The war on fossil fuels

The evidence for global warming is virtually everywhere. Here in California, we are experiencing the worst fire season on record. Dangerous wildfires are burning all over the state. Scientists are documenting the effects of these and other climate-related changes, which mostly originate from global warming caused by humans. Clean energy is no longer a theoretical option. We need to utilize the sun for energy now before it is too late. The latest climate science reports state that we are on the precipice of several climate-related disasters. Now is the time to make the changes needed so we don't have to experience the worst of the repercussions from burning fossil fuels.

Increased heat affects weather and oceans

Scientists figure that ninety percent of natural disasters are weather-related, the United Nations reports. These are some examples of how the extra warmth alters climate conditions and weather patterns: The cryosphere is melting. A warmer atmosphere makes the earth's snowpack, glaciers, and freshwater ice melt quickly. Melting glaciers and polar ice sheets add to unprecedented sea level rise. Melting sea ice reveals darker ocean waters, which absorb more sunlight than ice. This heats the ocean more and speeds up a relentless cycle of melting and heating. There is no question that the weather is getting more severe. Heatwaves are more common worldwide. Countries as diverse as Japan, Canada, and Europe are all experiencing heat waves that have killed hundreds. The increased evaporation of water acts like fuel for storms, adding to extreme weather events, such as hurricanes. Rising sea levels make storm surges capable of much greater destruction. In more naturally dry areas, droughts and wildfires increase.

The oceans are becoming hotter, expanding and becoming more acidic. They are getting warmer because they consume 90 percent of the heat in the climate. This shift causes the oceans to grow, contributing to higher sea levels, and robs corals of their vivid colors. Nearly a third of carbon dioxide discharges end up in the oceans, triggering a chemistry modification that makes the water more acidic, dissolving the shells of sea animals. The ocean is nearly 40 percent more acidic than it once was.

Climate change solutions are nearly within reach

Global warming is a major menace to farmlands. Worldwide, farmers are struggling to keep up with changing weather patterns and increasingly unpredictable water sources. Farms are more likely to face assaults from weeds, diseases, and pests, which reduce crop yields. Warmer, polluted air affects our health. A hotter atmosphere develops the formation of ground-level ozone – also known as smog – in polluted regions. Smog irritates lungs and triggers asthma attacks as well as a host of additional respiratory issues. Smoke from wildfires further degrades the air. Extreme summer heat equals more deaths during heatwaves. Warmer freshwater makes it easier for disease-causing agents (such as bacteria) to grow and contaminate drinking water.

The solar solution is ready now and it's hard to imagine a better time to go solar. Now that the latest climate science reports are in, it's clear that we have to go on a massive solar diet and restrict our intake of fossil fuels. The continued burning of oil, gas, and coal is killing us and we need to wake up to the dangers associated with this primitive form of generating energy. The earth can't handle much more pollution, so it's up to us to make the changes necessary to clean up the planet. Do we want to leave future generations with a polluted planet? We can do our part by installing solar and using our energy more efficiently.

Please visit our solar blog to find out more about the benefits of going solar.

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