Comments on: Dreading the End of Summer

By: What Shrinking Ice Means for Polar Bear Cubs : Wildlife Promise

What Shrinking Ice Means for Polar Bear Cubs : Wildlife Promise — Mon, 04 Feb 2013 13:25:59 +0000

[...] the Arctic are searching for food to make up for the calories that were lost during the fall—when record low ice meant that the start of their winter hunting season was [...]

By: Climate Question Should Be Center Stage : Wildlife Promise

Climate Question Should Be Center Stage : Wildlife Promise — Fri, 07 Sep 2012 21:17:38 +0000

[...] Arctic sea ice on which polar bears depend has already set a record low this summer, and is still diminishing; [...]

By: NathanS

NathanS — Fri, 31 Aug 2012 18:35:00 +0000

I would like to add, I have read the report you linked to, and this is the sort of message I am talking about: “In the coming years, a majority of Americans will experience direct adverse effects from the impacts of global warming. . . . [A]nxiety [regarding climate change] will increase as reports of the gravity of our condition become more clear and stark.” Isn’t this the message people should really be getting?

By: NathanS

NathanS — Fri, 31 Aug 2012 17:37:00 +0000

Ms. Staudt, as a climate scientist, what is your opinion of the mitigating effect on climate change of an increase in vehicle fuel efficiency by 2025? Do you see this measure as a real and serious first step in reducing climate impacts? When you say that deep down you believe we can get ourselves on the right course and avoid “the worst” of potential impacts, do you think of “the worst” impacts as a significant reduction in human population, or would “the worst” impacts be full on extinction? If the worst that could happen is human extinction, then I agree that we can and probably will avoid the worst impacts. But I am curious, what do you suspect the carrying capacity is for humans of a planet that is another .5c warmer in 30 years than it is now, keeping in mind that is a number almost certainly already locked in by emissions being released today? Perhaps we should begin to switch from hopeful platitudes and tell folks that there are hard times ahead for everyone, no matter how you do the math? This may be a more effective strategy for scientists to get the message across of the seriousness of the situation. Anyway, I don’t mean to barrage you with a bunch of rhetorical questions, but I would certainly appreciate hearing your general views on these matters.