CLIMATE CHANGE

CLIMATE CHANGE

Reduce climate impacts through adaptation and mitigation efforts and increase resource efficiency

The Earth’s climate has varied and changed throughout history, but the current trajectory of the planet’s changing climate is putting the world’s social, economic, and environmental resources at risk.  Climate is the long-term average of weather measured over time, while weather refers to the state of the atmosphere over several minutes and up to several days.  In other words, climate and weather are not interchangeable, which is why we still see extreme cold events despite the long-term warming of the Earth.

Science tells us (with greater than 95 percent probability) that increased carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases are trapping heat in the atmosphere, increasing the temperature of the planet overtime.  Rising temperatures are resulting in extreme weather events such as droughts, heat waves and hurricanes.  These will only increase into the future, putting communities across the globe and right here in Southwest Florida at risk.  For example, increased intensity of storms results in coastal and inland waterway flooding, loss of shoreline, and reduction of groundwater supply.  These impacts affect us all and sometimes in ways we may not even realize.  With that in mind, there is much to be done to adapt to our changing climate and mitigate the impacts over time.