In January, scientists recognized 2024 as the hottest year on record.
That report, from researchers at the World Meteorological Organization — the United Nation’s weather and climate body — found that the average temperature across the globe last year was about 1.55°C above pre-industrial levels. The last 10 years clocked in at the 10 hottest on record.
That changing climate has impacts. It increases the frequency and intensity of heat waves, droughts and floods, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. It can increase the spread of diseases and lead to more exposure to poor air quality, per the 2023 U.S. Climate Assessment. And under-resourced and overburdened communities, which have already faced the worst impacts of a changing climate, continue to see inequities.
Meanwhile, polls have found that people care about climate change and its impacts. A study published in Nature Communications in 2022 found that between 66% and 80% support major climate change mitigation policies in the United States; and the 2024 People’s Climate Vote, a global poll from the United Nations, found that for 53% of respondents, concern about climate change increased from the year before.
But people aren’t talking about it. That same Nature Communications study found that Americans estimated between 37% and 43% of their peers to also support climate action. According to the study, supporters of climate policy outnumbered opponents two-to-one, but falsely believe that nearly the opposite is true.
In recognition of Earth Day next week, April 22, the Banner is looking to start new conversations about climate change and the environment by launching Encyclopedia Climatica, a new effort featuring the burning questions our readers have about the climate and environment.
Are you curious about how coastal flooding or urban heat will impact your neighborhood? Are you wondering about what is being done to address a changing climate? Have you heard about a potential solution to a climate or environmental challenge and you’re wondering how it works? Have a question but you don’t think it’s what we’re looking for? Send it in anyway.
Submit any and all of your questions about climate and the environment to the Banner online at tinyurl.com/banner-climate-questions or send an email to our science editor, Avery Bleichfeld, at ableichfeld@baystatebanner.com. We’ll take a look and if your question is chosen we’ll put together reporting on the answer.
Got climate questions? Let’s talk about it.
Leave a Reply
You must be logged in to post a comment.