 34.0 billion and 53.2 °F in 2011, and 36.0 billion and 53.0 °F in 2013.
The scientific report was released Tuesday assessing the climate situation in the United States. "Climate change, once considered an issue for a distant future, has moved firmly into the present," the scientists declared.
"If greenhouse gases like carbon dioxide and methane continue to escalate at a rapid pace, the warming could exceed 10 degrees by the end of this century," said Eric Radley, a climate scientist who helped write the report.
The report is the latest in a series of dire warnings about how the effects of global warming that had been long foreseen by climate scientists are already affecting the planet. Its region-by-region documentation of changes occurring in the United States, and of future risks, makes clear that few places will be unscathed.
"There is mounting evidence that harm to the nation will increase substantially in the future unless global emissions of heat-trapping gases are greatly reduced," warned Steve Tobak, a scientist at a California university.
Billion-Dollar Weather/Climate Disasters
The effects of human-induced climate change are being felt in every corner of the United States, the report indicated, with water growing scarcer in dry regions, torrential rains increasing in wet regions, heat waves becoming more common and more severe, wildfires growing worse, and forests dying under assault from heat-loving insects.
Scientists and science writers have pointed out that the increase in the frequency and intensity of natural catastrophes are the immediate consequences of climate change. Andrew McKibben, a science writer, cited scientific results: “The pattern of the increase in the frequency and severity of heat waves, drought, tropical cyclones, tornadoes and floods is very clear. These changes in atmospheric process will have profound impact on the lives, health, and property of millions of people.”
Tropical Cyclones: Tornadoes and Hurricanes
Tornadoes and hurricanes have been menacing the U.S. as long as anyone can remember, but the frequency and severity of the storms, as well as the monetary damages the storms have caused, have increased in recent years, as recent studies indicated.
Annual Tornado Frequency Data: The number of tornadoes per year has shown an increase over the years in general. Specifically, the numbers of tornadoes per year from 1970 to 2012 are as follows: 653 (1970), 888 (1971), 741 (1972), 1102 (1973), 945 (1974), 919 (1975), 834 (1976), 852 (1977), 789 (1978), 855 (1979), 866 (1980), 782 (1981), 1047 (1982), 931 (1983), 907 (1984), 684 (1985), 765 (1986), 656 (1987), 702 (1988), 856 (1989), 1133 (1990), 1132 (1991), 1297 (1992), 1173 (1993), 1082 (1994), 1234 (1995), 1180 (1996), 1154 (1997), 1440 (1998), 1361 (1999), 1077 (2000), 1231 (2001), 955 (2002), 1415 (2003), 1836 (2004), 1263 (2005), 1139 (2006), 1115 (2007), 1737 (2008), 1181 (2009), 1318 (2010), 1775 (2011), and 955 (2012).
The devastation from Hurricane Sandy rang in at $65 billion, leaving 72 people dead and more than 6 million homeless.
The record sea-ice loss during 2012 summer, one of the many effects of human activities influencing Earth’s climate, could have set up the atmospheric pattern that sent Sandy barreling into the Northeast.
"Extreme weather of all sorts has been increasing around the Northern Hemisphere," said Chris Francis, one of the scientists who looked at the link between climate change and extreme weather events. "(Sandy) is the kind of situation we'd expect to see more of as greenhouse gases continue to build up in the atmosphere and sea level continues to rise."
Floods
Norfolk, Virginia, constantly wrestles with rising waters. The Chrysler Museum of Art, Norfolk's most prestigious art museum had just completed a $24 million renovation that emptied the basement, now accessible only by ladder because of flooding.
High tide seeped up through storm drains, puddled on the promenade and spread, half a foot deep, across the street, where a sign read, “Road Closed.” An accounting firm stood behind a homemade barricade of stanchions and detachable flaps rigged to keep the water out. And a local church was looking to evacuate.
"This is not some distant problem of the future. This is a problem that is affecting people right now,” said Andrea Slade. "I don't know many churches that have to put the tide chart on their Web site," so people know whether they can get to church.
Winter Storms
As the northeastern U.S. braces for the latest in a seemingly endless series of winter storms and severe snowfall, research has shown that the persistent cold weather suffered by much of the United States this 2013-2014 winter may be a result of a rapidly warming Arctic.
The rising annual average temperatures around the globe cause more moisture to be held in the air than the prior seasons. When storms occur, this added moisture can fuel heavier precipitation in the form of more intense rain or snow.
"Overall, it’s warming, but we still have cold winter weather," said atmospheric scientist Kevin Walsh. He added that climate change would cause extreme weather events of different types. "Less of a region’s precipitation is falling in light storms and more of it in heavy storms. Because of this, the risks of drought and wildfire are also greater. Ironically, higher air temperatures tend to produce intense drought periods punctuated by heavy floods, often in the same region."
What’s Next?
Putting a limit on heat-trapping emissions, encouraging the use of healthier, cleaner energy technologies, and increasing energy efficiency are all ways to help avert the worst potential consequences of global warming.
States like New York are required by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to reduce carbon dioxide emissions by nearly a third over the next 15 years.
"Yes, climate change is already here, and we need to make sure that if there is weather like this we are more prepared and protected than we have been before," New York Governor Andrew Cuomo told reporters. "The choices we make today can help determine what our climate will be like in the future."
Climate Change: Causes and Consequences
Carbon Dioxide Emissions as a Cause of Climate Change
Global carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions from burning fossil fuels will rise to a record 36 billion metric tons this year, a study by 49 researchers from 10 countries found, showing the failure of governments to rein in the main greenhouse gas.
A minor but very important component of the atmosphere, carbon dioxide is released through natural processes such as respiration and volcanic eruptions and through human activities such as deforestation, land use changes, and burning fossil fuels. Humans have increased atmospheric CO2 concentration by a third since the Industrial Revolution began. This is the most important cause of climate change.
Over the last 40 years, carbon dioxide emissions have more than doubled: In 1970, global carbon dioxide emissions were approximately 15.6 billion metric tons; by the year 2010, that number has increased to 33 billion metric tons.
CO2 Emission and U.S. Annual Temperature Data: The U.S. temperatures have changed year by year, but there was a warming trend that coincided with the increase in carbon dioxide emissions. Data archives showed that the amount of carbon dioxide emissions and the U.S. annual temperatures had gradually increased over the years—15.8 billion metric tons of emissions with an annual temperature of 51.7 °F in 1971, 17.5 billion and 52.3 °F in 1973, 17.4 billion and 51.5 °F in 1975, 18.9 billion and 52.6 °F in 1977, 20 billion and 50.9 °F in 1979, 19.4 billion and 53.1 °F in 1981, 19.2 billion and 51.9 °F in 1983, 20 billion and 51.3 °F in 1985, 20.4 billion and 53.3 °F in 1987, 22.0 billion and 51.8 °F in 1989, 22.7 billion and 53.2 °F in 1991, 22.8 billion and 51.3 °F in 1993, 23.6 billion and 52.7 °F in 1995, 24.4 billion and 52.2 °F in 1997, 24.8 billion and 53.9 °F in 1999, 25.4 billion and 53.7 °F in 2001, 27.2 billion and 53.3 °F in 2003, 29.3 billion and 53.6 °F in 2005, 31.4 billion and 53.6 °F in 2007, 31.6 billion and 52.4 °F in 2009, 34.0 billion and 53.2 °F in 2011, and 36.0 billion and 53.0 °F in 2013.
The scientific report was released Tuesday assessing the climate situation in the United States. “Climate change, once considered an issue for a distant future, has moved firmly into the present,” the scientists declared.
Others might disagree. According to Eric Radley, a founding member of environmental campaign group, humans are not to blame for global warming. Radley insists “there is no scientific proof that CO2 emissions are the dominant cause of the minor warming of the Earth’s atmosphere.”
The report is the latest in a series of dire warnings about how the effects of global warming that had been long foreseen by climate scientists are already affecting the planet. Its region-by-region documentation of changes occurring in the United States, and of future risks, makes clear that few places will be unscathed.
However, Steve Tobak, a scientist at a California university, points out the lack of evidence, saying, “There is some correlation, but little evidence, to support a direct causal relationship between CO2 and global temperature through the millennia. There are some weather data that fundamentally contradict the certainty that human-caused CO2 emissions are the main cause of global warming.”
Billion-Dollar Weather/Climate Disasters
The effects of human-induced climate change are being felt in every corner of the United States, the report indicated, with water growing scarcer in dry regions, torrential rains increasing in wet regions, heat waves becoming more common and more severe, wildfires growing worse, and forests dying under assault from heat-loving insects.
The U.S. has sustained 151 weather/climate disasters since 1980 where overall damages/costs reached or exceeded $1 billion. The total cost of these 151 events exceeds $1 trillion.
Some scientists and science writers, however, were just as quick to caution that we cannot really attribute any single weather event to climate change. Andrew McKibben, a science writer, drew a clear line against attributing weather disasters directly to recent man-made warming, noting that there had been periods in the past when these events occurred during cooler years: “There remains far too much natural variability in the frequency and potency of rare and powerful weather events.”
Tropical Cyclones: Tornadoes and Hurricanes
Tornadoes and hurricanes have been menacing the U.S. as long as anyone can remember, but the frequency and severity of the storms, as well as the monetary damages the storms have caused, have increased in recent years, as recent studies indicated.
