Climate Disruptions, Close to Home - NY Times Editorial

Apart from the disinformation sowed by politicians content with the status quo, the main reason neither Congress nor much of the American public cares about global warming is that, as problems go, it seems remote.   Anyone who reads the latest National Climate Assessment, released on Tuesday, cannot possibly think that way any longer.  The report is exhaustive and totally alarming.

The study, produced by scientists from academia, government and the private sector, is the definitive statement of the present and future effects of climate change on the United States.  Crippling droughts will become more frequent in drier regions; torrential rains and storm surges will increase in wet regions; sea levels will rise and coral reefs in Hawaii and Florida will die.  Readers can pick their own regional catastrophes, but here are three:

• THE SOUTHWEST WILL FRY
• THE EAST WILL SOAK
• ALASKA WILL KEEP MELTING

Climate Disruptions, Close to Home - NY Times Editorial