Environmental concerns should matter to everyone, and the recent news has been decidedly troubling.
Consider these developments: Japan experienced a heat wave that hospitalized 10,000 people, with 30 fatalities; Denver recorded a June temperature high of 105 degrees; and Arctic regions including Siberia and northern Sweden saw temperatures reach 90 degrees, a spike of 40 degrees above normal.
Adding to these concerns are disturbing images from Dominican Republic beaches, where waves of trash and garbage continue to accumulate. Plastic comprises much of this debris, and since it does not biodegrade, it fragments into microscopic particles that fish consume. This means that eating fish this week could expose you to ingested plastic in your meal.
The evidence suggests that climate change and environmental destruction are advancing faster than scientists have projected. The unprecedented flooding that struck the Boston area this past winter demonstrates how unprepared we remain for climate impacts already underway, much less the severe disruptions anticipated by mid-century.
The crisis is not merely a future problem—the damaging effects of climate change and environmental degradation are unfolding right now.