Sunday, April 23, 2006
EMISSIONS DOWN, BEARS DROWN
Things are getting better:
Since 1970, carbon monoxide emissions in the U.S. are down 55%, according to the Environmental Protection Agency. Particulate emissions are down nearly 80% and sulfur dioxide emissions have been reduced by half. Lead emissions have declined more than 98%.
But somehow this is only making things worse, as the NY Times reports:
Polar bears are drowning; an American city is underwater; ice sheets are crumbling ... the rate of warming from the 1970’s until now has been three times the average rate of warming since 1900. Seas have risen about six to eight inches globally over the last century and the rate of rise has increased in the last decade.
I blame this on decreased carbon monoxide, particulate, sulfur dioxide, and lead emissions. For the sake of all the drowning polar bears, let’s get those pollutants up!