House GOP threatens utilities for not toeing climate-change line

It appears that our so-called free-market friends are not paying attention to the devastation of the American middle-class and the rape of our financial well-being.

http://www.ajc.com/health/preemie-birth-preventive-spikes-866617.html

Let’s bring that a little closer to home.

http://www.ajc.com/news/georgia-politics-elections/state-workers-teachers-to-866540.html

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Dept of Education……..one must ask themselves what are necessities and what are wants……….the DOE was formed in 1979, and we have been pouring money into it ever since…….

Now, ask yourself how stupid the population was prior to it’s creation. The greatest industrialized country on the planet got by without it, but for some reason, we need it now.

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“Now, ask yourself how stupid the population was prior to it’s creation. ‘

Great reply! Kids coming out of high schools can’t read, have to take remedial classes in college etc.

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Southern Comfort…..Do you know why New York has the highest union member rate?

Seeing that the most populus city in the country is located in that state, the largest police force is located there, probably the largest single school system, and the largest city government are all there, I have no idea why they have the highest union member rate. Maybe it’s because they get more people to pay dues????

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Boortz says it well.

Yup .. that’s right folks. The Democrats hide in Illinois for three weeks – refusing to perform the very functions that they were elected to perform – and it’s the Republicans that took government away from the people. Now the people of Wisconsin have no government.

The truth is that now the government unions in Wisconsin have no stranglehold on the Wisconsin taxpayers, and the Wisconsin Democrats see a huge threat to future union campaign contributions.

By the way … this is a defeat for Obama as well. Obama was a force behind the union protests in Wisconsin … even sending his “Organizing for America” squad to Wisconsin to participate in and organize the protests.

Waiting for the Assembly to act .. .and then it’s time to celebrate.

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Southern….actually you are partially right. Largest police force (yes), largest school system (no), largest city government (no),

Have you ever heard of an organization called the mafia?

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I think and hope this climate change stuff is pretty much another Y2K, but I know most ot Atlanta’s smog comes from the coal fired electric plant, not the cars. The sooner they go clean-green the better the air will be for everyone.

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Damn. This is one in which they could focus entirely on the rate paying thing much like cutting taxes and totally get public support. It’s confusing trying to explain why this is a bad thing to people, and the explanation doesn’t fit on a bumper sticker.

Every now and then they manage to pull something out of their hats that has real political capital for their base and a few swing voters while simultaneously taking some bricks away from the foundation of progressive ideals. Curses!

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“Care to show a link that backs up that claim?”

Duh! Of course!

But you’ll discount it completely out of hand without even reading the first scintilla of it, true?

I suspect that you made your mind up long ago and the ever growing mountain of facts, readings, measurements, evidence across many disciplines of science, data, links, figures, etc, derived by numerous completely independent groups around the globe mean zero to you.

But for the others here with open minds who will actually peruse the info. (Apologies for the length, but the list is enormous.)

No scientific body of national or international standing has maintained a dissenting opinion; the last was the American Association of Petroleum Geologists, which in 2007 updated its 1999 statement rejecting the likelihood of human influence on recent climate with its current non-committal position.

Since 2001, 32 national science academies have come together to issue joint declarations confirming anthropogenic global warming, and urging the nations of the world to reduce emissions of greenhouse gases. The signatories of these statements have been the national science academies:

* of Australia,
* of Belgium,
* of Brazil,
* of Cameroon,
* Royal Society of Canada,
* of the Caribbean,
* of China,
* Institut de France,
* of Ghana,
* Leopoldina of Germany,
* of Indonesia,
* of Ireland,
* Accademia nazionale delle scienze of Italy,
* of India,
* of Japan,
* of Kenya,
* of Madagascar,
* of Malaysia,
* of Mexico,
* of Nigeria,
* Royal Society of New Zealand,
* Russian Academy of Sciences,
* of Senegal,
* of South Africa,
* of Sudan,
* Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences,
* of Tanzania,
* of Turkey,
* of Uganda,
* The Royal Society of the United Kingdom,
* of the United States,
* of Zambia,
* and of Zimbabwe.
American Association for the Advancement of Science

As the world’s largest general scientific society, the American Association for the Advancement of Science adopted an official statement on climate change in 2006:

The scientific evidence is clear: global climate change caused by human activities is occurring now, and it is a growing threat to society….The pace of change and the evidence of harm have increased markedly over the last five years. The time to control greenhouse gas emissions is now.[32]

American Chemical Society

The American Chemical Society stated:

Careful and comprehensive scientific assessments have clearly demonstrated that the Earth’s climate system is changing rapidly in response to growing atmospheric burdens of greenhouse gases and absorbing aerosol particles (IPCC, 2007). There is very little room for doubt that observed climate trends are due to human activities. The threats are serious and action is urgently needed to mitigate the risks of climate change.