Annual Tornado Frequency Data: The number of tornadoes per year has shown an increase over the years in general. Specifically, the numbers of tornadoes per year from 1970 to 2012 are as follows: 653 (1970), 888 (1971), 741 (1972), 1102 (1973), 945 (1974), 919 (1975), 834 (1976), 852 (1977), 789 (1978), 855 (1979), 866 (1980), 782 (1981), 1047 (1982), 931 (1983), 907 (1984), 684 (1985), 765 (1986), 656 (1987), 702 (1988), 856 (1989), 1133 (1990), 1132 (1991), 1297 (1992), 1173 (1993), 1082 (1994), 1234 (1995), 1180 (1996), 1154 (1997), 1440 (1998), 1361 (1999), 1077 (2000), 1231 (2001), 955 (2002), 1415 (2003), 1836 (2004), 1263 (2005), 1139 (2006), 1115 (2007), 1737 (2008), 1181 (2009), 1318 (2010), 1775 (2011), and 955 (2012).
The devastation from Hurricane Sandy rang in at $65 billion, leaving 72 people dead and more than 6 million homeless.
However, Hurricane Sandy was a Saffir-Simpson Category 1 hurricane (based on intensity, Category 1 is the mildest and Category 5 the most intense), much milder than the Labor Day Hurricane of 1935, or the Galveston Hurricane of 1900 that killed at least 8,000 people.
The link between Hurricane Sandy and climate change, therefore, “is just not supported by science at this time,” said Chris Francis, one of the scientists who looked at the link between climate change and extreme weather events, “it is a big stretch to go from [acknowledging the rising temperatures] to blaming Sandy on climate change.”
Floods
Key West, South Florida, is one of the most vulnerable places to flooding. Many homes were damaged or completely destroyed during a 13-month flooding in 2005, and talk of global warming mounted after those back-to-back bad seasons.
However, no hurricanes have directly hit since. Widespread discussion about climate change subsided. Florida remains as one of the eighteen states nationwide that haven’t adopted plans to cut carbon emissions or taken other steps to combat the effects of climate change.
“We count the tornadoes, we count hurricanes. None of those are increasing. Floods are not increasing,” said Andrea Slade. “The only people who believe in climate change are the insurance companies, who want to keep raising home insurance rates.”
Winter Storms
As the northeastern U.S. braces for the latest in a seemingly endless series of winter storms and severe snowfall, research has shown that the persistent cold weather suffered by much of the United States this 2013-2014 winter may be a result of a rapidly warming Arctic.
Others, however, argue that the cold winder is a proof of a lack of a changing climate. “The temperature extremes in the two winters in the U.S. were opposite,” said atmospheric scientist Kevin Walsh. “I cannot say that the warming of the average global temperature played a role in either of these unusual winters in the U.S.”
Attributing a human influence to individual weather events like winter storms is an emerging area of research that is acknowledged by those involved to be extremely challenging and is questioned by many more, because so many factors are at work. Walsh summed it up bluntly: “There’s no simple link - we can’t say ‘yes’ or ‘no’ this is climate change.”
What’s Next?
Putting a limit on heat-trapping emissions, encouraging the use of healthier, cleaner energy technologies, and increasing energy efficiency seem to be the predominant next steps to reduce man-made warming.
States like Florida are required by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to reduce carbon dioxide emissions by nearly a third over the next 15 years.
Rick Scott, Florida’s GOP governor, struggled to meet that requirement and questioned whether man-made climate change is real and significant. “I have not been convinced that there is any man-made climate change... Nothing’s convinced me that there is.”
Global carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions from burning fossil fuels will rise to a record 36 billion metric tons this year, a study by 49 researchers from 10 countries found, showing the failure of governments to rein in the main greenhouse gas.
A minor but very important component of the atmosphere, carbon dioxide is released through natural processes such as respiration and volcanic eruptions and through human activities such as deforestation, land use changes, and burning fossil fuels. Humans have increased atmospheric CO2 concentration by a third since the Industrial Revolution began. This is the most important cause of climate change.
Over the last 40 years, carbon dioxide emissions have more than doubled: In 1970, global carbon dioxide emissions were approximately 15.6 billion metric tons; by the year 2010, that number has increased to 33 billion metric tons.
CO2 Emission and U.S. Annual Temperature Data: The U.S. temperatures have changed year by year, but there was a warming trend that coincided with the increase in carbon dioxide emissions. Data archives showed that the amount of carbon dioxide emissions and the U.S. annual temperatures had gradually increased over the years—15.8 billion metric tons of emissions with an annual temperature of 51.7 °F in 1971, 17.5 billion and 52.3 °F in 1973, 17.4 billion and 51.5 °F in 1975, 18.9 billion and 52.6 °F in 1977, 20 billion and 50.9 °F in 1979, 19.4 billion and 53.1 °F in 1981, 19.2 billion and 51.9 °F in 1983, 20 billion and 51.3 °F in 1985, 20.4 billion and 53.3 °F in 1987, 22.0 billion and 51.8 °F in 1989, 22.7 billion and 53.2 °F in 1991, 22.8 billion and 51.3 °F in 1993, 23.6 billion and 52.7 °F in 1995, 24.4 billion and 52.2 °F in 1997, 24.8 billion and 53.9 °F in 1999, 25.4 billion and 53.7 °F in 2001, 27.2 billion and 53.3 °F in 2003, 29.3 billion and 53.6 °F in 2005, 31.4 billion and 53.6 °F in 2007, 31.6 billion and 52.4 °F in 2009, 34.0 billion and 53.2 °F in 2011, and 36.0 billion and 53.0 °F in 2013.
The scientific report was released Tuesday assessing the climate situation in the United States. “Climate change, once considered an issue for a distant future, has moved firmly into the present,” the scientists declared.
Others might disagree. According to Eric Radley, a founding member of environmental campaign group, humans are not to blame for global warming. Radley insists “there is no scientific proof that CO2 emissions are the dominant cause of the minor warming of the Earth’s atmosphere.”
The report is the latest in a series of dire warnings about how the effects of global warming that had been long foreseen by climate scientists are already affecting the planet. Its region-by-region documentation of changes occurring in the United States, and of future risks, makes clear that few places will be unscathed.
However, Steve Tobak, a scientist at a California university, points out the lack of evidence, saying, “There is some correlation, but little evidence, to support a direct causal relationship between CO2 and global temperature through the millennia. There are some weather data that fundamentally contradict the certainty that human-caused CO2 emissions are the main cause of global warming.”
Billion-Dollar Weather/Climate Disasters
The effects of human-induced climate change are being felt in every corner of the United States, the report indicated, with water growing scarcer in dry regions, torrential rains increasing in wet regions, heat waves becoming more common and more severe, wildfires growing worse, and forests dying under assault from heat-loving insects.
The U.S. has sustained 151 weather/climate disasters since 1980 where overall damages/costs reached or exceeded $1 billion. The total cost of these 151 events exceeds $1 trillion.
Some scientists and science writers, however, were just as quick to caution that we cannot really attribute any single weather event to climate change. Andrew McKibben, a science writer, drew a clear line against attributing weather disasters directly to recent man-made warming, noting that there had been periods in the past when these events occurred during cooler years: “There remains far too much natural variability in the frequency and potency of rare and powerful weather events.”
Tropical Cyclones: Tornadoes and Hurricanes
Tornadoes and hurricanes have been menacing the U.S. as long as anyone can remember, but the frequency and severity of the storms, as well as the monetary damages the storms have caused, have increased in recent years, as recent studies indicated.
Annual Tornado Frequency Data: The number of tornadoes per year has shown an increase over the years in general. Specifically, the numbers of tornadoes per year from 1970 to 2012 are as follows: 653 (1970), 888 (1971), 741 (1972), 1102 (1973), 945 (1974), 919 (1975), 834 (1976), 852 (1977), 789 (1978), 855 (1979), 866 (1980), 782 (1981), 1047 (1982), 931 (1983), 907 (1984), 684 (1985), 765 (1986), 656 (1987), 702 (1988), 856 (1989), 1133 (1990), 1132 (1991), 1297 (1992), 1173 (1993), 1082 (1994), 1234 (1995), 1180 (1996), 1154 (1997), 1440 (1998), 1361 (1999), 1077 (2000), 1231 (2001), 955 (2002), 1415 (2003), 1836 (2004), 1263 (2005), 1139 (2006), 1115 (2007), 1737 (2008), 1181 (2009), 1318 (2010), 1775 (2011), and 955 (2012).
The devastation from Hurricane Sandy rang in at $65 billion, leaving 72 people dead and more than 6 million homeless.
However, Hurricane Sandy was a Saffir-Simpson Category 1 hurricane (based on intensity, Category 1 is the mildest and Category 5 the most intense), much milder than the Labor Day Hurricane of 1935, or the Galveston Hurricane of 1900 that killed at least 8,000 people.
The link between Hurricane Sandy and climate change, therefore, “is just not supported by science at this time,” said Chris Francis, one of the scientists who looked at the link between climate change and extreme weather events, “it is a big stretch to go from [acknowledging the rising temperatures] to blaming Sandy on climate change.”
