1980
·
In a report
to President Carter, 13 U.S. government agencies stated that by the year 2000, the earth would be more polluted, crowded, less stable
ecologically, and more vulnerable to
disruption. Serious stresses involving population, resources and
environment are clearly visible. Christian
Science Monitor, 7/25/80
1995
·
Scientists Say Earth’s Warming Could Set Off Wide
Disruptions
“Inter-governmental
panel on Climate Change . . . a United Nations group of 2,500 scientists
from around the world. . . global
climate change is indeed in progress . . .
An increase in extremes of temperatures, dryness and precipitation in
some regions . . . .A striking retreat of mountain glacier around the world.
. . . wide agreement among scientists that the average surface temperature of the globe has already risen by 1 degree
Fahrenheit during the last century, with the steepest rise taking place in
the last forty years.” NY Times.
William K. Stevens. 1/18/95, Pg. 1.
·
Satellite data: El Nino Twice as Strong as in
1992-93
An
El Nino warming trend has been located in the Pacific Ocean. It is estimated
to be twice as strong as the one in 1992. The
tropical Pacific is currently 4 to 8 inches higher than normal. The extra height reflects an excessive amount of
unusually warm water in the upper ocean. The
Chinook Observer, 1/31/95
·
Heat Death Toll Rises to 436 in Chicago
“Never in its recorded
history has Chicago suffered through three straight days of such high
temperatures and humidity. . . .
life-taking 106 degrees. . . . 700 heat-related deaths nation-wide.” Don
Terry. NY Times. 7/20/95. A8.
·
Nearly
50,000 cases if Dengue fever have been reported in Central
America over the summer. Mosquitoes
that carry the disease have expanded their boundaries due to the unusually
warm weather. AP, 9/2/95
·
Experts
predict economic, social and environmental problems in the next century if emissions
of heat trapping gases are not reduced. Possible early effects include
the sea level rising more than a foot and a half, an increase
in extreme temperatures, dryness
and precipitation, and a retreat
of mountain glaciers. NY Times,
9/18/95
1996
·
The rainfall
record for 1995 reached 29.35 inches, exceeding 1994’s record.
Chinook Observer, 1/9/96
·
Bad Weather? Just Wait.
“A United Nations
scientific panel recently concluded for the first time that global warming
had begun and would intensify because of rising levels of heat trapping
gases emitted by burning coal, oil and natural gas. . . . Sea levels will
also rise, slowly inundating Asian farmlands . . . cities and harbors throughout
the world.” John Harte and Daniel Lashof. NY
Times, 1/10/96, pg. A15.
·
While California endured record breaking heat, the
Northeast endured an extraordinary blizzard.
Some believe this freak weather is another example of global warming. NY
Times, 1/10/96.
·
Insurance Industry Leading Fight Against Global
Warming.
A growing number of
“the largest European insurers believe their very survival may depend”
on action on global warming. “The
number of storms around the world has increased quite dramatically over the
last ten years. We have come to the conclusion that it’s not just a
coincidence that this is happening at the same time as temperatures are
rising.” General Accident, major European firm that insures property
worldwide against damage from storms. Another insurance company executive:
“When you’ve got weather shifts of unpredictable dimensions, in a real
sense global climate change is uninsurable, and that indicates the enormity
of the problem . . . Just
a few huge weather related disasters, say a category five hurricane striking
Miami or a drought-related wildfire moving into Los Angeles, could wipe out
the industry’s entire worldwide reserves.” David Baron. NPR, 1/19/96.
·
Cold Wave Washes Over Midwest: 23 die in Chicago. “Record
lows for the date were tied or broken in Wyoming, Montana, South Dakota,
Nebraska, Iowa, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Michigan and Illinois. . . . 55
below, with a wind chill reading of 74 below . . . at Hallock, Minn.”
LA Times,
2/1/96, pg. A13.