The reality of global warming, its current serious and potentially disastrous impacts on Earth system properties, and the key role emissions from human activities play in driving these phenomena have been recognized by earlier versions of this ACS policy statement (ACS, 2004), by other major scientific societies, including the American Geophysical Union (AGU, 2003), the American Meteorological Society (AMS, 2007) and the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS, 2007), and by the U. S. National Academies and ten other leading national academies of science (NA, 2005).[33]

American Institute of Physics

The Governing Board of the American Institute of Physics endorsed the AGU statement on human-induced climate change:[34]

The Governing Board of the American Institute of Physics has endorsed a position statement on climate change adopted by the American Geophysical Union (AGU) Council in December 2003.

American Physical Society

In November 2007, the American Physical Society (APS) adopted an official statement on climate change:

Emissions of greenhouse gases from human activities are changing the atmosphere in ways that affect the Earth’s climate. Greenhouse gases include carbon dioxide as well as methane, nitrous oxide and other gases. They are emitted from fossil fuel combustion and a range of industrial and agricultural processes.

The evidence is incontrovertible: Global warming is occurring. If no mitigating actions are taken, significant disruptions in the Earth’s physical and ecological systems, social systems, security and human health are likely to occur. We must reduce emissions of greenhouse gases beginning now.

Because the complexity of the climate makes accurate prediction difficult, the APS urges an enhanced effort to understand the effects of human activity on the Earth’s climate, and to provide the technological options for meeting the climate challenge in the near and longer terms. The APS also urges governments, universities, national laboratories and its membership to support policies and actions that will reduce the emission of greenhouse gases.[35]

Australian Institute of Physics

In 2005, the Australian Institute of Physics (AIP)[36] issued a science policy document in which they stated:

Policy: The AIP supports a reduction of the green house gas emissions that are leading to increased global temperatures, and encourages research that works towards this goal.

Reason: Research in Australia and overseas shows that an increase in global temperature will adversely affect the Earth’s climate patterns. The melting of the polar ice caps, combined with thermal expansion, will lead to rises in sea levels that may impact adversely on our coastal cities. The impact of these changes on biodiversity will fundamentally change the ecology of Earth.[37]

European Physical Society

In 2007, the European Physical Society issued a position paper regarding energy:

The emission of anthropogenic greenhouse gases, among which carbon dioxide is the main contributor, has amplified the natural greenhouse effect and led to global warming. The main contribution stems from burning fossil fuels. A further increase will have decisive effects on life on earth. An energy cycle with the lowest possible CO2 emission is called for wherever possible to combat climate change.[38]

European Science Foundation

In 2007, the European Science Foundation issued a Position Paper on climate change:

There is now convincing evidence that since the industrial revolution, human activities, resulting in increasing concentrations of greenhouse gases have become a major agent of climate change. These greenhouse gases affect the global climate by retaining heat in the troposphere, thus raising the average temperature of the planet and altering global atmospheric circulation and precipitation patterns.

While on-going national and international actions to curtail and reduce greenhouse gas emissions are essential, the levels of greenhouse gases currently in the atmosphere, and their impact, are likely to persist for several decades. On-going and increased efforts to mitigate climate change through reduction in greenhouse gases are therefore crucial.[39]

Federation of Australian Scientific and Technological Societies

In 2008, the Federation of Australian Scientific and Technological Societies (FASTS) issued a policy statement on climate change:

Global climate change is real and measurable. Since the start of the 20th century, the global mean surface temperature of the Earth has increased by more than 0.7°C and the rate of warming has been largest in the last 30 years.

Key vulnerabilities arising from climate change include water resources, food supply, health, coastal settlements, biodiversity and some key ecosystems such as coral reefs and alpine regions. As the atmospheric concentration of greenhouse gases increases, impacts become more severe and widespread. To reduce the global net economic, environmental and social losses in the face of these impacts, the policy objective must remain squarely focused on returning greenhouse gas concentrations to near pre-industrial levels through the reduction of emissions.

The spatial and temporal fingerprint of warming can be traced to increasing greenhouse gas concentrations in the atmosphere, which are a direct result of burning fossil fuels, broad-scale deforestation and other human activity.[40]

Earth sciences
American Geophysical Union

The American Geophysical Union (AGU) statement,[41] adopted by the society in 2003 and revised in 2007, affirms that rising levels of greenhouse gases have caused and will continue to cause the global surface temperature to be warmer:

The Earth’s climate is now clearly out of balance and is warming. Many components of the climate system—including the temperatures of the atmosphere, land and ocean, the extent of sea ice and mountain glaciers, the sea level, the distribution of precipitation, and the length of seasons—are now changing at rates and in patterns that are not natural and are best explained by the increased atmospheric abundances of greenhouse gases and aerosols generated by human activity during the 20th century. Global average surface temperatures increased on average by about 0.6°C over the period 1956–2006. As of 2006, eleven of the previous twelve years were warmer than any others since 1850. The observed rapid retreat of Arctic sea ice is expected to continue and lead to the disappearance of summertime ice within this century. Evidence from most oceans and all continents except Antarctica shows warming attributable to human activities. Recent changes in many physical and biological systems are linked with this regional climate change. A sustained research effort, involving many AGU members and summarized in the 2007 assessments of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, continues to improve our scientific understanding of the climate.

European Federation of Geologists

In 2008, the European Federation of Geologists[42](EFG) issued the position paper Carbon Capture and geological Storage :

The EFG recognizes the work of the IPCC and other organizations, and subscribes to the major findings that climate change is happening, is predominantly caused by anthropogenic emissions of CO2, and poses a significant threat to human civilization.

