I’m working on an article for a local publication on what climate change is going to mean in this area, and in the process I search through a lot of blogs on global warming. It’s disheartening. In the face of incredible advance scientific understanding of climate change that is being confirmed by researchers around the world, there seems to be growing tide of climate change scoffers who listen uncritically to “experts” whose data has no factual basis.
I like to check out two kinds of Global Warming Blogs. Those that are both carefully researched about what is happening and those where people are putting their heads together to share strategies to make a positive difference. Here are 3 I like in each category.
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SOME THINGS WE DO KNOW
The posts on this site are deeply researched at reflective. Andrew C. Revkin, New York Times science reporter operates this site as part of the NYT. I was fortunate enough to hear Revkin speak recently (see my post Paul Ehrlich and Andrew Revkin at UW-Madison: Two Speakers – One Topic here .
His premise is that by 2050, the world population may well reach 9 billion. For those of us who believe that humans may be contributing to climate change, 9 billion is a sobering number. Revkin’s blog is fresh and fact filled. I call it a must read to stay current.
The Yale Forum on Climate change & the Media
This is a compendium of reputable information on climate change! Take your pick from their features: analysis, essays, fact file, international, media, on campus, on the net, policy, politics, profiles, reviews and science. You can keep your finger on the pulse with this website.
When you are looking for graphic depictions of the what and where we can expect to see in climate change, a new and very clear option is the Climate Wizard site put together by the Nature Conservancy, The University of Washington and the University of southern Mississippi. With their maps you can choose a state or country and get leading climate change information and its impacts anywhere on Earth.
SOME THINGS WE CAN DO
This is a chance to stick your toes in No Impact Man’s waters! Colin Beavan has been blogging about his attempt to live a no-impact life. This is one urban family’s attempt. It’s a huge commitment to step this far away from the mainstream. Very few people would follow them this far, but we need to be constantly rethinking where we fall in this continuum. This blog offers a guided way to try living no impact for a week. Check it out here
This is a site chock full of suggestions on how you can lower your impact on the planet. They break it down into accessible topics like: family, food, garden, health and transportation. This is a great site to wander around it and find a way that works for each of us to make our next footstep a lighter one.
This organization gets its name from the figure, 350 parts per million CO2 in the atmosphere, which is considered to be the safe limit for humanity. It’s a number we are trying to get back to from our current 387. If you are feeling a little alone when you watch main stream media or interface with the people and blogs that deny climate change is important or even happening, this site will let you know you are not alone. The site currently highlights the efforts organized around Oct. 24, which was international day of climate action. Even though Oct 24 is past, the group is working to keep the pressure on to get this message to decision makers.
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Digging in the Driftless 
I can’t help but shake my head and sigh at all the Climate change deniers AND at those who want to undertake mega-engineering projects to reverse or offset the warming. I’ve about concluded that mass education at the high school and college levels is basically a failure, given the wide-spread skepticism of climate change. I won’t even discuss it with deniers: it’s a waste of my time and energy, or maybe I’m too impatient and intolerant. Of course it doesn’t help that Exxon-Mobil and other groups so persistently work a misinformation campaign to protect their profits rather than protect people and the planet. I’ve personally been boycotting Exxon-Mobil for the past dozen years.
By the way, I published an article somewhat similar to what you are doing in the June 2007 issue of Silent Sports. Not as well-researched as yours apparently will be, but I came up with some disquieting conclusions about the changing climate in Wisconsin over the next century. Good luck with your piece.
Dennis, sorry to take so long to reply. If you look at my post today, you will see that I’ve been away from my desk in full fall frenzy.
Climate change touches everything. I try not to be obsessed, but everything seems to come back to it. Even trying to maintain native habitat. The plants and animals that have lived here for so long may not fit here much longer, even if we do get better at sharing space.
Do you have a link to your article in Silent Sports? I’d like very much to read it.
Denise
I just checked the Silent Sports web site and they do not appear to have an archive, so no link. But I think the Madison library ought to have past issues (public or university?).
I truly envy you living in Madison. What a great town and the Farmers’ Market is just incredible. Why grow your own of anything when you can so easily buy it there? We visit every so often (but not nearly often enough). Great eating places and cultural events. I’ll never go back to living in a town, but I would truly love to be living in the country side, say, about 25 miles away from Madison. Enjoy it!
Hey Denise,
Thanks for the links. Particularly like The Climate Wizard. you have plans to attend the Tales From Planet EArth Film Festival this weekend? I imagine I’ll catch at least a couple of the films – theres a whole smorgasbord to choose from!
Hope you’re well.
Nic
Yes, I just came across that Climate Wizard.
I am planning to attend as much as I can, but haven’t made up my mind about which yet.
We are going to get to an associated film tomorrow that is being shown through the venue of Wednesday Nite at the Lab, which we check out regularly. They bring in presenters from all over campus who talk about their research.
Here’s the info: Maybe we will see you there?
7:00 to 8:15 p.m.
Room 1111, The Auditorium
425 Henry Mall
November 4 – Special viewing of HOME – An Environmental Film Event
Come for a viewing of the French-made film HOME: A Stunning Visual Portrayal of Earth. Described as, “a depiction of how the Earth’s problems are all interlinked,” this 2009 film increases our understanding of the environmental issues facing us all.
Enjoy some Wisconsin-grown black, red, and white popcorn!
Please Note: This WN@TL will be hosted in Room 1360, adjacent to the auditorium.
Dennis, I will look for Silent Sport in one of the libraries.
In fact, I do depend on the farmer’s market at this point, but my plan is to be living in on my land in less than 3 years, at which time, I want to both grow a big garden and contribute a trickle to the foodshed from there.
Sometimes I do ask myself why I ever want to leave this place where I can walk out my door and be at the Memorial Union after an invigorating 30-minute walk, much of it along the lake shore path. I count my blessings every day.
But both my husband and I are feeling a strong pull of a belated rural calling, and working to make it happen in a way that makes sense with our current urban lives.
So for the present I straddle two worlds and learn everything I can from both.
Denise
Warning! Big gardens are a lot of work, I’ve learned over the last couple of years. [And a lot of fun!]