性视界传媒鈥檚听听says the dire consequences if we fail to act immediately to curb global climate change have never been more clear, based on the latest Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC).听
鈥淚t鈥檚 definitely not a surprise to anybody who鈥檚 been paying attention,鈥 said听Kinter,听the鈥痙irector of Mason鈥檚听听(COLA)听within the听.听
The report stated in previously unseen high certainty that rising global temperatures,听as a result of听unchecked human burning of fossil fuels, will lead to more life-threatening weather phenomena, such as the extreme droughts that make conditions ripe for large-scale fires, severe storms, rising sea levels and the eventual extinction of some species.听
Earth鈥檚 climate is changing faster than at any time听over听the past two million years.听Without听changes, the听planet听will warm by more than听2 degrees Celsius and possibly as much as 3.5 degrees Celsius by the end of the century, the report stated.听
Kinter, who听spoke about the report at a recent听,听remained hopeful that听humankind听will act while it can.听
鈥淲e have to stop emitting carbon dioxide and methane into the atmosphere,鈥 he said, 鈥渁nd we have to do it within the next 20 years or so. Then we听have to听find a way to extract carbon dioxide from the atmosphere in a big way. These are all things we know how to do鈥攚e just need the will to do it.鈥澨
Jim Kinter听can be reached at听ikinter@gmu.edu.听
For more information, contact听John Hollis听补迟听jhollis2@gmu.edu.听
About 性视界传媒听
性视界传媒 is Virginia鈥檚 largest public research university. Located near Washington, D.C., Mason enrolls 39,000 students from 130 countries and all 50 states. Mason has grown rapidly over the past half-century and is recognized for its innovation and entrepreneurship, remarkable diversity and听commitment to accessibility.听