Some things we know (keeping in mind, numbers change over time)

• 28% of world’s energy comes from coal, 32% from petroleum; 21% from natural gas
• So 81% of global commercial energy comes from fossil fuels–only slightly lower than in 1973.
• There has been an accelerating reduction in arctic ice over last 40 years
• Arctic regions warming at 3 times the global average–not good for a variety of reasons. How is the US responding?? The world? (hint: response to what?)
• In the 1990s, world CO2 emissions increased 7.5%–they’re going up, not down (North vs South distribution of carbon production–total and per capita)
• CO2 emissions are growing fastest in India and China–where 1/3 of the world’s people live.
• The 20th century’s 5 warmest years since records were kept (going back to 1880) occurred starting in 2015.
• Sea level has risen 4-8 inches globally in last century (by conservative estimates). Major melting of the Greenland Ice Sheet, Antarctica and other sources could mean major changes (20+ feet …)
• Temperature increases, sea level rises, are being increasingly adjusted as scientists realize their estimates have been conservative.
• Industrialization has had a huge impact on living standards, and on the environment. In other words, it’s been good for many humans in the last 200 years, but we may be seeing the equivalent of the industrialization hangover.