aNewDomain — The people at NASA don’t always have their heads above the clouds, looking outwards. They just as often use their incredible technology and expertise to do a bit of Earth-bound navel gazing. As we do not have a plantet B for the planet, we need to keep this planet green and healthy.
In Paris, at the 21st annual Conference of the Parties (COP21) today, the fate of the planet and climate will be decided. President Obama will be present and will demonstrate that the U.S. understands the dangers of climate change.
Using data from numerous satellites, the incredible animation above shows the 12-month cycle of Earth’s seasons, as well as the vegetative land bound plant life. It also shows the chlorophyll concentration from microscopic organisms called phytoplankton in the ocean.
The parts where the land looks brown and barren are regions of Earth in winter, whereas during summer you’ll see lush green patches.
Climate change is finally on the world’s agenda, a global renewable energy revolution is under way and influential religious leaders like Pope Francis have called on governments to consider their impact on the environment. But sometimes, momentum is not enough to break through all obstacles.
After 20 years of meetings and failed attempts to limit carbon emissions, annual emissions this year are 60 per cent higher than when United Nations Climate Talks began in 1990. In the lead up to this year’s meetings at the “Committee of the Parties” (COP 21) conference in Paris, countries have submitted pledges called “Intended Nationally Determined Contributions (INDC)” that observers have noted will still commit the world to catastrophic levels of warming.
Unless you believe that Obama is a weird cardboard carrying street walker, we’d do better to listen to him. He said don’t let the Paris attacks stop the COP21 climate change deal and insisted world leaders had to show murderers ‘that we’re not afraid.”
We’re not.
For aNewDomain, I’m David Michaelis.
