Not just polar bears will feel the heat

THE PLACE that has witnessed the fastest rise of temperature is not as might be thought a desert, but rather the Arctic. A meteorological station at Banak in the north of Norway within the Arctic Circle recorded a temperature of 32 C not long ago, the first time that it has recorded a temperature above 30 C, which is well above the average summer high of around 20 C. Beijing News commented on Thursday:

Although Banak is still far from the Arctic Ocean, and not home to polar bears, many people have taken the opportunity to put the spotlight on the dying out of world’s largest bears.

One thing is for certain, the Arctic is extremely sensitive to clime change, and the speed of its warming up is twice the global average.

The 2018 winter sea ice maximum in the Arctic was the second smallest extent on record, which is good for prolonging the shipping period through the region, but bad news otherwise. Sea ice plays a critical role in the planet’s climate and weather systems. The ice reflects sunlight, without sea ice cover, more solar energy is absorbed and temperatures rise, sparking a cycle of warming and melting. The resulting rise in sea levels will also threaten many coastal and island regions around the world.

According to the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the global average sea level rose to a new record high in 2017 and was about 3.0 inches (7.7 centimeters) higher than the 1993 average, the year that marks the beginning of the satellite altimeter record. Levels have risen yearto-year for six consecutive years and in 22 of the last 24 years, with the global sea level rising at an average rate of 1.2 inches per decade.

Countries must make every effort to cut their emissions of greenhouse gases, and raise people’s awareness of the importance of low-carbon lifestyle. As an individual, our influence is very small, but it does accumulate.

“Starting from me”, the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions should become a habit for each of us.

National Science and Technology Leading Group