Climate science can be a tricky thing to grasp. I am by no means an expert, but one helpful starting point is understanding the difference between “climate” and “weather.” Click here for a relatively easy to understand definition. When scientists talk about global warming, they are talking about climate change.
As much as I enjoyed the cool July weather in the Midwestern U.S. this year, I also worried, because I knew someone, somewhere, was thinking, “Well, so much for global warming.” As explained by the link above, it is not that simple.
A recent NOAA news release and a Newsweek article keep things in perspective:
http://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/oa/climate/research/2009/jun/global.html
http://www.newsweek.com/id/208164
The reality may not be pretty. It remains to be seen, whether we, collectively, as inhabitants of Earth, will act quickly enough, and make changes that are big enough, to turn this ship around. But I live my life as I do, hoping it will be a model for others, because I think we can do it, because for all life on this planet we have to do it, and because future generations (our children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren) deserve better than what we’re currently on course to give them.
Her Green Life 