October 5, 2026 in Greenfield Recorder, by Pat Hynes
“No longer can we conceive of the climate crisis as an issue solely of higher temperatures and extreme storms, without also centering on the cascade of its fatal effects on vital ecosystems. First, among these may be the death of ancient, magnificent coral reefs and the vast marine life dependent on them, causing severe human and environmental health impacts. Further, these lethal effects are distinct potential points of no return, called tipping points, and they threaten the entire planet.
The world is on track to reach a temperature of 2.6 degrees Centigrade by 2050, according to Climate Action Tracker — a dire scenario “imperiling livable futures.” The target set by the 2015 Paris Agreement to rein in climate warming was 1.5 degrees Centigrade. But already the three hottest years in human history taken together (2023-2025) have exceeded a 3-year average of 1.5 degrees Centigrade, and news is dire for the next two years when the strongest El Nino ever recorded is predicted. A strong El Nino “could drive the average global temperature to 1.8 degrees Centigrade above the preindustrial level” with extreme consequences for people and the planet…”