The Science of Stephen King

The Intergovernmental Panel for Climate Change (IPCC) indicates that an average global warming of about 2°C is likely by the end of the century, based on medium- to high-emission scenarios. Along the US East Coast, the warming is projected to be even stronger with an increase of 2.5°–5.5°C. Heat waves are expected to be more frequent and more intense and to last longer. For example, the number of days above 90°F (32°C) may increase by fifty days in the mid-Atlantic region by the middle of the century if CO2 emissions continue on their current trajectory. Such increases in extreme temperatures are likely to have a negative impact on public health all along the mid-Atlantic, as high temperatures are associated with increased mortality. This temperature–mortality link appears to be strongest in the eastern United States compared to other parts of the country.2

While there are some who still choose to deny the threat of global warming, scientists can attest that not only is the data relevant, but signs of climate change are all around us.

Climate change refers to all charted changes in precipitation, temperature, and its effects, while global warming refers to only the human-caused rise in temperature.

This is most evident in the Arctic, where the temperature has risen the highest. This has caused glaciers and sea ice to shrink. While disappearing ice floes may seem like a faraway issue that doesn’t affect the average human, global warming is also the cause of drought, wildfires, and the lessening of crops.

While the future of Earth may sound bleak, many scientists, engineers, and others have devoted their careers to slowing the heat of our very own “dome.” This is known as climate change mitigation, and is a crucial development in the fight against global warming. So how can we reverse, pause, or at least slow climate change? First, we must turn to fossil fuel. It is the cause behind 70 percent of greenhouse gases. Thankfully, humans have invented alternate ways to provide energy to their homes and cars with the recent rise in air, solar, and electric technology.

The Australian wildfires of 2019 burned eighteen million acres, killed twenty-nine people, and severely affected the local wildlife.

There are also carbon sinks. These are defined as natural areas that absorb more carbon gases than they release, which, in turn, reduce emissions. The most notable carbon sinks are the ocean and particularly abundant areas of vegetation. While untouched nature is helpful to sustaining our temperatures, researchers have published studies proving that human interference in climate change mitigation is vital. When comparing forests in Europe that are left to grow on their own and their wood taken with ones that are managed for reforestation, there is a notable difference. “The regional climate change mitigation potential of sustainably managed forests is about ten times as high as that of forests taken out of management, based on the lifetime of trees under unmanaged conditions. The difference is mainly due to the substitution effect from the use of discarded wood products as feedstock for bioenergy.”3

Like the people of Chester’s Mills, we did not ask for our “dome,” yet it is our responsibility to take care of it. As teenage activist Greta Thunberg has said, “the climate crisis has already been solved. We already have the facts and solutions. All we have to do is wake up and change.”4 So, what can the average person do to reduce their carbon footprint? While giving up driving a car altogether would be ideal, the reality is we all need transportation. There are ways to drive but still be conscientious; consider carpooling, reducing your use of air-conditioning, and using cruise control on long drives. Flying less is also a way to significantly reduce your personal emissions.