Blue Hill Observatory Climate Change Statement
Rigorous and widely accepted scientific analysis shows that Earth’s climate is currently changing at an unprecedented rate compared to changes that occurred over the last hundreds of thousands of years. Although numerous factors influence Earth’s climate, the climate science community, after exhaustive research, has concluded that human activities constitute the most significant underlying cause for the current changes (primarily through human-produced emissions of greenhouse gases).
The impacts of climate change are becoming ever more apparent and serious, resulting in increasing temperatures globally, life-threatening heat waves, more frequent and longer droughts, extreme precipitation events and sea level rise resulting in severe flooding. These changes have serious implications for agriculture and biodiversity that are not yet fully understood. These changes have a disproportionate impact on disadvantaged people and on vulnerable communities and countries resulting in severe environmental justice issues.
In light of what is being experienced locally and globally, The Blue Hill Observatory supports the following:
- Meticulous observations of the current state and trends of Earth’s environmental systems must continue. The Observatory is dedicated to maintaining a surface observational record of the highest integrity and continuity to accurately assess climate trends in our region. In conjunction with other observing sites and satellite measurements, The Observatory supports scientifically valid assessments of global trends.
- Climate science education must be expanded and strengthened to enable people, including local, regional, and national leaders, to make informed decisions and take appropriate action to protect the viability of Earth’s environment and ensure environmental justice. The Observatory’s mission includes weather, climate and environmental science education programs for all students and the general public.
- Communities, governments, businesses, organizations and individuals must put in place programs and promote behaviors that increase collective efforts to mitigate climate change and to adapt to the impacts of current and future climate change so as to ensure environmental justice locally and globally.