It is clear that major efforts are necessary to quickly and strongly reduce CO2 emissions. The EFG strongly advocates renewable and sustainable energy production, including geothermal energy, as well as the need for increasing energy efficiency.

CCS [Carbon Capture and geological Storage] should also be regarded as a bridging technology, facilitating the move towards a carbon free economy.[43]

European Geosciences Union

In 2005, the Divisions of Atmospheric and Climate Sciences of the European Geosciences Union (EGU) issued a position statement in support of the joint science academies’ statement on global response to climate change. The statement refers to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), as “the main representative of the global scientific community”, and asserts that the IPCC

represents the state-of-the-art of climate science supported by the major science academies around the world and by the vast majority of science researchers and investigators as documented by the peer-reviewed scientific literature.[44]

Additionally, in 2008, the EGU issued a position statement on ocean acidification which states, “Ocean acidification is already occurring today and will continue to intensify, closely tracking atmospheric CO2 increase. Given the potential threat to marine ecosystems and its ensuing impact on human society and economy, especially as it acts in conjunction with anthropogenic global warming, there is an urgent need for immediate action.” The statement then advocates for strategies “to limit future release of CO2 to the atmosphere and/or enhance removal of excess CO2 from the atmosphere.”[45]
Geological Society of America

In 2006, the Geological Society of America adopted a position statement on global climate change. It amended this position on April 20, 2010 with more explicit comments on need for CO2 reduction.

Decades of scientific research have shown that climate can change from both natural and anthropogenic causes. The Geological Society of America (GSA) concurs with assessments by the National Academies of Science (2005), the National Research Council (2006), and the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC, 2007) that global climate has warmed and that human activities (mainly greenhouse‐gas emissions) account for most of the warming since the middle 1900s. If current trends continue, the projected increase in global temperature by the end of the twentyfirst century will result in large impacts on humans and other species. Addressing the challenges posed by climate change will require a combination of adaptation to the changes that are likely to occur and global reductions of CO2 emissions from anthropogenic sources.[46]

Geological Society of Australia

In July 2009, the Geological Society of Australia issued the position statement Greenhouse Gas Emissions and Climate Change:

Human activities have increasing impact on Earth’s environments. Of particular concern are the well-documented loading of carbon dioxide (CO2) to the atmosphere, which has been linked unequivocally to burning of fossil fuels, and the corresponding increase in average global temperature. Risks associated with these large-scale perturbations of the Earth’s fundamental life-support systems include rising sea level, harmful shifts in the acid balance of the oceans and long-term changes in local and regional climate and extreme weather events.

GSA therefore recommends…strong action be taken at all levels, including government, industry, and individuals to substantially reduce the current levels of greenhouse gas emissions and mitigate the likely social and environmental effects of increasing atmospheric CO2.[47]

Geological Society of London

In November 2010, the Geological Society of London issued the position statement Climate change: evidence from the geological record:

The last century has seen a rapidly growing global population and much more intensive use of resources, leading to greatly increased emissions of gases, such as carbon dioxide and methane, from the burning of fossil fuels (oil, gas and coal), and from agriculture, cement production and deforestation. Evidence from the geological record is consistent with the physics that shows that adding large amounts of carbon dioxide to the atmosphere warms the world and may lead to: higher sea levels and flooding of low-lying coasts; greatly changed patterns of rainfall; increased acidity of the oceans; and decreased oxygen levels in seawater.

There is now widespread concern that the Earth’s climate will warm further, not only because of the lingering effects of the added carbon already in the system, but also because of further additions as human population continues to grow. Life on Earth has survived large climate changes in the past, but extinctions and major redistribution of species have been associated with many of them. When the human population was small and nomadic, a rise in sea level of a few metres would have had very little effect on Homo sapiens. With the current and growing global population, much of which is concentrated in coastal cities, such a rise in sea level would have a drastic effect on our complex society, especially if the climate were to change as suddenly as it has at times in the past. Equally, it seems likely that as warming continues some areas may experience less precipitation leading to drought. With both rising seas and increasing drought, pressure for human migration could result on a large scale.[48]

International Union of Geodesy and Geophysics

In July 2007, the International Union of Geodesy and Geophysics (IUGG) adopted a resolution titled “The Urgency of Addressing Climate Change”. In it, the IUGG concurs with the “comprehensive and widely accepted and endorsed scientific assessments carried out by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change and regional and national bodies, which have firmly established, on the basis of scientific evidence, that human activities are the primary cause of recent climate change.” They state further that the “continuing reliance on combustion of fossil fuels as the world’s primary source of energy will lead to much higher atmospheric concentrations of greenhouse gasses, which will, in turn, cause significant increases in surface temperature, sea level, ocean acidification, and their related consequences to the environment and society.”[49]
National Association of Geoscience Teachers

In July 2009, the National Association of Geoscience Teachers[50] (NAGT) adopted a position statement on climate change in which they assert that “Earth’s climate is changing [and] “that present warming trends are largely the result of human activities”:

