In a report released on
Wednesday, January 26,
the US National Oceanic
and Atmospheric
Administration found
that 2010 tied with 2005
as the warmest year
on record.
Land and surface
water temperatures
in both years were
0.62 degrees Celsius
higher than
the 20th century average,
making this
the 34th consecutive year
that the Earth's
average temperatures
were increased
in this way.
In the Atlantic Ocean,
12 hurricanes and
19 named storms marked
the second highest
number of hurricanes and
third highest occurrences
of storms.
Unusually strong jet streams
from June to August
2010 led to a devastating
heat wave in Russia
and massive floods
in Pakistan.
Record severe weather
events have continued
into 2011 with flood
tragedies elsewhere
on the globe,
such as in Australia.
Meteorology Professor
David Karoly (PhD)
of the University of
Melbourne explained
how climate change is
behind this established
global pattern of such
traumatic incidents.
Prof. David Karoly (M):
The rainfall we've seen is
in fact record high rainfall,
not only in Queensland
but also in Victoria
and New South Wales.
We've seen already
that these increases
in extreme flooding
and other extreme
weather events not only
in Australia but also
in Brazil, in Pakistan,
in Sri Lanka at present.
They're all indications
that the higher moisture
levels in the atmosphere,
the increases in global
average temperatures
are already causing
increases in extreme
weather events
around the world.
So we're already seeing
significant loss of life
from these flooding events,
but we've seen also
loss of life associated
with the record heat waves
in Moscow in 2010
and in southeastern
Australia in 2009.
That indicates that action
on climate change
is urgent.
Supreme Master TV(F):
What are the solutions
to lessen these types
of flooding events
and the drier weather
and just climate change
in general?
Prof. David Karoly (M):
So if we want to
slow down the increases
in extreme weather events
and slow down the rate
of climate change,
we know exactly
what we have to do.
We know that we can
change from using fossil
fuels for driving industry
to renewable energy sources.
We also know that
we can reduce
agricultural emissions
and reduce deforestation
by changing
to a low-emission
agricultural practices,
like moving from
animal agriculture
to moving to crops
and vegetarian diets.
VOICE:
While such findings
are disturbing,
we are thankful
to Professor Karoly and
the US National Oceanic
and Atmospheric
Administration for
charting the intensifying
course of climate change.
May humanity awaken
to this reality and
halt further tragedies
by adopting sustainable
lifestyles that are more
in harmony with nature.
During a May 2008
videoconference
in South Korea,
Supreme Master Ching Hai
expressed her concern
for worsening global
warming-related disasters
as she spoke of steps
that could effectively
mitigate them.
Supreme Master Ching Hai : You see, we have
more disasters nowadays,
and it saddens my heart
very much.
I keep trying to tell
everyone to minimize it.
From
individual standpoint,
just stay away
from animal products,
plant trees,
use sustainable energy.
Actually, I hope that
there is no disaster.
I hope that humans
decide right now
to just stop all
the unnecessary habits
that they are living with
and change into
the better one,
the more noble one,
a noble lifestyle.
Then, we don't have to
worry about the aftermath.
The climate will
change for the better,
we will live on, we will
still have the planet,
and they'll become
wiser and better,
more virtuous
and more blessed, and
peace will reign on Earth
for a long, long time.
http://www.france24.com/en/20110112-2010-warmest-year-record-canadahttp://www.france24.com/en/20110112-2010-ties-2005-warmest-year-record-us