SignOnSanDiego.com > News > Science -- Burning of fossil fuels threatens to overwhelm Arctic environment: "It's a problem now, new study concludes
By Bruce Lieberman
UNION-TRIBUNE STAFF WRITER
November 9, 2004
The burning of fossil fuels has contributed to warming in the Arctic that is much faster and more dramatic than scientists previously believed at nearly twice the rate of the rest of the world, a new international report concludes.
Melting sea ice and thawing permafrost is rapidly altering the Arctic environment. The changes could drive seals, polar bears and other animals toward extinction, said the report issued yesterday. "
This is a bummer. My kids love polar bears and seals. I guess no one will really care, since how many of us have ever seen the artic wilderness anyway? Would we really miss it if it were gone? Can we be satisifed with old reruns of National Geographic TV specials if we want to see polar bears in their native habitat?
1 comment:
Scott,
The good news is that we won't be burning fossil fuels much longer. :)
While I'm confident that the threat to the arctic environment is real, there is hope that most of those species will outlast our rampant thirst for gasoline.
In 5 years, everything will be different, because the cost of a barrel of oil will probably have quadrupled. (Just a guess, but you heard it from me first!)
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