NAGT strongly supports and will work to promote education in the science of climate change, the causes and effects of current global warming, and the immediate need for policies and actions that reduce the emission of greenhouse gases.[51]

Meteorology and oceanography
American Meteorological Society

The American Meteorological Society (AMS) statement adopted by their council in 2003 said:

There is now clear evidence that the mean annual temperature at the Earth’s surface, averaged over the entire globe, has been increasing in the past 200 years. There is also clear evidence that the abundance of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere has increased over the same period. In the past decade, significant progress has been made toward a better understanding of the climate system and toward improved projections of long-term climate change… Human activities have become a major source of environmental change. Of great urgency are the climate consequences of the increasing atmospheric abundance of greenhouse gases… Because greenhouse gases continue to increase, we are, in effect, conducting a global climate experiment, neither planned nor controlled, the results of which may present unprecedented challenges to our wisdom and foresight as well as have significant impacts on our natural and societal systems.[52]

Australian Meteorological and Oceanographic Society

The Australian Meteorological and Oceanographic Society has issued a Statement on Climate Change, wherein they conclude:

Global climate change and global warming are real and observable … It is highly likely that those human activities that have increased the concentration of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere have been largely responsible for the observed warming since 1950. The warming associated with increases in greenhouse gases originating from human activity is called the enhanced greenhouse effect. The atmospheric concentration of carbon dioxide has increased by more than 30% since the start of the industrial age and is higher now than at any time in at least the past 650,000 years. This increase is a direct result of burning fossil fuels, broad-scale deforestation and other human activity.”[53]

Canadian Foundation for Climate and Atmospheric Sciences

In November 2005, the Canadian Foundation for Climate and Atmospheric Sciences (CFCAS) issued a letter to the Prime Minister of Canada stating that

We concur with the climate science assessment of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) in 2001 … We endorse the conclusions of the IPCC assessment that ‘There is new and stronger evidence that most of the warming observed over the last 50 years is attributable to human activities’. … There is increasingly unambiguous evidence of changing climate in Canada and around the world. There will be increasing impacts of climate change on Canada’s natural ecosystems and on our socio-economic activities. Advances in climate science since the 2001 IPCC Assessment have provided more evidence supporting the need for action and development of a strategy for adaptation to projected changes.[54]

Canadian Meteorological and Oceanographic Society

The Canadian Meteorological and Oceanographic Society 2002 Position Statement on Climate Change states that the society:

endorses the process of periodic climate science assessment carried out by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change and supports the conclusion, in its Third Assessment Report, which states that the balance of evidence suggests a discernible human influence on global climate.[55]

Royal Meteorological Society (UK)

In February 2007, after the release of the IPCC’s Fourth Assessment Report, the Royal Meteorological Society issued an endorsement of the report. In addition to referring to the IPCC as “world’s best climate scientists”, they stated that climate change is happening as “the result of emissions since industrialization and we have already set in motion the next 50 years of global warming – what we do from now on will determine how worse it will get.”[56]
World Meteorological Organization

In its Statement at the Twelfth Session of the Conference of the Parties to the U.N. Framework Convention on Climate Change presented on November 15, 2006, the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) confirms the need to “prevent dangerous anthropogenic interference with the climate system.” The WMO concurs that “scientific assessments have increasingly reaffirmed that human activities are indeed changing the composition of the atmosphere, in particular through the burning of fossil fuels for energy production and transportation.” The WMO concurs that “the present atmospheric concentration of CO2 was never exceeded over the past 420,000 years;” and that the IPCC “assessments provide the most authoritative, up-to-date scientific advice.” [57]
Paleoclimatology
American Quaternary Association

The American Quaternary Association (AMQUA) has stated

Few credible Scientists now doubt that humans have influenced the documented rise of global temperatures since the Industrial Revolution,” citing “the growing body of evidence that warming of the atmosphere, especially over the past 50 years, is directly impacted by human activity.[58]

International Union for Quaternary Research

The statement on climate change issued by the International Union for Quaternary Research (INQUA) reiterates the conclusions of the IPCC, and urges all nations to take prompt action in line with the UNFCCC principles.

Human activities are now causing atmospheric concentrations of greenhouse gasses – including carbon dioxide, methane, tropospheric ozone, and nitrous oxide – to rise well above pre-industrial levels….Increases in greenhouse gasses are causing temperatures to rise…The scientific understanding of climate change is now sufficiently clear to justify nations taking prompt action….Minimizing the amount of this carbon dioxide reaching the atmosphere presents a huge challenge but must be a global priority.[59]

Biology and life sciences
American Association of Wildlife Veterinarians

The American Association of Wildlife Veterinarians[60] (AAWV) has issued a position statement regarding “climate change, wildlife diseases, and wildlife health”:

There is widespread scientific agreement that the world’s climate is changing and that the weight of evidence demonstrates that anthropogenic factors have and will continue to contribute significantly to global warming and climate change. It is anticipated that continuing changes to the climate will have serious negative impacts on public, animal and ecosystem health due to extreme weather events, changing disease transmission dynamics, emerging and re-emerging diseases, and alterations to habitat and ecological systems that are essential to wildlife conservation. Furthermore, there is increasing recognition of the inter-relationships of human, domestic animal, wildlife, and ecosystem health as illustrated by the fact the majority of recent emerging diseases have a wildlife origin.[61]

