CREATION CARE CORNER

Last week I attended a Zoom meeting sponsored by Faith In Place.  The speaker was Dr. Steve Vavrus, the Wisconsin state climatologist.  (I didn’t know we had one.)  He reviewed facts that we have previously discussed in this space and made clear statements of other facts and their implications for the future.  I will list some of them here:

  • 2025 statistics are not available yet
  • 2024 was the worst year on record since recording began in the mid-1800s
  • Nearly the entire world is well above average temperatures
  • Starting in the 1970’s, steep rise in temps world-wide has occurred
  • 2 years in a row have been above the 1.5 C marker for severe climate effects
  • 425 ppm atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO2) is measured at Mauna Loa Observatory

in Hawaii

  • 3 main effects of this are: 1) more extreme heat, 2) Stronger storms, 3) Higher sea level
  • Heat is the deadliest killer of people, mainly affecting the tropics
  • In the 2010’s, Wisconsin had 21 rainfalls only expected once every 100 years
  • Since 1880, global sea level rose 10 inches, with a 3 foot total rise expected
  • Most people in the world live along coastlines, where “tidal flooding” now occurs
  • Populations least responsible for climate change suffer the highest consequences
  • Americans emit 6 times the global average of CO2
  • Africa & India suffer the most consequences
  • Pacific island countries are disappearing
  • In the Milwaukee heatwave of July 2022, the central city was the hottest, and also where people are most vulnerable due to poverty
  • Federal funding cuts have made some climate data unavailable

We have the ability to react to these changes:

  • Renewable energy prices have dropped 55-72% since 2014
  • Renewable energy has now surpassed coal for generation of electricity
  • Heat wave action plans are now in place in large cities, with early forecasting, cooling

centers, and protecting workers from the heat

  • 1995 Chicago heat wave- 739 deaths; 2012 Chicago heat wave- 18 deaths

Again, remember when you vote to vote for the health of the climate and all of God’s creation.

-Sandy McKitrick