Floods
Key West, South Florida, is one of the most vulnerable places to flooding. Many homes were damaged or completely destroyed during a 13-month flooding in 2005, and talk of global warming mounted after those back-to-back bad seasons.
However, no hurricanes have directly hit since. Widespread discussion about climate change subsided. Florida remains as one of the eighteen states nationwide that haven’t adopted plans to cut carbon emissions or taken other steps to combat the effects of climate change.
“We count the tornadoes, we count hurricanes. None of those are increasing. Floods are not increasing,” said Andrea Slade. “The only people who believe in climate change are the insurance companies, who want to keep raising home insurance rates.”
Winter Storms
As the northeastern U.S. braces for the latest in a seemingly endless series of winter storms and severe snowfall, research has shown that the persistent cold weather suffered by much of the United States this 2013-2014 winter may be a result of a rapidly warming Arctic.
Others, however, argue that the cold winder is a proof of a lack of a changing climate. “The temperature extremes in the two winters in the U.S. were opposite,” said atmospheric scientist Kevin Walsh. “I cannot say that the warming of the average global temperature played a role in either of these unusual winters in the U.S.”
Attributing a human influence to individual weather events like winter storms is an emerging area of research that is acknowledged by those involved to be extremely challenging and is questioned by many more, because so many factors are at work. Walsh summed it up bluntly: “There’s no simple link - we can’t say ‘yes’ or ‘no’ this is climate change.”
What’s Next?
Putting a limit on heat-trapping emissions, encouraging the use of healthier, cleaner energy technologies, and increasing energy efficiency seem to be the predominant next steps to reduce man-made warming.
States like Florida are required by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to reduce carbon dioxide emissions by nearly a third over the next 15 years.
Rick Scott, Florida’s GOP governor, struggled to meet that requirement and questioned whether man-made climate change is real and significant. “I have not been convinced that there is any man-made climate change... Nothing’s convinced me that there is.”
Climate Change: Causes and Consequences
Carbon Dioxide Emissions as a Cause of Climate Change
Global carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions from burning fossil fuels will rise to a record 36 billion metric tons this year, a study by 49 researchers from 10 countries found, showing the failure of governments to rein in the main greenhouse gas.
A minor but very important component of the atmosphere, carbon dioxide is released through natural processes such as respiration and volcanic eruptions and through human activities such as deforestation, land use changes, and burning fossil fuels. Humans have increased atmospheric CO2 concentration by a third since the Industrial Revolution began. This is the most important cause of climate change.
Over the last 40 years, carbon dioxide emissions have more than doubled: In 1970, global carbon dioxide emissions were approximately 15.6 billion metric tons; by the year 2010, that number has increased to 33 billion metric tons.
The scientific report was released Tuesday assessing the climate situation in the United States. "Climate change, once considered an issue for a distant future, has moved firmly into the present," the scientists declared.
"If greenhouse gases like carbon dioxide and methane continue to escalate at a rapid pace, the warming could exceed 10 degrees by the end of this century," said Eric Radley, a climate scientist who helped write the report.
The report is the latest in a series of dire warnings about how the effects of global warming that had been long foreseen by climate scientists are already affecting the planet. Its region-by-region documentation of changes occurring in the United States, and of future risks, makes clear that few places will be unscathed.
"There is mounting evidence that harm to the nation will increase substantially in the future unless global emissions of heat-trapping gases are greatly reduced,"warned Steve Tobak, a scientist at a California university.
Billion-Dollar Weather/Climate Disasters
The effects of human-induced climate change are being felt in every corner of the United States, the report indicated, with water growing scarcer in dry regions, torrential rains increasing in wet regions, heat waves becoming more common and more severe, wildfires growing worse, and forests dying under assault from heat-loving insects.
The U.S. has sustained 151 weather/climate disasters since 1980 where overall damages/costs reached or exceeded $1 billion. The total cost of these 151 events exceeds $1 trillion.
Scientists and science writers have pointed out that the increase in the frequency and intensity of natural catastrophes are the immediate consequences of climate change. Andrew McKibben, a science writer, cited scientific results: "The pattern of the increase in the frequency and severity of heat waves, drought, tropical cyclones, tornadoes and floods is very clear. These changes in atmospheric process will have profound impact on the lives, health, and property of millions of people."
Tropical Cyclones: Tornadoes and Hurricanes
Tornadoes and hurricanes have been menacing the U.S. as long as anyone can remember, but the frequency and severity of the storms, as well as the monetary damages the storms have caused, have increased in recent years, as recent studies indicated.
The devastation from Hurricane Sandy rang in at $65 billion, leaving 72 people dead and more than 6 million homeless.
The record sea-ice loss during 2012 summer, one of the many effects of human activities influencing Earth’s climate, could have set up the atmospheric pattern that sent Sandy barreling into the Northeast.
"Extreme weather of all sorts has been increasing around the Northern Hemisphere," said Chris Francis, one of the scientists who looked at the link between climate change and extreme weather events. "(Sandy) is the kind of situation we'd expect to see more of as greenhouse gases continue to build up in the atmosphere and sea level continues to rise."
Floods
Norfolk, Virginia, constantly wrestles with rising waters. The Chrysler Museum of Art, Norfolk's most prestigious art museum had just completed a $24 million renovation that emptied the basement, now accessible only by ladder because of flooding.
High tide seeped up through storm drains, puddled on the promenade and spread, half a foot deep, across the street, where a sign read, “Road Closed.” An accounting firm stood behind a homemade barricade of stanchions and detachable flaps rigged to keep the water out. And a local church was looking to evacuate.
"This is not some distant problem of the future. This is a problem that is affecting people right now,” said Andrea Slade. “I don't know many churches that have to put the tide chart on their Web site” so people know whether they can get to church.
Winter Storms
As the northeastern U.S. braces for the latest in a seemingly endless series of winter storms and severe snowfall, research has shown that the persistent cold weather suffered by much of the United States this 2013-2014 winter may be a result of a rapidly warming Arctic.
The rising annual average temperatures around the globe cause more moisture to be held in the air than the prior seasons. When storms occur, this added moisture can fuel heavier precipitation in the form of more intense rain or snow.
"Overall, it's warming, but we still have cold winter weather," said atmospheric scientist Kevin Walsh. He added that climate change would cause extreme weather events of different types. "Less of a region’s precipitation is falling in light storms and more of it in heavy storms. Because of this, the risks of drought and wildfire are also greater. Ironically, higher air temperatures tend to produce intense drought periods punctuated by heavy floods, often in the same region."
What’s Next?
Putting a limit on heat-trapping emissions, encouraging the use of healthier, cleaner energy technologies, and increasing energy efficiency are all ways to help avert the worst potential consequences of global warming.
States like New York are required by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to reduce carbon dioxide emissions by nearly a third over the next 15 years.
"Yes, climate change is already here, and we need to make sure that if there is weather like this we are more prepared and protected than we have been before," New York Governor Andrew Cuomo told reporters. "The choices we make today can help determine what our climate will be like in the future."
Global carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions from burning fossil fuels will rise to a record 36 billion metric tons this year, a study by 49 researchers from 10 countries found, showing the failure of governments to rein in the main greenhouse gas.
A minor but very important component of the atmosphere, carbon dioxide is released through natural processes such as respiration and volcanic eruptions and through human activities such as deforestation, land use changes, and burning fossil fuels. Humans have increased atmospheric CO2 concentration by a third since the Industrial Revolution began. This is the most important cause of climate change.
Over the last 40 years, carbon dioxide emissions have more than doubled: In 1970, global carbon dioxide emissions were approximately 15.6 billion metric tons; by the year 2010, that number has increased to 33 billion metric tons.
The scientific report was released Tuesday assessing the climate situation in the United States. "Climate change, once considered an issue for a distant future, has moved firmly into the present," the scientists declared.
"If greenhouse gases like carbon dioxide and methane continue to escalate at a rapid pace, the warming could exceed 10 degrees by the end of this century," said Eric Radley, a climate scientist who helped write the report.
The report is the latest in a series of dire warnings about how the effects of global warming that had been long foreseen by climate scientists are already affecting the planet. Its region-by-region documentation of changes occurring in the United States, and of future risks, makes clear that few places will be unscathed.
"There is mounting evidence that harm to the nation will increase substantially in the future unless global emissions of heat-trapping gases are greatly reduced,"warned Steve Tobak, a scientist at a California university.
Billion-Dollar Weather/Climate Disasters
The effects of human-induced climate change are being felt in every corner of the United States, the report indicated, with water growing scarcer in dry regions, torrential rains increasing in wet regions, heat waves becoming more common and more severe, wildfires growing worse, and forests dying under assault from heat-loving insects.
The U.S. has sustained 151 weather/climate disasters since 1980 where overall damages/costs reached or exceeded $1 billion. The total cost of these 151 events exceeds $1 trillion.
Scientists and science writers have pointed out that the increase in the frequency and intensity of natural catastrophes are the immediate consequences of climate change. Andrew McKibben, a science writer, cited scientific results: "The pattern of the increase in the frequency and severity of heat waves, drought, tropical cyclones, tornadoes and floods is very clear. These changes in atmospheric process will have profound impact on the lives, health, and property of millions of people."