American Institute of Biological Sciences

In October 2009, the leaders of 18 US scientific societies and organizations sent an open letter to the United States Senate reaffirming the scientific consensus that climate change is occurring and is primarily caused by human activities. The American Institute of Biological Sciences (AIBS) adopted this letter as their official position statement:[62]

Observations throughout the world make it clear that climate change is occurring, and rigorous scientific research demonstrates that the greenhouse gases emitted by human activities are the primary driver.[63]

The letter goes on to warn of predicted impacts on the United States such as sea level rise and increases in extreme weather events, water scarcity, heat waves, wildfires, and the disturbance of biological systems. It then advocates for a dramatic reduction in emissions of greenhouse gases.[64]
American Society for Microbiology

In 2003, the American Society for Microbiology issued a public policy report in which they recommend “reducing net anthropogenic CO2 emissions to the atmosphere” and “minimizing anthropogenic disturbances of” atmospheric gases:[65]

Carbon dioxide concentrations were relatively stable for the past 10,000 years but then began to increase rapidly about 150 years ago…as a result of fossil fuel consumption and land use change.[66]

Of course, changes in atmospheric composition are but one component of global change, which also includes disturbances in the physical and chemical conditions of the oceans and land surface. Although global change has been a natural process throughout Earth’s history, humans are responsible for substantially accelerating present-day changes. These changes may adversely affect human health and the biosphere on which we depend.[67]

Outbreaks of a number of diseases, including Lyme disease, hantavirus infections, dengue fever, bubonic plague, and cholera, have been linked to climate change.[68]

Australian Coral Reef Society

In 2006, the Australian Coral Reef Society issued an official communique regarding the Great Barrier Reef and the “world-wide decline in coral reefs through processes such as overfishing, runoff of nutrients from the land, coral bleaching, global climate change, ocean acidification, pollution”, etc.:

There is almost total consensus among experts that the earth’s climate is changing as a result of the build-up of greenhouse gases. The IPCC (involving over 3,000 of the world’s experts) has come out with clear conclusions as to the reality of this phenomenon. One does not have to look further than the collective academy of scientists worldwide to see the string (of) statements on this worrying change to the earth’s atmosphere.

There is broad scientific consensus that coral reefs are heavily affected by the activities of man and there are significant global influences that can make reefs more vulnerable such as global warming….It is highly likely that coral bleaching has been exacerbated by global warming.[69]

Institute of Biology (UK)

The UK’s Institute of Biology states “there is scientific agreement that the rapid global warming that has occurred in recent years is mostly anthropogenic, ie due to human activity.” As a consequence of global warming, they warn that a “rise in sea levels due to melting of ice caps is expected to occur. Rises in temperature will have complex and frequently localised effects on weather, but an overall increase in extreme weather conditions and changes in precipitation patterns are probable, resulting in flooding and drought. The spread of tropical diseases is also expected.” Subsequently, the Institute of Biology advocates policies to reduce “greenhouse gas emissions, as we feel that the consequences of climate change are likely to be severe.”[70]
Society of American Foresters

In 2008, the Society of American Foresters (SAF) issued two position statements pertaining to climate change in which they cite the IPCC and the UNFCCC:

Forests are shaped by climate….Changes in temperature and precipitation regimes therefore have the potential to dramatically affect forests nationwide. There is growing evidence that our climate is changing. The changes in temperature have been associated with increasing concentrations of atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO2) and other GHGs in the atmosphere.[71]

Forests play a significant role in offsetting CO2 emissions, the primary anthropogenic GHG.[72]

The Wildlife Society (international)

The Wildlife Society has issued a position statement titled Global Climate Change and Wildlife:[73]

Scientists throughout the world have concluded that climate research conducted in the past two decades definitively shows that rapid worldwide climate change occurred in the 20th century, and will likely continue to occur for decades to come. Although climates have varied dramatically since the earth was formed, few scientists question the role of humans in exacerbating recent climate change through the emission of greenhouse gases. The critical issue is no longer “if” climate change is occurring, but rather how to address its effects on wildlife and wildlife habitats.

The statement goes on to assert that “evidence is accumulating that wildlife and wildlife habitats have been and will continue to be significantly affected by ongoing large-scale rapid climate change.”

The statement concludes with a call for “reduction in anthropogenic (human-caused) sources of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gas emissions contributing to global climate change and the conservation of CO2- consuming photosynthesizers (i.e., plants).”
Human health
American Academy of Pediatrics

In 2007, the American Academy of Pediatrics issued the policy statement Global Climate Change and Children’s Health:

There is broad scientific consensus that Earth’s climate is warming rapidly and at an accelerating rate. Human activities, primarily the burning of fossil fuels, are very likely (>90% probability) to be the main cause of this warming. Climate-sensitive changes in ecosystems are already being observed, and fundamental, potentially irreversible, ecological changes may occur in the coming decades. Conservative environmental estimates of the impact of climate changes that are already in process indicate that they will result in numerous health effects to children.

