The Climate Reality Project was founded in 2006, as a non-partisan organization that trains and empowers individuals to engage with and teach their communities about the science behind global warming and the effects of climate change.
On March 2, Sarah Haley, our speaker, and a “Climate Reality Leader,”, shared sobering statistics on greenhouse gas emission trends, increased carbon concentration levels in our atmosphere, and how that affects our seas, air, polar ice caps, and weather patterns. According to Sarah, the carbon dioxide emitted into our atmosphere is trapped in our oceans and warms them creating powerful, slow-moving storms and hurricanes with heavier rainfall events. Increased ocean temperatures melt polar ice, which in turn raises sea levels and releases trapped methane. She discussed global climate change through the lens of environmental justice: warmer temperatures factor into growing food insecurity, shrinking freshwater sources, higher rates of heat-related deaths and illnesses, and the creation of climate refugees, roughly 80% of whom are women.
While she noted that widespread, systemic change is necessary, there are still things we can do to reduce our carbon footprint. Read more about everyday actions you can take to make a difference.
We are grateful to WIF members Taryn Sims and Lisa Parrish for enabling Duke Energy’s sponsorship of this event and for hosting us in their office.
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