Tropical Cyclones: Tornadoes and Hurricanes
Tornadoes and hurricanes have been menacing the U.S. as long as anyone can remember, but the frequency and severity of the storms, as well as the monetary damages the storms have caused, have increased in recent years, as recent studies indicated.
The devastation from Hurricane Sandy rang in at $65 billion, leaving 72 people dead and more than 6 million homeless.
The record sea-ice loss during 2012 summer, one of the many effects of human activities influencing Earth’s climate, could have set up the atmospheric pattern that sent Sandy barreling into the Northeast.
"Extreme weather of all sorts has been increasing around the Northern Hemisphere," said Chris Francis, one of the scientists who looked at the link between climate change and extreme weather events. "(Sandy) is the kind of situation we'd expect to see more of as greenhouse gases continue to build up in the atmosphere and sea level continues to rise."
Floods
Norfolk, Virginia, constantly wrestles with rising waters. The Chrysler Museum of Art, Norfolk's most prestigious art museum had just completed a $24 million renovation that emptied the basement, now accessible only by ladder because of flooding.
High tide seeped up through storm drains, puddled on the promenade and spread, half a foot deep, across the street, where a sign read, “Road Closed.” An accounting firm stood behind a homemade barricade of stanchions and detachable flaps rigged to keep the water out. And a local church was looking to evacuate.
"This is not some distant problem of the future. This is a problem that is affecting people right now,” said Andrea Slade. “I don't know many churches that have to put the tide chart on their Web site” so people know whether they can get to church.
Winter Storms
As the northeastern U.S. braces for the latest in a seemingly endless series of winter storms and severe snowfall, research has shown that the persistent cold weather suffered by much of the United States this 2013-2014 winter may be a result of a rapidly warming Arctic.
The rising annual average temperatures around the globe cause more moisture to be held in the air than the prior seasons. When storms occur, this added moisture can fuel heavier precipitation in the form of more intense rain or snow.
"Overall, it's warming, but we still have cold winter weather," said atmospheric scientist Kevin Walsh. He added that climate change would cause extreme weather events of different types. "Less of a region’s precipitation is falling in light storms and more of it in heavy storms. Because of this, the risks of drought and wildfire are also greater. Ironically, higher air temperatures tend to produce intense drought periods punctuated by heavy floods, often in the same region."
What’s Next?
Putting a limit on heat-trapping emissions, encouraging the use of healthier, cleaner energy technologies, and increasing energy efficiency are all ways to help avert the worst potential consequences of global warming.
States like New York are required by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to reduce carbon dioxide emissions by nearly a third over the next 15 years.
"Yes, climate change is already here, and we need to make sure that if there is weather like this we are more prepared and protected than we have been before," New York Governor Andrew Cuomo told reporters. "The choices we make today can help determine what our climate will be like in the future."
Climate Change: Causes and Consequences
Carbon Dioxide Emissions as a Cause of Climate Change
Global carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions from burning fossil fuels will rise to a record 36 billion metric tons this year, a study by 49 researchers from 10 countries found, showing the failure of governments to rein in the main greenhouse gas.
A minor but very important component of the atmosphere, carbon dioxide is released through natural processes such as respiration and volcanic eruptions and through human activities such as deforestation, land use changes, and burning fossil fuels. Humans have increased atmospheric CO2 concentration by a third since the Industrial Revolution began. This is the most important cause of climate change.
Over the last 40 years, carbon dioxide emissions have more than doubled: In 1970, global carbon dioxide emissions were approximately 15.6 billion metric tons; by the year 2010, that number has increased to 33 billion metric tons.
The scientific report was released Tuesday assessing the climate situation in the United States. “Climate change, once considered an issue for a distant future, has moved firmly into the present,” the scientists declared.
Others might disagree. According to Eric Radley, a founding member of environmental campaign group, humans are not to blame for global warming. Radley insists “there is no scientific proof that CO2 emissions are the dominant cause of the minor warming of the Earth’s atmosphere.”
The report is the latest in a series of dire warnings about how the effects of global warming that had been long foreseen by climate scientists are already affecting the planet. Its region-by-region documentation of changes occurring in the United States, and of future risks, makes clear that few places will be unscathed.
However, Steve Tobak, a scientist at a California university, points out the lack of evidence, saying, “There is some correlation, but little evidence, to support a direct causal relationship between CO2 and global temperature through the millennia. There are some weather data that fundamentally contradict the certainty that human-caused CO2 emissions are the main cause of global warming.”
Billion-Dollar Weather/Climate Disasters
The effects of human-induced climate change are being felt in every corner of the United States, the report indicated, with water growing scarcer in dry regions, torrential rains increasing in wet regions, heat waves becoming more common and more severe, wildfires growing worse, and forests dying under assault from heat-loving insects.
The U.S. has sustained 151 weather/climate disasters since 1980 where overall damages/costs reached or exceeded $1 billion. The total cost of these 151 events exceeds $1 trillion.
Some scientists and science writers, however, were just as quick to caution that we cannot really attribute any single weather event to climate change. Andrew McKibben, a science writer, drew a clear line against attributing weather disasters directly to recent man-made warming, noting that there had been periods in the past when these events occurred during cooler years: “There remains far too much natural variability in the frequency and potency of rare and powerful weather events.”
Tropical Cyclones: Tornadoes and Hurricanes
Tornadoes and hurricanes have been menacing the U.S. as long as anyone can remember, but the frequency and severity of the storms, as well as the monetary damages the storms have caused, have increased in recent years, as recent studies indicated.
The devastation from Hurricane Sandy rang in at $65 billion, leaving 72 people dead and more than 6 million homeless.
However, Hurricane Sandy was a Saffir-Simpson Category 1 hurricane (based on intensity, Category 1 is the mildest and Category 5 the most intense), much milder than the Labor Day Hurricane of 1935, or the Galveston Hurricane of 1900 that killed at least 8,000 people.
The link between Hurricane Sandy and climate change, therefore, “is just not supported by science at this time,” said Chris Francis, one of the scientists who looked at the link between climate change and extreme weather events. Noting that climate change has an effect on the weather around us by raising the average temperature of the planet, he thinks “it is a big stretch to go from [acknowledging the rising temperatures] to blaming Sandy on climate change.”
Floods
Key West, South Florida, is one of the most vulnerable places to flooding. Many homes were damaged or completely destroyed during a 13-month flooding in 2005, and talk of global warming mounted after those back-to-back bad seasons.
However, no hurricanes have directly hit since. Widespread discussion about climate change subsided. Florida remains as one of the eighteen states nationwide that haven’t adopted plans to cut carbon emissions or taken other steps to combat the effects of climate change.
“We count the tornadoes, we count hurricanes. None of those are increasing. Floods are not increasing,” said Andrea Slade. “The only people who believe in climate change are the insurance companies, who want to keep raising home insurance rates.”
Winter Storms
As the northeastern U.S. braces for the latest in a seemingly endless series of winter storms and severe snowfall, research has shown that the persistent cold weather suffered by much of the United States this 2013-2014 winter may be a result of a rapidly warming Arctic.
Others, however, argue that the cold winder is a proof of a lack of a changing climate. “The temperature extremes in the two winters in the U.S. were opposite,” said atmospheric scientist Kevin Walsh. “I cannot say that the warming of the average global temperature played a role in either of these unusual winters in the U.S.”
Attributing a human influence to individual weather events like winter storms is an emerging area of research that is acknowledged by those involved to be extremely challenging and is questioned by many more, because so many factors are at work. Walsh summed it up bluntly: “There’s no simple link - we can’t say ‘yes’ or ‘no’ this is climate change.”
What’s Next?
Putting a limit on heat-trapping emissions, encouraging the use of healthier, cleaner energy technologies, and increasing energy efficiency seem to be the predominant next steps to reduce man-made warming.
States like Florida are required by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to reduce carbon dioxide emissions by nearly a third over the next 15 years.
Rick Scott, Florida’s GOP governor, struggled to meet that requirement and questioned whether man-made climate change is real and significant. “I have not been convinced that there is any man-made climate change... Nothing’s convinced me that there is.”
Global carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions from burning fossil fuels will rise to a record 36 billion metric tons this year, a study by 49 researchers from 10 countries found, showing the failure of governments to rein in the main greenhouse gas.
A minor but very important component of the atmosphere, carbon dioxide is released through natural processes such as respiration and volcanic eruptions and through human activities such as deforestation, land use changes, and burning fossil fuels. Humans have increased atmospheric CO2 concentration by a third since the Industrial Revolution began. This is the most important cause of climate change.
Over the last 40 years, carbon dioxide emissions have more than doubled: In 1970, global carbon dioxide emissions were approximately 15.6 billion metric tons; by the year 2010, that number has increased to 33 billion metric tons.
The scientific report was released Tuesday assessing the climate situation in the United States. “Climate change, once considered an issue for a distant future, has moved firmly into the present,” the scientists declared.
Others might disagree. According to Eric Radley, a founding member of environmental campaign group, humans are not to blame for global warming. Radley insists “there is no scientific proof that CO2 emissions are the dominant cause of the minor warming of the Earth’s atmosphere.”
The report is the latest in a series of dire warnings about how the effects of global warming that had been long foreseen by climate scientists are already affecting the planet. Its region-by-region documentation of changes occurring in the United States, and of future risks, makes clear that few places will be unscathed.