Anticipated direct health consequences of climate change include injury and death from extreme weather events and natural disasters, increases in climate-sensitive infectious diseases, increases in air pollution–related illness, and more heat-related, potentially fatal, illness. Within all of these categories, children have increased vulnerability compared with other groups.[74]

American College of Preventive Medicine

In 2006, the American College of Preventive Medicine issued a policy statement on “Abrupt Climate Change and Public Health Implications”:

The American College of Preventive Medicine (ACPM) accept the position that global warming and climate change is occurring, that there is potential for abrupt climate change, and that human practices that increase greenhouse gases exacerbate the problem, and that the public health consequences may be severe.[75]

American Medical Association

In 2008, the American Medical Association issued a policy statement on global climate change declaring that they:

Support the findings of the latest Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change report, which states that the Earth is undergoing adverse global climate change and that these changes will negatively affect public health.

Support educating the medical community on the potential adverse public health effects of global climate change, including topics such as population displacement, flooding, infectious and vector-borne diseases, and healthy water supplies.[76]

American Public Health Association

In 2007, the American Public Health Association issued a policy statement titled ‘’Addressing the Urgent Threat of Global Climate Change to Public Health and the Environment’’:

The long-term threat of global climate change to global health is extremely serious and the fourth IPCC report and other scientific literature demonstrate convincingly that anthropogenic GHG emissions are primarily responsible for this threat….US policy makers should immediately take necessary steps to reduce US emissions of GHGs, including carbon dioxide, to avert dangerous climate change.[77]

Australian Medical Association

In 2004, the Australian Medical Association issued the position statement Climate Change and Human Health in which they recommend policies “to mitigate the possible consequential health effects of climate change through improved energy efficiency, clean energy production and other emission reduction steps.”[78]

This statement was revised again in 2008:

The world’s climate – our life-support system – is being altered in ways that are likely to pose significant direct and indirect challenges to health. While ‘climate change’ can be due to natural forces or human activity, there is now substantial evidence to indicate that human activity – and specifically increased greenhouse gas (GHGs) emissions – is a key factor in the pace and extent of global temperature increases.

Health impacts of climate change include the direct impacts of extreme events such as storms, floods, heatwaves and fires and the indirect effects of longer-term changes, such as drought, changes to the food and water supply, resource conflicts and population shifts.

Increases in average temperatures mean that alterations in the geographic range and seasonality of certain infections and diseases (including vector-borne diseases such as malaria, dengue fever, Ross River virus and food-borne infections such as Salmonellosis) may be among the first detectable impacts of climate change on human health.

Human health is ultimately dependent on the health of the planet and its ecosystem. The AMA believes that measures which mitigate climate change will also benefit public health. Reducing GHGs should therefore be seen as a public health priority.[79]

World Federation of Public Health Associations

In 2001, the World Federation of Public Health Associations[80] issued a policy resolution on global climate change:

Noting the conclusions of the United Nations’ Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) and other climatologists that anthropogenic greenhouse gases, which contribute to global climate change, have substantially increased in atmospheric concentration beyond natural processes and have increased by 28 percent since the industrial revolution….Realizing that subsequent health effects from such perturbations in the climate system would likely include an increase in: heat-related mortality and morbidity; vector-borne infectious diseases,… water-borne diseases…(and) malnutrition from threatened agriculture….the World Federation of Public Health Associations…recommends precautionary primary preventive measures to avert climate change, including reduction of greenhouse gas emissions and preservation of greenhouse gas sinks through appropriate energy and land use policies, in view of the scale of potential health impacts….[81]

World Health Organization

In 2008, the United Nations’ World Health Organization issued their report Protecting health from climate change:

There is now widespread agreement that the earth is warming, due to emissions of greenhouse gases caused by human activity. It is also clear that current trends in energy use, development, and population growth will lead to continuing – and more severe – climate change.

The changing climate will inevitably affect the basic requirements for maintaining health: clean air and water, sufficient food and adequate shelter. Each year, about 800,000 people die from causes attributable to urban air pollution, 1.8 million from diarrhoea resulting from lack of access to clean water supply, sanitation, and poor hygiene, 3.5 million from malnutrition and approximately 60,000 in natural disasters. A warmer and more variable climate threatens to lead to higher levels of some air pollutants, increase transmission of diseases through unclean water and through contaminated food, to compromise agricultural production in some of the least developed countries, and increase the hazards of extreme weather.[82]

Miscellaneous
American Astronomical Society

The American Astronomical Society has endorsed the AGU statement:[83]

In endorsing the “Human Impacts on Climate” statement [issued by the American Geophysical Union], the AAS recognizes the collective expertise of the AGU in scientific subfields central to assessing and understanding global change, and acknowledges the strength of agreement among our AGU colleagues that the global climate is changing and human activities are contributing to that change.

