Today marks the 40th Anniversary of Earth Day, and it couldn't come at a better time. Climate change is more relevant today than ever before; not only is the science clear-- with the consensus of the Nobel Prize-winning Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, which represents the collaboration of over 2,500 scientific expert reviewers and 800 authors from 130 countries-- but the impacts are clear, too. Climate change is no longer a problem of the future that we can put off dealing with, we simply don't have that luxury, now knowing what we do.
Bill McKibben may have put it best when he spoke at the World Affairs Council in San Francisco, CA last night. He explained that, in this new era, we have to change the way we think, and the vocabulary we use. In developing countries (and developed), we can no longer talk about "growth". We need to instead discuss options for "stability," "security," and "resilience." And that is what International Adaptation is all about.
Fortunately, the US President's Interagency Task Force on Climate Change Adaptation is working on this and they've released a progress report, which can be found here. They are accepting public comments (until May 14) and we need to show them that people nationwide support adaptation funding. So today, on the 40th Anniversary of Earth Day, in addition to taking the bus, shortening your shower, or planting a tree, take a minute to read the report, and leave your honest and informed feedback. To view public comments go here.
Finally, we'll leave you with this inspiring message from President Obama, who sums up pretty well the urgency with which we need to think about and act on climate change.
