The World's Weather

In recent years the media seem to have commented on climate change almost in line with their own political leanings. 

Thus the (left wing)  Guardian has been prone to express concern about the globe rapidly heating up if not to boiling point certainly to a point where mankind will be unable to  return the world's temperature to a safe level reasonably speedily. The (right wing) Daily Mail however comments to the effect that the current weather/temperature position is simply in line with the ebb and flow of the world's climate and temperature over many years and that there little need for concern.

Having last studied science at school a few years back,  deciding now who to believe and what should be done by mankind  has been difficult but despite being generally of a right wing political nature I conclude that   the left wing papers are at least correct to warn of the dangerous effects of mankind's carbon fuel consumption on  the world's  climate  and  weather. 

Maintaining the status quo as regards the world's climate and within reason doing more or less as I please is obviously the most attractive option. However  I increasingly doubt whether this  is the apt course for mankind in C21 if we are to continue to thrive or perhaps even survive in the years not too far ahead.

Today's Indy (admittedly as politically left as the Guardian) has an interesting article on the subject supported by a professor of climate change from East Anglia University and another climate scientist eg:

"Climate scientists are predicting that 2015 will be the hottest year on record “by a mile”, with the increase in worldwide average temperatures dramatically undermining the idea that global warming has stopped – as some climate-change sceptics claim. Even though there are still several months left in the year to gather temperature readings from around the world, climate researchers believe nothing short of a Krakatoa-sized volcanic eruption that cuts out sunlight for months on end can now stop last year’s record being beaten."

And:

“What’s important is not so much the land but the ocean data. The oceans have really picked up in the last 12 months or so,” Professor Jones said. In addition to the temperature increase attributed to the burning of fossil fuels, scientists are also recording a strengthening of El Niño, the current in the Pacific Ocean that causes sea-surface temperatures to rise. Normally when global average temperature records are broken, it is by a tiny fraction of a degree – about 0.01C or 0.02C. However, this year the record is likely to be broken by 10 times this margin, said Jessica Blunden, a climate scientist at Noaa."

 In Great Britain however these points are difficult to fathom as although on 1st July 2015 London reportedly had  its hottest day ever at 36.7 C, the  weather then felt  warm and carefree. Furthermore the hot temperature only lasted for a few days and the remaining summer days have sadly  for many of us, been rather cooler and wetter. Yet the picture painted in the Indy report today  backed up by  observations from the East Anglia University professor of Climatic Research  seems very bleak. EG the Indy comments that the US is on course for experiencing its worst ever year for wild fires with 11,600 miles already having been burnt. The newspaper reports too that in Arizona on the 8th August 2015 the temperature rose to 46.1 C;  similarly also this year; Spain 45 C Turkey 40 C Iran, Iraq and Kuwait 51 C, India and Pakistan 49 C and Japan 37.7 C.

Yet  other pages of that and different newspapers, have articles encouraging people to make the position worse, such as:

"Car Finance Options the Best Way to Buy a "65 Plate"  

Where I assume a "65 Plate" is the registration mark on a brand new car. Added to this kind of issue is the fact that the price of fuel for cars is rocketing downwards and in the UK at least the government seems  too weak to increase tax on car fuel but has no apparent qualms about allowing train fares already the least subsidised in Europe  to go up in what seem like leaps and bounds.

Given that democratic  governments presently seem so weak perhaps people personally should reflect on possible lifestyle changes required to preserve a beautiful planet for the next generation. Governments which are not democratic at best  seem no stronger about such a fundamental matter hence the need in my humble opinion for individual reflection decision and action - the world over.