American Statistical Association

On November 30, 2007, the American Statistical Association Board of Directors adopted a statement on climate change:

The ASA endorses the IPCC conclusions…. Over the course of four assessment reports, a small number of statisticians have served as authors or reviewers. Although this involvement is encouraging, it does not represent the full range of statistical expertise available. ASA recommends that more statisticians should become part of the IPCC process. Such participation would be mutually beneficial to the assessment of climate change and its impacts and also to the statistical community.[84]

Engineers Australia (The Institution of Engineers Australia)

“Engineers Australia believes that Australia must act swiftly and proactively in line with global expectations to address climate change as an economic, social and environmental risk… We believe that addressing the costs of atmospheric emissions will lead to increasing our competitive advantage by minimising risks and creating new economic opportunities. Engineers Australia believes the Australian Government should ratify the Kyoto Protocol.”[85]

International Association for Great Lakes Research

In February 2009, the International Association for Great Lakes Research[86] (IAGLR) issued a Fact Sheet on climate change:

While the Earth’s climate has changed many times during the planet’s history because of natural factors, including volcanic eruptions and changes in the Earth’s orbit, never before have we observed the present rapid rise in temperature and carbon dioxide (CO2).

Human activities resulting from the industrial revolution have changed the chemical composition of the atmosphere….Deforestation is now the second largest contributor to global warming, after the burning of fossil fuels. These human activities have significantly increased the concentration of “greenhouse gases” in the atmosphere.

As the Earth’s climate warms, we are seeing many changes: stronger, more destructive hurricanes; heavier rainfall; more disastrous flooding; more areas of the world experiencing severe drought; and more heat waves.[87]

Institute of Professional Engineers New Zealand

In October 2001, the Institute of Professional Engineers New Zealand[88] (IPENZ) published an Informatory Note entitled “Climate Change and the greenhouse effect”:

Human activities have increased the concentration of these atmospheric greenhouse gases, and although the changes are relatively small, the equilibrium maintained by the atmosphere is delicate, and so the effect of these changes is significant. The world’s most important greenhouse gas is carbon dioxide, a by-product of the burning of fossil fuels. Since the time of the Industrial Revolution about 200 years ago, the concentration of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere has increased from about 280 parts per million to 370 parts per million, an increase of around 30%.

On the basis of available data, climate scientists are now projecting an average global temperature rise over this century of 2.0 to 4.5°C. This compared with 0.6°C over the previous century – about a 500% increase… This could lead to changing, and for all emissions scenarios more unpredictable, weather patterns around the world, less frost days, more extreme events (droughts and storm or flood disasters), and warmer sea temperatures and melting glaciers causing sea levels to rise.

… Professional engineers commonly deal with risk, and frequently have to make judgments based on incomplete data. The available evidence suggests very strongly that human activities have already begun to make significant changes to the earth’s climate, and that the longterm risk of delaying action is greater than the cost of avoiding/minimising the risk.

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Jackie……any idea what Obama is doing to our economy? I will throw that question back at ya. When gas prices rose under Bush you all pointed the finger at Bush……where are the fingers pointing at Obama now?

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Guess throwing money at education didn’t work after all.

82 percent of US schools may be labeled ‘failing’

http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5gPmjfDMN5nHOpeSIZYLwkVfKAHGQ?docId=c7dc0757afd54b5ca2836c00de44535f

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“if Obamacare is so great, why are states, companies and unions getting a pass?”

The Truth About Health Care Waivers
http://www.whitehouse.gov/blog/2010/12/10/truth-about-health-care-waivers

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Why didn’t you know Beavis, that would be the commerce clause or maybe the supremacy clause… Or any clause they want, Beavis. Nevermind that not buying something is now an activity that can be controlled by the commerce clause. You see, this is how Democrats see things; no activity now equals activity. You see the world is now upside down.

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Have you ever heard of an organization called the mafia?

Which one: Russian, Chinese, Japanese, Italian, Black Family, Mexican,…..???

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Normal, let’s say we split the profits? (Homophobic humpers unite!)

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“But you’ll discount it completely out of hand without even reading the first scintilla of it, true?

I suspect that you made your mind up long ago and the ever growing mountain of facts, readings, measurements, evidence across many disciplines of science, data, links, figures, etc, derived by numerous completely independent groups around the globe mean zero to you. ”

The problem with your post is the fact that you didn’t post a link and all of that “data” is outdated.

Where is Al Gore?

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“Make up your mind. Either the union stripping provisions were fiscal or they were not. You can’t have it both ways.”

I would suggest you figure out the difference between “fiscal” and “non-fiscal”…….it may help alleviate your problem. One has to do with “direct” spending, while the other does not.

Good luck.

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“Long live the insurance companies!”

I’ve never had a problem with my insurance provider.

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Lack of trust in any source that doesn’t tell you exactly what you already believe… very nice. You must be a proud little sheep.

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Which one: Russian, Chinese, Japanese, Italian, Black Family, Mexican,…..???

SoCo, when you can complete and total obeisance like the neo-cons do, I’d surmise that even the Cosa Nosta is jealous of the modern day GOP…

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“WOW….would you expect anything less from Doggone….he is probably typing from his knees!”

Libs are having a tough time providing real facts these days.

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“I would suggest you figure out the difference between “fiscal” and “non-fiscal”…….”

Just to clear up any confusion on where I stand on this:
*I* think the WI legislature did the RIGHT THING by removing the union stripping provisions from the budget bill and voting on them separately. They were never anything to do with ANY budget process in the first place.

