Washington (July 25, 2006) -- Global warming is threatening the health of Yellowstone, Yosemite and ten other national parks in the West, according to a report released today by the Rocky Mountain Climate Organization and the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC). Rising temperatures, prolonged droughts, severe wildfires and diminished snowfalls are likely to lead to extinctions of plant and animal species, flooding of popular beaches, losses of glaciers and snow-capped mountains, closures of parks from wildfire, and reduced recreational opportunities.
The report, "Losing Ground," also stressed that the worst of the predicted effects can be avoided if emissions of heat-trapping pollution is reduced compared to business-as-usual expectations and that state and regional leaders from the West and others around the country already are taking steps to slow, stop and eventually reverse global warming and should continue their efforts. The federal government must begin to significantly reduce our emissions within ten years, and cut them by more than half by mid-century.
"A climate disrupted by heat-trapping pollution is the gravest threat our national parks have ever faced," said Stephen Saunders, president of the Rocky Mountain Climate Organization and one of the report's principal authors. Saunders previously served as Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Interior over the National Park Service and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
Some of the report's park-specific findings include:
- Global warming has contributed to a bark beetle infestation that is endangering Yellowstone's whitebark pines, threatening to rob grizzly bears of a major food source.
- Many plant and animal species may be eliminated from western parks, with mountaintop species the most vulnerable.
- Glaciers and ice caves have melted in North Cascades and Mt. Ranier National Parks, and the majestic peaks of mountain parks across the West could be snow-free in summer within decades.
- Joshua Tree National Park may be without their namesake trees, at risk of dying off completely within the park's borders due to increasing temperatures.
- Temperature increases may make already-scorching parks like Zion National Park in Utah too hot to be visited.
- The most popular beaches in the San Francisco area, part of the Golden Gate National Recreation Area, are in danger of being flooded by a rising sea level.
The report identifies the 12 western national parks most at risk from the effects of climate change: Bandelier National Monument in New Mexico, Death Valley National Park in California; Glacier National Park in Montana; Glen Canyon National Recreation Area in Utah and Arizona; Golden Gate National Recreation Area in California; Grand Teton National Park in Wyoming; Mesa Verde National Park in Colorado; Mount Rainier National Park in Washington; North Cascades National Park in Washington; Rocky Mountain National Park in Colorado; Yellowstone National Park in Wyoming, Montana, and Idaho; and Yosemite National Park in California.
More information and the report on the web at: http://www.nrdc.org/land/parks/gw/contents.asp
National parks in the East also are not immune to the effects of global warming, but those in the West are particularly vulnerable because the western United States has warmed at twice the rate experienced in the East over the past half century, and because water scarcity puts the environments of the West at risk from changes in temperature and precipitation. Reports released from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration last week showed that the first half of 2006 was the warmest on record, including 11 states in the American West enduring much warmer temperatures than normal.
"The good news is that we have the technology and know-how to reduce global warming pollution," said Theo Spencer of NRDC. "State and local leaders are catching on that we need to save these parks and move towards a clean energy future. When will Washington hit the same trail?"
Bill Wade, the chair of the executive committee of the Coalition of National Park Service Retirees, said, "Our national parks have been less impacted by human activities than other lands in the American West. They, therefore, will serve as indicators of the changing health of our planet -- a kind of 'climate change canary in the coal mine.' This validates the reason for their establishment and underscores their continued importance."
In the absence of federal legislation curbing the emissions that cause global warming, political leaders from the American West are taking action. California has led the way on tailpipe emission standards for vehicles. State governments in California, Washington, Oregon, Arizona, New Mexico, and Montana are implementing or developing comprehensive plans to reduce their contributions to global warming.
Global warming is caused mainly by heat-trapping carbon dioxide pollution from cars and power plants. Scientists say that we need to level off emissions in the next ten years, and reduce emissions by half by the middle of this century to avoid the worst effects of global warming.
To visit the NRDC website and find out more about doing your part to protect the environment click here.
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Comments: 4
[quoted]
..."The report, "Losing Ground," also stressed that the worst of the predicted effects can be avoided if emissions of heat-trapping pollution is reduced compared to business-as-usual expectations and that state and regional leaders from the West and others around the country already are taking steps to slow, stop and eventually reverse global warming and should continue their efforts." [endquote]
Is actually valid [not] . It is a case of stating the results that you want to achieve.
There is simply no precedent. Computer models are not reliable in the eons long climate cycle to show what other factors WILL do.
So, instead of talking measures NOW to moderate the suffering and move to a sustainable culture we get told if you give up your SUV (but I continue to jet to all my conferences and vacations) all will be well.
no.
Lying about it will not help.
Your statements concerning the facts summarized in "Losing Ground" run counter to consensus findings of both U.S. and international scientific experts who's research dates back over 30 years. Please share with the group your qualifications as an atmospheric scientist or environmental / climate modeler? You did not seem to cite any scientific evidence or contrary findings to support your pot-shooting remarks about the contents of the subject report. Please don't keep us in suspense; we want to know more.
The "talk louder until everyone believes you" approach does not work for educated informed listeners. This much was discovered by "intelligent design" proponents who provided bountiful hot air but little concrete evidence to support their claims that evolution theory -- also a scientific consensus developed over many years -- was incorrect. A great deal separates a scientific theory from bombastic baloney.
If computer models are so unreliable, then how can the jet you use to fly to vacation spots remain aloft? Could the B-2 deterrent bomber, now in service to protect the oil supply for your SUV, ever take off without computer modeling and sophisticated software; NO! How indeed was NASA able to accurately intersect the Moon's orbit nearly a quarter-million miles in space in order to land multiple sets of astronauts on its surface? Nah – couldn't be mathematical modeling of complex physical systems.
Perhaps instead you regard such matters as "gods will," "magic" or some artful illusion. Well the world is either flat or round; you can't have it both ways. Unfortunately, human impacts on planetary health are NOT some act of god one waves off or wishes away. They result from our own wanton inefficient use of energy, and a profligate life style that could be even MORE comfortable with 65% less resources than what we squander today.
The principal "lie" today, is the width and depths of politically motivated denial on climate change. There also is a well oiled (so to speak) lobby $et in place to obfuscate, confuse, and otherwise bamboozle the public into thinking the global climate change science is B.S. But the merry-go-round of junk science is losing its rollers… Saying mankind is NOT significantly influencing atmospheric processes through huge human-sourced emissions of gases that have altered the energy balance on planet Earth is pretty much an insane claim anymore.
Unfortunately, everywhere one turns there is sobering evidence we have already eaten this small planet beyond easy repair. According to non-governmental estimates earthlings need 3 to 8 more planets to survive simply if all ~ 7 billion of us were to live like Americans. But many do NOT think it is too late; if we quit sucking our political, social and economic thumbs and HEAL OUR INEFFICIENT LIFESTYLE.
Denial, junk science, and self-enforced ignorance will not make a problem go away. So, if all else fails, review the actual literature... rather than listening to FAUX NEUZ or other dumbing-down focused pundits who are well paid to maintain public ignorance of the true impacts of the American "dream."
Remember, the clever ostrich with head in sand does not make hungry lioness go away...
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Bravo. Nice work here. I would have enjoyed responding to Mr. Loyd M., but you have done it for me. No point in reinventing the wheel.
Tom C.