Economist Podcasts To a concerning degree: dire climate assessments
Aug 14, 2020
Dylan Barry, a science writer for The Economist, and Ashley Mears, a Boston University sociologist, delve into stark realities of climate change, revealing alarming trends in heatwaves and hurricanes. Yet, they also highlight glimmers of hope through positive renewable energy shifts. Mears provides insights into the elite nightlife, discussing the complex dynamics and hidden struggles of models and promoters, contrasted by the pandemic's impact on American sports, especially baseball, and its safety challenges.
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Hottest Decade on Record
- The past decade was the hottest ever recorded, with 2019 ranking among the top three hottest years.
- This concerning trend is highlighted in the State of the Climate report, revealing increasingly grim climate conditions.
Record High Temperatures and CO2 Levels
- July 2019 was the hottest month in recorded history, with record-breaking temperatures experienced in European cities.
- Atmospheric CO2 levels are the highest in 800,000 years, and sea levels have risen to a record high.
2020 Climate Anomalies
- In 2020, the US experienced wetter conditions overall, but these were unequally distributed, leading to droughts in some areas.
- The hurricane season in 2020 began much earlier than usual, with nine hurricanes recorded before August.
