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In a matter of months, the tone of media coverage has shifted dramatically, and graphic reports of events attributed to global warming flow from news sources daily. Headlines have become commonplace and unequivocal in making the association between global climate change and alarming current events.
Here are the current issues and news clips citing the evidence that backs them up.
Collapsing Ice Shelves
MSNBC News Services reported in December, 2006: “A giant ice shelf has snapped free from an island south of the North Pole, scientists said Thursday, citing climate change as a ‘major’ reason for the event…the remaining ice shelves are 90 percent smaller than when they were first discovered in 1906.”
The Montreal Gazette reported on the event the same month: “Scientists consider the Canadian shelves…sentinels that reflect the accelerating change in the Arctic.”
ENS Newswire reported in October, 2006 that a 1,255-square mile Antarctic ice shelf had broken up: “…researchers found that stronger westerly winds in the northern Antarctic Peninsula, fueled primarily by human-induced climate change, were responsible for the dramatic summer warming that led to the retreat and collapse of the Larsen B ice shelf.”
World Health
The Washington Post wrote in November, 2005: “Earth's warming climate is estimated to contribute to more than 150,000 deaths and 5 million illnesses each year, according to the World Health Organization,” and that “The data…indicate that climate change is driving up rates of malaria, malnutrition and diarrhea throughout the world.”
Polar Bears Threatened
The Washington Post reported in December, 2006 that: “The Bush administration has decided to propose listing the polar bear as threatened under the Endangered Species Act, putting the U.S. government on record as saying that global warming could drive one of the world's most recognizable animals out of existence.” The story went on to say, “Because scientists have concluded that carbon dioxide from power-plant and vehicle emissions is helping drive climate change worldwide, putting polar bears on the endangered species list raises the legal question of whether the government would be required to compel U.S. industries to curb their carbon dioxide output…(The) proposal will mark the first time the administration has identified climate change as the driving force behind the potential demise of a species.”
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