CLIMATE CRISIS NEWS

ALARM: At the coldest point on Earth, temperatures are rising fast. Data from the South Pole shows that over the past 30 years, the region has warmed three times faster than the warming rate of the planet as a whole. The study was published Monday in the journal “Nature Climate Change.” “The South Pole seemed to be isolated from what was going on across the rest of the world,” said researcher Kyle Clem. “But all of a sudden, it ramps up with rapid warming, some of the strongest warming on the planet.” The researchers believe that part of the warming is part of a multi-decade natural process, but that the rest is due to humaninduced climate change. So far, the temperature changes haven’t been significant enough to cause any massive ice loss at Antarctica’s interior. Still, the bottom line is that the Antarctic is “waking up” to climate change — and that is alarming. ENCOURAGEMENT: Members of the local climate group, For Our Grandchildren, along with Malaika Collette of Peterborough Youth Empowerment, presented a motion to Peterborough County Council last week to declare a climate change emergency. The motion was passed with no changes after a long and largely positive discussion. The matter has now been referred to the director, corporate projects and services, for a report back to council. Let’s hope the declaration is made! For local climate news and ways to take action, visit forourgrandchildren.ca/ and subscribe to the newsletter.