21st century climate change could turn out to be one of the biggest stories in world history, and yes, let’s fight back, but let’s take care. Let’s deal with reality even as we recognize the miracle of fossil fuels, the leftover, underground remains of plants and animals that died millions of years ago and were crucial in the creation of modernity.
Best known as coal, natural gas and oil, they nevertheless release carbon dioxide into the atmosphere. It generates heat, and the more it expands, the hotter it gets and the less likely we are to hang onto modernity’s miracles.
That’s one way to read a recent message from a U.N. panel of climate-change experts drawing on miles worth of frowning data and aspiring theories. They deny Armageddon with a virtual affirmation that nations of the world will get serious enough to put workable plans into action by December.
