Earth’s Dashboard Is Flashing Red – Are Enough People Listening?

The year 2014 was the warmest on record, and evidence that human activity contributes to climate change is overwhelming. A Pew Research Center survey suggests only half of Americans accept evidence that carbon trapped in the atmosphere is putting the planet under stress, writes Dennis Dimick for National Geographic: “We are burning record levels of coal, oil, and natural gas to fuel modern society. As a result, we are producing record levels of greenhouse gases that warm the atmosphere, melt the planet's ice, and cause the oceans to become more acidic - threatening marine life.” The Arctic ice cap is shrinking, seas are rising, and coastal cities can anticipate severe floods. The American public and scientists do agree that US education in science, technology, engineering, and math needs improvements, and Dimick concludes, “Improved science literacy could increase the number of Americans who think action on climate change is necessary.” – YaleGlobal