·
Florida Facing Crisis in Insurance: Hurricanes Batter Both Companies and Homeowners
Coverage. Florida’s Insurance Commissioner, Bill Nelson: “There are limits to what the state can cover, and they warn of
difficulties if a hurricane hits a large metropolitan are and causes
residential losses of $25 billion
to $50 billion. . . . If we have another big hurricane, all bets are off.” Mireya Navarro. NY Times. April 25, 1996.
·
Florida faces insurance crisis due to Hurricane Andrew. Since Andrews’
devastation in 1992, homeowners insurance has gone up 72%. Hurricane Andrew caused $10 billion in damage, forcing nine small insurance
companies to declare bankruptcy. NY
Times, 4/25/96.
·
Grain Prices Soar On Poor Weather and Low Supplies
Last
year ”planting was delayed, summer heat disrupted corn pollination and
early frost crimped yields. . . There
is no room for another bad grain crop.”
Barnaby
J. Feder. NY Times, 4/26/96. Pg. A1.
·
Worst Drought Since 1930s Grips Plains: Wheat Farmers and Ranchers Are Ruined: “the
second driest such period since Oklahoma Climatological Survey started
keeping records 101 years ago.” NY
Times 5/20/96.
·
According to
researchers, the quantity of ozone destroying chemicals in the atmosphere is
declining. This means that ozone destruction should reach its peak by the
end of the decade. NY Times,
5/31/96.
·
Flooding threatens the capital of Bangladesh as 29 rivers continue to swell from heavy rains.
At least 2,000 people have already died between 1987-1988 from flooding. NY
Times, 7/6/96.
·
“Insurance
Companies warned here on Tuesday of enormous economic costs if global
actions to reduce greenhouse gas emissions come too slowly.”
Geneva, July 9, 1996, Xinhua News
Agency.
·
Since the
1960’s, the difference between the atmospheric concentrations of carbon
dioxide in summer and winter has risen by 20% in Hawaii
and 40% in the Arctic. Around 1975, the spring started coming earlier each year.
Surface temperatures have been getting warmer since the late 1950’s. NY
Times, 7/16/96.
·
Key world
powers, led by the United States and the European Union pledged Thursday to
fight global warming by working for an early accord reducing gas emissions
produced by oil and coal use, which are said to affect weather. . . .
infuriated a U.S. heavy industry lobby, the Global Climate Coalition (GCC).
. . OPEC bitter.” Geneva. Reuters. 7/18/96.
·
Nations are
urged to pass laws on emissions. Since the 1992 Earth Summit, governments
have agreed to cut emissions to 1990 levels by the year 2000. Experts
believe there will be an increasing concentration of greenhouse gases in the
atmosphere which will lead to dangerous
interference with the climate system. NY
Times, 7/19/96.
·
“Between 1989 and 1994, private and government
insurers paid more than $67 billion in storm damage claims -- $20 billion
more than was paid out during the previous five years.
The 1992s Hurricane Andrew . . . caused $ 25 billion in property damages. More
storms will mean higher insurance rates. . . . the biggest fear is that
some areas could not get insurance at all. The
insurance industry took center stage at a UN conference on climate change in
Geneva last July, where several industry giants called for reductions in
greenhouse gas emissions. Hurricanes will become more common. Sharon
Collins. CNN. 9/2/96.
·
The
insurance industry took center stage as a UN conference on climate change in
Geneva last July, where several
industry giants called for reductions
in greenhouse gas emissions.” CNN.
Sharon Collins. 9/2/96.
·
Snow Sweeps South, Icebox Chills Plains: Baby, It’s Cold Out There! CNN. 12/18/96.
·
Sub zero
temperatures gripped the northern Plains, where snowdrifts continued to make
driving difficult for motorists. In southwest Minnesota, police set up
roadblocks for wayward motorists who ignored warnings to stay home. CNN, 12/19/96.
· Gunnison, Colorado recorded a low of 34 degrees below zero. At Devils Lake, North Dakota, the wind chill reading was minus 62. AP, 12/19/96