Our Changing Climate: Is Now the Time?

Hurricane Maria hit Puerto Rico as a category four hurricane, with winds over 155 mph, leaving 100 percent of the island without power on September 20th. These winds, rainfall, and heat were translated into a mix of waste-water, floodwaters, and trash in the streets, surgical operations performed in sweltering 95 degree weather, and a lack of waterborne-disease-free water. As the third strongest storm to ever hit US territory, Maria has done some irreparable damage. This has not been exclusive to one hurricane—over the course of this summer, the world has fallen victim to some of the worst major natural disasters in history.

The intensity of these hurricanes can be accredited to climate change, as NASA finds a global temperature rise, warming oceans, glacial retreat, and extreme events correlate with the recent influx of carbon emissions from industrialization. These effects of climate change are also contributing factors to extreme events, such as hurricanes, typhoons, and floods. According to the Clausius-Clapeyron equation, higher temperatures from the global temperature rise account for increased moisture in the air. For every degree Celsius increase, the percentage of moisture in the air increases by seven percent. Though this may seem like an insignificant digit, in the context that 2016 was the hottest recorded year in history, with eight months breaking records of the highest temperatures, the seven percent increase may suddenly become a 14 percent spike. It has been recorded that the waters of the Gulf of Mexico have increased 1.5 degrees from 1980—these subtle changes may be the culprits behind this year’s raging hurricane season. Just a 0.5 increase in temperature could result in a catastrophic hurricane, fed by the increased moisture in the atmosphere.

Climate change correlates with the onset of amplified natural disasters—however, skeptics of climate change have deemed even mentioning it as a cause as “insensitive” and “tasteless,” raising the question of the appropriateness of discussing climate change in light of all that has been going on recently. But if we're not going to mention it now, when?

In such a time of distress, it does seem relatively inappropriate to start finger-wagging—coverage should indeed be aid and rescue-based and based on spreading awareness, not political views. However, that is not to say that climate change should altogether be censored from news networks. In fact, despite this being heavily opinionated and political news, this plight needs to be addressed immediately, as it is an imminent danger to our world.

The most natural response to such disasters would be to reconsider rebuilding infrastructure and energy sources near bodies of water or coastal plains or other regions severely damaged by the hurricanes and floodwaters. However, such a response is only a short-term solution. We are really only beginning to scratch the surface of dealing with future disasters. By addressing these issues on a shallow level without considering the long-term effects of climate change, we are choosing to look through a limited scope. In reality, we must acknowledge the root of the issue and call for effective reform by cutting carbon emissions and establishing precautionary measures to reduce the damage next time, as per the Paris Agreement. By failing to do so, we are placing ourselves in the path of impending doom.

The current administration is going out of its way to evade the discussion of climate change, whether or not it is in the context of the recent hurricanes. In April, the EPA removed mention of climate change from its official website, and it is planning to repeal carbon dioxide emission regulations. Trump is also in the midst of repealing the Clean Power Plan, an emblem of the reform Obama had pushed for in his presidency. Others, such as Governor Rick Scott of Florida, have evaded the term so much that in order to pass certain bills or acknowledge certain discoveries, scientists must have “climate change”-free proposals or findings for him. At this point, the scientific community is subject to the power of the politician rather than the scientific method. Science has become a customizable political tool.

It shouldn’t be this way. In a period of indifference, these hurricanes are finally gaining attention, warning skeptics that the truth they’ve been censoring may have an effect on them. They may finally become the victims, and that makes all the difference. Now, discussing the potential causes of recent hurricanes is no less appropriate than discussing issues on gun control after a shooting—rather, it will never be more appropriate.

In order to address and face the consequences of these natural disasters, we must prioritize understanding and addressing the scientific causes behind them to educate the public, call for reform, and potentially prevent future instances. Without increased awareness in the public regarding their direct impact on the environment, this subject may never come to see the light of day, and it will become forgotten.

In light of Donald Trump’s rejection of all ideas “climate change” related, this is also a huge opportunity for scientists to finally take a stance and use current events in the world as evidence to further support the existence of climate change. The President has no issue with calling out issues related to immigration because it does not hurt big American business. Just remember that there will be no America, let alone business, in a world ravaged by preventable natural disasters.