However, Steve Tobak, a scientist at a California university, points out the lack of evidence, saying, “There is some correlation, but little evidence, to support a direct causal relationship between CO2 and global temperature through the millennia. There are some weather data that fundamentally contradict the certainty that human-caused CO2 emissions are the main cause of global warming.”
Billion-Dollar Weather/Climate Disasters
The effects of human-induced climate change are being felt in every corner of the United States, the report indicated, with water growing scarcer in dry regions, torrential rains increasing in wet regions, heat waves becoming more common and more severe, wildfires growing worse, and forests dying under assault from heat-loving insects.
The U.S. has sustained 151 weather/climate disasters since 1980 where overall damages/costs reached or exceeded $1 billion. The total cost of these 151 events exceeds $1 trillion.
Some scientists and science writers, however, were just as quick to caution that we cannot really attribute any single weather event to climate change. Andrew McKibben, a science writer, drew a clear line against attributing weather disasters directly to recent man-made warming, noting that there had been periods in the past when these events occurred during cooler years: “There remains far too much natural variability in the frequency and potency of rare and powerful weather events.”
Tropical Cyclones: Tornadoes and Hurricanes
Tornadoes and hurricanes have been menacing the U.S. as long as anyone can remember, but the frequency and severity of the storms, as well as the monetary damages the storms have caused, have increased in recent years, as recent studies indicated.
The devastation from Hurricane Sandy rang in at $65 billion, leaving 72 people dead and more than 6 million homeless.
However, Hurricane Sandy was a Saffir-Simpson Category 1 hurricane (based on intensity, Category 1 is the mildest and Category 5 the most intense), much milder than the Labor Day Hurricane of 1935, or the Galveston Hurricane of 1900 that killed at least 8,000 people.
The link between Hurricane Sandy and climate change, therefore, “is just not supported by science at this time,” said Chris Francis, one of the scientists who looked at the link between climate change and extreme weather events. Noting that climate change has an effect on the weather around us by raising the average temperature of the planet, he thinks “it is a big stretch to go from [acknowledging the rising temperatures] to blaming Sandy on climate change.”
Floods
Key West, South Florida, is one of the most vulnerable places to flooding. Many homes were damaged or completely destroyed during a 13-month flooding in 2005, and talk of global warming mounted after those back-to-back bad seasons.
However, no hurricanes have directly hit since. Widespread discussion about climate change subsided. Florida remains as one of the eighteen states nationwide that haven’t adopted plans to cut carbon emissions or taken other steps to combat the effects of climate change.
“We count the tornadoes, we count hurricanes. None of those are increasing. Floods are not increasing,” said Andrea Slade. “The only people who believe in climate change are the insurance companies, who want to keep raising home insurance rates.”
Winter Storms
As the northeastern U.S. braces for the latest in a seemingly endless series of winter storms and severe snowfall, research has shown that the persistent cold weather suffered by much of the United States this 2013-2014 winter may be a result of a rapidly warming Arctic.
Others, however, argue that the cold winder is a proof of a lack of a changing climate. “The temperature extremes in the two winters in the U.S. were opposite,” said atmospheric scientist Kevin Walsh. “I cannot say that the warming of the average global temperature played a role in either of these unusual winters in the U.S.”
Attributing a human influence to individual weather events like winter storms is an emerging area of research that is acknowledged by those involved to be extremely challenging and is questioned by many more, because so many factors are at work. Walsh summed it up bluntly: “There’s no simple link - we can’t say ‘yes’ or ‘no’ this is climate change.”
What’s Next?
Putting a limit on heat-trapping emissions, encouraging the use of healthier, cleaner energy technologies, and increasing energy efficiency seem to be the predominant next steps to reduce man-made warming.
States like Florida are required by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to reduce carbon dioxide emissions by nearly a third over the next 15 years.
Rick Scott, Florida’s GOP governor, struggled to meet that requirement and questioned whether man-made climate change is real and significant. “I have not been convinced that there is any man-made climate change... Nothing’s convinced me that there is.”
Climate Change: Causes and Consequences
Carbon Dioxide Emissions as a Cause of Climate Change
Global carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions from burning fossil fuels will rise to a record 36 billion metric tons this year, a study by 49 researchers from 10 countries found, showing the failure of governments to rein in the main greenhouse gas.
A minor but very important component of the atmosphere, carbon dioxide is released through natural processes such as respiration and volcanic eruptions and through human activities such as deforestation, land use changes, and burning fossil fuels. Humans have increased atmospheric CO2 concentration by a third since the Industrial Revolution began. This is the most important cause of climate change.
Over the last 40 years, carbon dioxide emissions have more than doubled: In 1970, global carbon dioxide emissions were approximately 15.6 billion metric tons; by the year 2010, that number has increased to 33 billion metric tons.
The scientific report was released Tuesday assessing the climate situation in the United States. "Climate change, once considered an issue for a distant future, has moved firmly into the present," the scientists declared.
"If greenhouse gases like carbon dioxide and methane continue to escalate at a rapid pace, the warming could exceed 10 degrees by the end of this century," said Eric Radley, a climate scientist who helped write the report.
The report is the latest in a series of dire warnings about how the effects of global warming that had been long foreseen by climate scientists are already affecting the planet. Its region-by-region documentation of changes occurring in the United States, and of future risks, makes clear that few places will be unscathed.
"There is mounting evidence that harm to the nation will increase substantially in the future unless global emissions of heat-trapping gases are greatly reduced," warned Steve Tobak, a scientist at a California university.
Billion-Dollar Weather/Climate Disasters
The effects of human-induced climate change are being felt in every corner of the United States, the report indicated, with water growing scarcer in dry regions, torrential rains increasing in wet regions, heat waves becoming more common and more severe, wildfires growing worse, and forests dying under assault from heat-loving insects.
The U.S. has sustained 151 weather/climate disasters since 1980 where overall damages/costs reached or exceeded $1 billion. The total cost of these 151 events exceeds $1 trillion.
Scientists and science writers have pointed out that the increase in the frequency and intensity of natural catastrophes are the immediate consequences of climate change. Andrew McKibben, a science writer, cited scientific results: "The pattern of the increase in the frequency and severity of heat waves, drought, tropical cyclones, tornadoes and floods is very clear. These changes in atmospheric process will have profound impact on the lives, health, and property of millions of people."
Tropical Cyclones: Tornadoes and Hurricanes
Tornadoes and hurricanes have been menacing the U.S. as long as anyone can remember, but the frequency and severity of the storms, as well as the monetary damages the storms have caused, have increased in recent years, as recent studies indicated.
The devastation from Hurricane Sandy rang in at $65 billion, leaving 72 people dead and more than 6 million homeless.
The record sea-ice loss during 2012 summer, one of the many effects of human activities influencing Earth’s climate, could have set up the atmospheric pattern that sent Sandy barreling into the Northeast.
"Extreme weather of all sorts has been increasing around the Northern Hemisphere," said Chris Francis, one of the scientists who looked at the link between climate change and extreme weather events. "(Sandy) is the kind of situation we'd expect to see more of as greenhouse gases continue to build up in the atmosphere and sea level continues to rise."
Floods
Norfolk, Virginia, constantly wrestles with rising waters. The Chrysler Museum of Art, Norfolk's most prestigious art museum had just completed a $24 million renovation that emptied the basement, now accessible only by ladder because of flooding.
High tide seeped up through storm drains, puddled on the promenade and spread, half a foot deep, across the street, where a sign read, "Road Closed." An accounting firm stood behind a homemade barricade of stanchions and detachable flaps rigged to keep the water out. And a local church was looking to evacuate.
"This is not some distant problem of the future. This is a problem that is affecting people right now," said Andrea Slade. "I don't know many churches that have to put the tide chart on their Web site," so people know whether they can get to church.
Winter Storms
As the northeastern U.S. braces for the latest in a seemingly endless series of winter storms and severe snowfall, research has shown that the persistent cold weather suffered by much of the United States this 2013-2014 winter may be a result of a rapidly warming Arctic.
The rising annual average temperatures around the globe cause more moisture to be held in the air than the prior seasons. When storms occur, this added moisture can fuel heavier precipitation in the form of more intense rain or snow.
"Overall, it’s warming, but we still have cold winter weather," said atmospheric scientist Kevin Walsh. He added that climate change would cause extreme weather events of different types. "Less of a region’s precipitation is falling in light storms and more of it in heavy storms. Because of this, the risks of drought and wildfire are also greater. Ironically, higher air temperatures tend to produce intense drought periods punctuated by heavy floods, often in the same region."
What’s Next?
Putting a limit on heat-trapping emissions, encouraging the use of healthier, cleaner energy technologies, and increasing energy efficiency are all ways to help avert the worst potential consequences of global warming.
States like New York are required by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to reduce carbon dioxide emissions by nearly a third over the next 15 years.
"Yes, climate change is already here, and we need to make sure that if there is weather like this we are more prepared and protected than we have been before," New York Governor Andrew Cuomo told reporters. "The choices we make today can help determine what our climate will be like in the future."
Global carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions from burning fossil fuels will rise to a record 36 billion metric tons this year, a study by 49 researchers from 10 countries found, showing the failure of governments to rein in the main greenhouse gas.