Which is what the “Fab 14″ have been saying all along. Now the Republicans have caved and admitted the Dems were correct all along.

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Doggone….when you pray to your Lord Obozo do you face Mecca?

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“Lack of trust in any source that doesn’t tell you exactly what you already believe… very nice. You must be a proud little sheep.”

Speaking of sheep, will you Obama cult followers follow Obama off the political cliff in 2012?

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“Sorry if I don’t buy into an Obama propaganda website”

Sorry? Yep, you sure are. When you can’t refute the facts…attack the messenger.

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“…outdated.”

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G2y8Sx4B2Sk

So prove your claim that it is.

(Insert belly laugh here!)

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Adam, either a law applies to everybody, or nobody, make a choice!

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“Fab 14″ – BWWAAAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA. I can’t believe Liberals are putting these people on a fcking pedestal. It’d be funny if it wasn’t so sad. They SHOULD NOT…I REPEAT SHOULD NOT…get paid for those days that they were AWOL.

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WOW. He provided facts. See my 10:50 am. It’s pretty obvious you have no interest in anything that doesn’t fit into what you already believe. Plus, you didn’t even read the thing. You just want to be a troll.

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“why is it the world continues to come to this country for educational opporunities?”

Because they can come here, learn how to make weapons and fly back to teach others how to make weapons.

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“He provided facts.”

Oh, so you speak for him now?

“Plus, you didn’t even read the thing. You just want to be a troll.”

I did read it, thank you. Also, I am sure glad to know you have the superability to know what I do and don’t do.

Troll? Got it. Now I’m a homophobic nazi humper racist troll.

Any other names you want to add?

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“So prove your claim that it is.”

Guess you missed the whole “fake climate e-mails” fiasco.

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Adam, this reminds me of you.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8jpNcAQKQO8&feature=related

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“you’re not a nazi humper racist as far as I know. ”

Phew, I can sleep better knowing that.

“But you are a troll.”

Darn.

“And apparently a speed reader if you could have read that entire thing in the space of time you’ve spent posting since it was offered to you.”

I’m fast like that, Adam.

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“If you were in a military setting, I could envision you getting out in front and leading the charge to repulse a squadron of tanks.”

?

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@WOW

Your ability to amplify is profound.

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“Your ability to amplify is profound.’

Please stop it! All this adoration from you guys is too much for me to handle.

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wow, I give up trying to have a cogent discussion with you. And that is a shame but I don’t play these silly word games with people.

You are MUCH, MUCH too smart to try and get way with being so intellectually dishonest.

You claim my very extensive (and current) list is outdated.

I ask you to prove that statement.

You reply “Guess you missed the whole “fake climate e-mails” fiasco.”

That has NOTHING WHATSOEVER to do with that list being outdated or not. And you and everybody else here knows it.

But god bless you, this is your incessant tactic.

Over and out.

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“The Ogeechee, where I fish, is under a warning not to eat the fish if you are pregnant”

OH MY GOSH!!!!!! Did you really just write that? Hate to break it to you, but pregnant women are not supposed to eat ANY fish while being…..pregnant.

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Southern….that is fine you can avoid the truth. Typical.

How am I avoiding the truth? In my line of work, I’ve come across information on mafia members from different organizations. Most of NY’s union membership comes from public sector unions, which are not mafia run. When you talk about unions that represent the longshore workers and stuff, I know what you’re talking about. However, the mafia isn’t the reason that NY’s union membership is high.

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“I give up trying to have a cogent discussion with you. And that is a shame but I don’t play these silly word games with people.”

You sure played silly word games when referring to me as a homophobic racist humper…..

“You are MUCH, MUCH too smart to try and get way with being so intellectually dishonest.”

Oh stop it, Vet!

“That has NOTHING WHATSOEVER to do with that list being outdated or not. And you and everybody else here knows it.”

Uh…hmmmm….yeah it kind of does.

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Lawd ah mercy!

AmVet’s dropped a HUGE spam in the can again.

Something he ate?

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“I provided them, you just refuse to read them. Never let education get in the way of your prejudices.”

Well, maybe you could toss me some good ole money to buy me a new edumacation.

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“In other words, you do what you are told instead of doing what is “right.””

Do we know each other, Jackie? I’m confused as to how you, Adam and others seem to know how I think, read, write and go about my business.

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I don’t believe that Jay is in San Diego. He was using the tag line that Ron Burgundy closed his nightly report with in the will Ferrill movie. He was only telling us to behave.

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“pregnant women are not supposed to eat ANY fish while being…..pregnant”

Yep, because the concentrations of mercury are getting too high in the entire range of edible fish.

It didn’t used to be that way.

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“It didn’t used to be that way.”

Because you have a time machine and know this how?

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Please stop it! All this adoration from you guys is too much for me to handle.

Isn’t that just adorable.

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Because you have a time machine and know this how?

WOW. The stoopid is strong in this one.

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“Because you have a time machine and know this how?”

Because I am 60 years old and I remember the advice that pregnant women got to eat MORE fish…when I was younger and the water was cleaner.

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