A minor but very important component of the atmosphere, carbon dioxide is released through natural processes such as respiration and volcanic eruptions and through human activities such as deforestation, land use changes, and burning fossil fuels. Humans have increased atmospheric CO2 concentration by a third since the Industrial Revolution began. This is the most important cause of climate change.
Over the last 40 years, carbon dioxide emissions have more than doubled: In 1970, global carbon dioxide emissions were approximately 15.6 billion metric tons; by the year 2010, that number has increased to 33 billion metric tons.
The scientific report was released Tuesday assessing the climate situation in the United States. "Climate change, once considered an issue for a distant future, has moved firmly into the present," the scientists declared.
"If greenhouse gases like carbon dioxide and methane continue to escalate at a rapid pace, the warming could exceed 10 degrees by the end of this century," said Eric Radley, a climate scientist who helped write the report.
The report is the latest in a series of dire warnings about how the effects of global warming that had been long foreseen by climate scientists are already affecting the planet. Its region-by-region documentation of changes occurring in the United States, and of future risks, makes clear that few places will be unscathed.
"There is mounting evidence that harm to the nation will increase substantially in the future unless global emissions of heat-trapping gases are greatly reduced," warned Steve Tobak, a scientist at a California university.
Billion-Dollar Weather/Climate Disasters
The effects of human-induced climate change are being felt in every corner of the United States, the report indicated, with water growing scarcer in dry regions, torrential rains increasing in wet regions, heat waves becoming more common and more severe, wildfires growing worse, and forests dying under assault from heat-loving insects.
The U.S. has sustained 151 weather/climate disasters since 1980 where overall damages/costs reached or exceeded $1 billion. The total cost of these 151 events exceeds $1 trillion.
Scientists and science writers have pointed out that the increase in the frequency and intensity of natural catastrophes are the immediate consequences of climate change. Andrew McKibben, a science writer, cited scientific results: "The pattern of the increase in the frequency and severity of heat waves, drought, tropical cyclones, tornadoes and floods is very clear. These changes in atmospheric process will have profound impact on the lives, health, and property of millions of people."
Tropical Cyclones: Tornadoes and Hurricanes
Tornadoes and hurricanes have been menacing the U.S. as long as anyone can remember, but the frequency and severity of the storms, as well as the monetary damages the storms have caused, have increased in recent years, as recent studies indicated.
The devastation from Hurricane Sandy rang in at $65 billion, leaving 72 people dead and more than 6 million homeless.
The record sea-ice loss during 2012 summer, one of the many effects of human activities influencing Earth’s climate, could have set up the atmospheric pattern that sent Sandy barreling into the Northeast.
"Extreme weather of all sorts has been increasing around the Northern Hemisphere," said Chris Francis, one of the scientists who looked at the link between climate change and extreme weather events. "(Sandy) is the kind of situation we'd expect to see more of as greenhouse gases continue to build up in the atmosphere and sea level continues to rise."
Floods
Norfolk, Virginia, constantly wrestles with rising waters. The Chrysler Museum of Art, Norfolk's most prestigious art museum had just completed a $24 million renovation that emptied the basement, now accessible only by ladder because of flooding.
High tide seeped up through storm drains, puddled on the promenade and spread, half a foot deep, across the street, where a sign read, "Road Closed." An accounting firm stood behind a homemade barricade of stanchions and detachable flaps rigged to keep the water out. And a local church was looking to evacuate.
"This is not some distant problem of the future. This is a problem that is affecting people right now," said Andrea Slade. "I don't know many churches that have to put the tide chart on their Web site," so people know whether they can get to church.
Winter Storms
As the northeastern U.S. braces for the latest in a seemingly endless series of winter storms and severe snowfall, research has shown that the persistent cold weather suffered by much of the United States this 2013-2014 winter may be a result of a rapidly warming Arctic.
The rising annual average temperatures around the globe cause more moisture to be held in the air than the prior seasons. When storms occur, this added moisture can fuel heavier precipitation in the form of more intense rain or snow.
"Overall, it’s warming, but we still have cold winter weather," said atmospheric scientist Kevin Walsh. He added that climate change would cause extreme weather events of different types. "Less of a region’s precipitation is falling in light storms and more of it in heavy storms. Because of this, the risks of drought and wildfire are also greater. Ironically, higher air temperatures tend to produce intense drought periods punctuated by heavy floods, often in the same region."
What’s Next?
Putting a limit on heat-trapping emissions, encouraging the use of healthier, cleaner energy technologies, and increasing energy efficiency are all ways to help avert the worst potential consequences of global warming.
States like New York are required by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to reduce carbon dioxide emissions by nearly a third over the next 15 years.
"Yes, climate change is already here, and we need to make sure that if there is weather like this we are more prepared and protected than we have been before," New York Governor Andrew Cuomo told reporters. "The choices we make today can help determine what our climate will be like in the future."
Changing Attitude of Same-Sex Marriage
In a 2001 national poll, Americans opposed same-sex marriage by a 57% to 35% margin.
Since then, support for same-sex marriage has steadily grown. Percentages of the U.S. population in opposition to and those in favor of same-sex marriage were 57% and 35% in year 2001, 58% and 33% in 2003, 60% and 31% in 2004, 53% and 36% in 2005, 55% and 33% in 2006, 54% and 37% in 2007, 51% and 39% in 2008, 54% and 37% in 2009, 48% and 42% in 2010, 45% and 48% in 2011, 43% and 48% in 2012, and 43% and 50% in 2013. Today, a majority of Americans (54%) support same-sex marriage, compared with 39% who oppose it.
Today, a majority of Americans (54%) support same-sex marriage, compared with 39% who oppose it.
The survey was conducted in the wake of a series of rulings by federal judges that state bans on same-sex marriage and prohibitions on recognizing marriages performed elsewhere are unconstitutional.
The judges have said they relied on the reasoning in the Supreme Court’s 5 to 4 decision last June that struck down a key part of the Defense of Marriage Act. The Defense of Marriage Act has previously withheld federal benefits from, and recognition of, same-sex couples married in states where such unions are legal. Since then, six federal courts have said same-sex couples must be allowed to marry in those states, including some of the most conservative states.
"Personally, I'm pleased the ban (of same-sex marriage) is struck down (in Wisconsin)," Joe McDonell, of Milwaukee. "Every loving couple should have the freedom to marry whomever they choose, and the fact that this freedom is now available in Wisconsin makes use us proud to be in a state that's standing up for marriage equality."
However, some would disagree. "The sacred institution of marriage should not be redefined by a few activist judges," said George Joughin, press secretary for a nonprofit organization. Having a court rule same-sex marriage mandatory, in his mind, "is really a stretch."
Jay Russell, an adult child of two female same-sex parents, believed marriage should be a man-woman union. Russell was outraged by the recent same-sex marriage law, admitting that he has "suffered from the lack of a father," from the lack of "a daily presence, a character and a properly masculine example, some counterweight to the relationship of my mother to her lover. I lived that absence of a father, experienced it, as an amputation."
Different Perspectives
Despite the changing views, deep chasms remain along religious, generational and political lines.
"I just don't believe in the marriage thing; the Bible says that isn't right," said Andrew Brown of Arizona.
Many people still want to preserve marriage as a man-woman union to further that vital social good. People like Lilly Perkins of Idaho are fighting to defend the state's voter-passed marriage amendment. "Americans are starting to realize that marriage is about a whole lot more than two people who love each other. It's about conscience rights and religious liberty," she said, citing public outcries over people losing their jobs or livelihoods because they didn’t support same-sex marriage.
In a March for Marriage in Washington to coincide with the Supreme Court hearings of same-sex marriage, Michael Perry of Cleveland raised his placard: "Every child deserves a mom & dad". He said he was hopeful that the March sends a clear message that "a majority of Americans still stand for marriage as it has handed down through the centuries."
Evan Swanson, a student of law, further argues that "Legalizing same-sex marriage will change the concept of family and the definition of parenting." Swanson cited studies of adolescence and said, if the American family loses the presence of the birth dad or mom in the home, as a consequence of same-sex marriage, there will be huge impact on the growth and stability of the next generation of children in that family: "We will have to fight with more cases of depression, alcohol consumption, and higher teenage pregnancy."
Generational Gap
Young people continue to be the strongest proponents of same-sex marriage. The new survey finds 70% of "Millennials" – born since 1980 and age 18-32 today – in favor of same-sex marriage. That is far higher than the support among older generations, such as 49% among Generation X (born 1965-1980), 38% among Baby Boomers (born 1946-1964) and 31% among the Silent Generation (born 1928-1945).
The generational differences were visible ten years ago. In 2003, 51% of Millennials were in favor, compared to 40% of Generation X, 33% of Baby Boomers, and 17% of the Silent Generation.
The past decade has witnessed an increase in the percentages of people favoring same-sex marriage in all age groups: The percentage of Silent Generation in favor of same-sex marriage has increased from 18% in 2004, to 23% in 2005, 29% in 2010, 32% in 2011, 33% in 2012, till 35% this past year; for Baby Boomers, the percentage has increased from 30% in 2004, to 36% in 2005, 38% in 2011, 40% in 2012, till 41% last year; for Generation X, the percentages were 40% in 2004, 44% in 2005, 48% in 2010, 51% in 2012, and 52% in 2013. Millennials, however, have always been the most favorable of same-sex marriage—the percentage of the Millennials who were in favor of same-sex marriage has increased from 44% in 2004, to 49% in 2005, 54% in 2008, 61% in 2011, 64% in 2012, and 66% in 2013.
"The mood in the nation has changed so dramatically," said Lindsay Campbell. "And younger people are beginning to speak up and say, 'This is such a non-issue for us.'"
Peter Hart, business major, disagreed that same-sex marriage is a "non-issue." Hart worried about the unexpected consequences: "Now, I see more gay people around the mall or out in broad daylight holding hands. I don't know how that would affect our society."
Like Hart, 30% of that age group still believed homosexuality was "unnatural, immoral and wrong." Sam Morgan, aged 23, thought: "it is detrimental, and ultimately destructive to so many of the foundations of civilization."
How is the generational gap going to influence legalization of same-sex marriage in decades to come?
"Thankfully the American public, when it has had an opportunity to consider the real world consequences of such a fundamental change to our society, has consistently voted for maintaining one man one woman marriage and sustain this basic building block of our society," says Will Schneider, senior political analyst.
Some say this trend will continue.
"History leaves no doubt that marriage exists to connect children to their mother and father, and young voters will start to see that, too," says Elaine Harley, professor of political science.
Since then, support for same-sex marriage has steadily grown. Percentages of the U.S. population in opposition to and those in favor of same-sex marriage were 57% and 35% in year 2001, 58% and 33% in 2003, 60% and 31% in 2004, 53% and 36% in 2005, 55% and 33% in 2006, 54% and 37% in 2007, 51% and 39% in 2008, 54% and 37% in 2009, 48% and 42% in 2010, 45% and 48% in 2011, 43% and 48% in 2012, and 43% and 50% in 2013. Today, a majority of Americans (54%) support same-sex marriage, compared with 39% who oppose it.
Today, a majority of Americans (54%) support same-sex marriage, compared with 39% who oppose it.
The survey was conducted in the wake of a series of rulings by federal judges that state bans on same-sex marriage and prohibitions on recognizing marriages performed elsewhere are unconstitutional.
The judges have said they relied on the reasoning in the Supreme Court’s 5 to 4 decision last June that struck down a key part of the Defense of Marriage Act. The Defense of Marriage Act has previously withheld federal benefits from, and recognition of, same-sex couples married in states where such unions are legal. Since then, six federal courts have said same-sex couples must be allowed to marry in those states, including some of the most conservative states.
"Personally, I'm pleased the ban (of same-sex marriage) is struck down (in Wisconsin)," Joe McDonell, of Milwaukee. "Every loving couple should have the freedom to marry whomever they choose, and the fact that this freedom is now available in Wisconsin makes use us proud to be in a state that's standing up for marriage equality."
However, some would disagree. "The sacred institution of marriage should not be redefined by a few activist judges," said George Joughin, press secretary for a nonprofit organization. Having a court rule same-sex marriage mandatory, in his mind, "is really a stretch."
Jay Russell, an adult child of two female same-sex parents, believed marriage should be a man-woman union. Russell was outraged by the recent same-sex marriage law, admitting that he has "suffered from the lack of a father," from the lack of "a daily presence, a character and a properly masculine example, some counterweight to the relationship of my mother to her lover. I lived that absence of a father, experienced it, as an amputation."
Different Perspectives
Despite the changing views, deep chasms remain along religious, generational and political lines.
"I just don't believe in the marriage thing; the Bible says that isn't right," said Andrew Brown of Arizona.
Many people still want to preserve marriage as a man-woman union to further that vital social good. People like Lilly Perkins of Idaho are fighting to defend the state's voter-passed marriage amendment. "Americans are starting to realize that marriage is about a whole lot more than two people who love each other. It's about conscience rights and religious liberty," she said, citing public outcries over people losing their jobs or livelihoods because they didn’t support same-sex marriage.
In a March for Marriage in Washington to coincide with the Supreme Court hearings of same-sex marriage, Michael Perry of Cleveland raised his placard: "Every child deserves a mom & dad". He said he was hopeful that the March sends a clear message that "a majority of Americans still stand for marriage as it has handed down through the centuries."
Evan Swanson, a student of law, further argues that "Legalizing same-sex marriage will change the concept of family and the definition of parenting." Swanson cited studies of adolescence and said, if the American family loses the presence of the birth dad or mom in the home, as a consequence of same-sex marriage, there will be huge impact on the growth and stability of the next generation of children in that family: "We will have to fight with more cases of depression, alcohol consumption, and higher teenage pregnancy."
Generational Gap
Young people continue to be the strongest proponents of same-sex marriage. The new survey finds 70% of "Millennials" – born since 1980 and age 18-32 today – in favor of same-sex marriage. That is far higher than the support among older generations, such as 49% among Generation X (born 1965-1980), 38% among Baby Boomers (born 1946-1964) and 31% among the Silent Generation (born 1928-1945).
The generational differences were visible ten years ago. In 2003, 51% of Millennials were in favor, compared to 40% of Generation X, 33% of Baby Boomers, and 17% of the Silent Generation.
The past decade has witnessed an increase in the percentages of people favoring same-sex marriage in all age groups: The percentage of Silent Generation in favor of same-sex marriage has increased from 18% in 2004, to 23% in 2005, 29% in 2010, 32% in 2011, 33% in 2012, till 35% this past year; for Baby Boomers, the percentage has increased from 30% in 2004, to 36% in 2005, 38% in 2011, 40% in 2012, till 41% last year; for Generation X, the percentages were 40% in 2004, 44% in 2005, 48% in 2010, 51% in 2012, and 52% in 2013. Millennials, however, have always been the most favorable of same-sex marriage—the percentage of the Millennials who were in favor of same-sex marriage has increased from 44% in 2004, to 49% in 2005, 54% in 2008, 61% in 2011, 64% in 2012, and 66% in 2013.
"The mood in the nation has changed so dramatically," said Lindsay Campbell. "And younger people are beginning to speak up and say, 'This is such a non-issue for us.'"
Peter Hart, business major, disagreed that same-sex marriage is a "non-issue." Hart worried about the unexpected consequences: "Now, I see more gay people around the mall or out in broad daylight holding hands. I don't know how that would affect our society."
Like Hart, 30% of that age group still believed homosexuality was "unnatural, immoral and wrong." Sam Morgan, aged 23, thought: "it is detrimental, and ultimately destructive to so many of the foundations of civilization."
How is the generational gap going to influence legalization of same-sex marriage in decades to come?
"Thankfully the American public, when it has had an opportunity to consider the real world consequences of such a fundamental change to our society, has consistently voted for maintaining one man one woman marriage and sustain this basic building block of our society," says Will Schneider, senior political analyst.
Some say this trend will continue.
"History leaves no doubt that marriage exists to connect children to their mother and father, and young voters will start to see that, too," says Elaine Harley, professor of political science.
Changing Attitude of Same-Sex Marriage
In a 2001 national poll, Americans opposed same-sex marriage by a 57% to 35% margin.
Since then, support for same-sex marriage has steadily grown. Percentages of the U.S. population in opposition to and those in favor of same-sex marriage were 57% and 35% in year 2001, 58% and 33% in 2003, 60% and 31% in 2004, 53% and 36% in 2005, 55% and 33% in 2006, 54% and 37% in 2007, 51% and 39% in 2008, 54% and 37% in 2009, 48% and 42% in 2010, 45% and 48% in 2011, 43% and 48% in 2012, and 43% and 50% in 2013. Today, a majority of Americans (54%) support same-sex marriage, compared with 39% who oppose it.
Today, a majority of Americans (54%) support same-sex marriage, compared with 39% who oppose it.
The survey was conducted in the wake of a series of rulings by federal judges that state bans on same-sex marriage and prohibitions on recognizing marriages performed elsewhere are unconstitutional.
The judges have said they relied on the reasoning in the Supreme Court’s 5 to 4 decision last June that struck down a key part of the Defense of Marriage Act. The Defense of Marriage Act has previously withheld federal benefits from, and recognition of, same-sex couples married in states where such unions are legal. Since then, six federal courts have said same-sex couples must be allowed to marry in those states, including some of the most conservative states.
"Personally, I'm pleased the ban (of same-sex marriage) is struck down (in Wisconsin)," Joe McDonell, of Milwaukee. "Every loving couple should have the freedom to marry whomever they choose, and the fact that this freedom is now available in Wisconsin makes use us proud to be in a state that's standing up for marriage equality."
"This is a wonderful thing. Quite simply, this case is about liberty and equality, the two cornerstones of the rights protected by the United States Constitution," said George Joughin, press secretary for a civil rights organization. "There really is not another issue out there that has gained so much support so fast."
The gains in marriage equality have been a victory for not just gay couples, but for their families. Ever since Brian West and Paul Russell of Portland, Oregon, started fostering an 8-year-old named Jay in 2012, the little boy who had been passed from foster home to foster home had one question: "When am I going to have a forever family?" It wasn't until Monday, when the couple got married upon Oregon's ruling overturning the ban on same-sex marriage, that they felt they could truly be a family.
Different Perspectives
Despite the changing views, deep chasms remain along religious, generational and political lines.
"I just don’t believe in the marriage thing; the Bible says that isn’t right," said Andrew Brown of Arizona.
Many people still want to preserve marriage as a man-woman union to further that vital social good. People like Lilly Perkins of Idaho are fighting to defend the state’s voter-passed marriage amendment. "Americans are starting to realize that marriage is about a whole lot more than two people who love each other. It's about conscience rights and religious liberty," she said, citing public outcries over people losing their jobs or livelihoods because they didn’t support same-sex marriage.
In a March for Marriage in Washington to coincide with the Supreme Court hearings of same-sex marriage, Michael Perry of Cleveland raised his placard: "Every child deserves a mom & dad." He said he was hopeful that the March sends a clear message that "a majority of Americans still stand for marriage as it has handed down through the centuries."
Evan Swanson, a student of law, however, argues traditional scruples cannot justify discrimination. Swanson refers to a historic book he recently read, called Christianity, Social Tolerance, and Homosexuality, which won the National Book Award in 1981, saying: "That book changed my life," because it convinced him that "discrimination against homosexuals was not part of the natural order." It was the arbitrary invention of a particular time and place — the factious and violent medieval church. Swanson decided to make a study of marriage laws with an eye to challenging such discrimination in court.
Generational Gap
Young people continue to be the strongest proponents of same-sex marriage. The new survey finds 70% of "Millennials" – born since 1980 and age 18-32 today – in favor of same-sex marriage. That is far higher than the support among older generations, such as 49% among Generation X (born 1965-1980), 38% among Baby Boomers (born 1946-1964) and 31% among the Silent Generation (born 1928-1945).
The generational differences were visible ten years ago. In 2003, 51% of Millennials were in favor, compared to 40% of Generation X, 33% of Baby Boomers, and 17% of the Silent Generation.
The past decade has witnessed an increase in the percentages of people favoring same-sex marriage in all age groups: The percentage of Silent Generation in favor of same-sex marriage has increased from 18% in 2004, to 23% in 2005, 29% in 2010, 32% in 2011, 33% in 2012, till 35% this past year; for Baby Boomers, the percentage has increased from 30% in 2004, to 36% in 2005, 38% in 2011, 40% in 2012, till 41% last year; for Generation X, the percentages were 40% in 2004, 44% in 2005, 48% in 2010, 51% in 2012, and 52% in 2013. Millennials, however, have always been the most favorable of same-sex marriage—the percentage of the Millennials who were in favor of same-sex marriage has increased from 44% in 2004, to 49% in 2005, 54% in 2008, 61% in 2011, 64% in 2012, and 66% in 2013.
"The mood in the nation has changed so dramatically," said Lindsay Campbell. "And younger people are beginning to speak up and say, 'This is such a non-issue for us.'"
Peter Hart, business major, added, "It is good that people can have the opportunity to embrace their own identity fully. People should live boldly and loudly and show what it means to stand up for something."
30% of that age group still believed homosexuality was "unnatural, immoral and wrong." Sam Morgan, aged 23, thought: "it is detrimental, and ultimately destructive to so many of the foundations of civilization."
How is the generational gap going to influence legalization of same-sex marriage in decades to come?
"Thankfully the American public, when it has had an opportunity to consider the real world consequences of such a fundamental change to our society, has consistently voted for maintaining one man one woman marriage and sustain this basic building block of our society," says Will Schneider, senior political analyst.
However, that is only what is happening now.
"Young voters strongly favor marriage equality. And they are the future of American politics," says Elaine Harley, professor of political science.
Since then, support for same-sex marriage has steadily grown. Percentages of the U.S. population in opposition to and those in favor of same-sex marriage were 57% and 35% in year 2001, 58% and 33% in 2003, 60% and 31% in 2004, 53% and 36% in 2005, 55% and 33% in 2006, 54% and 37% in 2007, 51% and 39% in 2008, 54% and 37% in 2009, 48% and 42% in 2010, 45% and 48% in 2011, 43% and 48% in 2012, and 43% and 50% in 2013. Today, a majority of Americans (54%) support same-sex marriage, compared with 39% who oppose it.
Today, a majority of Americans (54%) support same-sex marriage, compared with 39% who oppose it.
The survey was conducted in the wake of a series of rulings by federal judges that state bans on same-sex marriage and prohibitions on recognizing marriages performed elsewhere are unconstitutional.
The judges have said they relied on the reasoning in the Supreme Court’s 5 to 4 decision last June that struck down a key part of the Defense of Marriage Act. The Defense of Marriage Act has previously withheld federal benefits from, and recognition of, same-sex couples married in states where such unions are legal. Since then, six federal courts have said same-sex couples must be allowed to marry in those states, including some of the most conservative states.
"Personally, I'm pleased the ban (of same-sex marriage) is struck down (in Wisconsin)," Joe McDonell, of Milwaukee. "Every loving couple should have the freedom to marry whomever they choose, and the fact that this freedom is now available in Wisconsin makes use us proud to be in a state that's standing up for marriage equality."
"This is a wonderful thing. Quite simply, this case is about liberty and equality, the two cornerstones of the rights protected by the United States Constitution," said George Joughin, press secretary for a civil rights organization. "There really is not another issue out there that has gained so much support so fast."
The gains in marriage equality have been a victory for not just gay couples, but for their families. Ever since Brian West and Paul Russell of Portland, Oregon, started fostering an 8-year-old named Jay in 2012, the little boy who had been passed from foster home to foster home had one question: "When am I going to have a forever family?" It wasn't until Monday, when the couple got married upon Oregon's ruling overturning the ban on same-sex marriage, that they felt they could truly be a family.
Different Perspectives
Despite the changing views, deep chasms remain along religious, generational and political lines.
"I just don’t believe in the marriage thing; the Bible says that isn’t right," said Andrew Brown of Arizona.
Many people still want to preserve marriage as a man-woman union to further that vital social good. People like Lilly Perkins of Idaho are fighting to defend the state’s voter-passed marriage amendment. "Americans are starting to realize that marriage is about a whole lot more than two people who love each other. It's about conscience rights and religious liberty," she said, citing public outcries over people losing their jobs or livelihoods because they didn’t support same-sex marriage.
In a March for Marriage in Washington to coincide with the Supreme Court hearings of same-sex marriage, Michael Perry of Cleveland raised his placard: "Every child deserves a mom & dad." He said he was hopeful that the March sends a clear message that "a majority of Americans still stand for marriage as it has handed down through the centuries."
Evan Swanson, a student of law, however, argues traditional scruples cannot justify discrimination. Swanson refers to a historic book he recently read, called Christianity, Social Tolerance, and Homosexuality, which won the National Book Award in 1981, saying: "That book changed my life," because it convinced him that "discrimination against homosexuals was not part of the natural order." It was the arbitrary invention of a particular time and place — the factious and violent medieval church. Swanson decided to make a study of marriage laws with an eye to challenging such discrimination in court.
Generational Gap
Young people continue to be the strongest proponents of same-sex marriage. The new survey finds 70% of "Millennials" – born since 1980 and age 18-32 today – in favor of same-sex marriage. That is far higher than the support among older generations, such as 49% among Generation X (born 1965-1980), 38% among Baby Boomers (born 1946-1964) and 31% among the Silent Generation (born 1928-1945).
The generational differences were visible ten years ago. In 2003, 51% of Millennials were in favor, compared to 40% of Generation X, 33% of Baby Boomers, and 17% of the Silent Generation.
The past decade has witnessed an increase in the percentages of people favoring same-sex marriage in all age groups: The percentage of Silent Generation in favor of same-sex marriage has increased from 18% in 2004, to 23% in 2005, 29% in 2010, 32% in 2011, 33% in 2012, till 35% this past year; for Baby Boomers, the percentage has increased from 30% in 2004, to 36% in 2005, 38% in 2011, 40% in 2012, till 41% last year; for Generation X, the percentages were 40% in 2004, 44% in 2005, 48% in 2010, 51% in 2012, and 52% in 2013. Millennials, however, have always been the most favorable of same-sex marriage—the percentage of the Millennials who were in favor of same-sex marriage has increased from 44% in 2004, to 49% in 2005, 54% in 2008, 61% in 2011, 64% in 2012, and 66% in 2013.
"The mood in the nation has changed so dramatically," said Lindsay Campbell. "And younger people are beginning to speak up and say, 'This is such a non-issue for us.'"
Peter Hart, business major, added, "It is good that people can have the opportunity to embrace their own identity fully. People should live boldly and loudly and show what it means to stand up for something."
30% of that age group still believed homosexuality was "unnatural, immoral and wrong." Sam Morgan, aged 23, thought: "it is detrimental, and ultimately destructive to so many of the foundations of civilization."
How is the generational gap going to influence legalization of same-sex marriage in decades to come?
"Thankfully the American public, when it has had an opportunity to consider the real world consequences of such a fundamental change to our society, has consistently voted for maintaining one man one woman marriage and sustain this basic building block of our society," says Will Schneider, senior political analyst.
However, that is only what is happening now.
"Young voters strongly favor marriage equality. And they are the future of American politics," says Elaine Harley, professor of political science.
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