27 Feedback Loops, or Global Warming Accelerators, Add Urgency to Respond to Climate Crisis: Study

credit: Flickr photo by CMP73

Greenhouse gas emissions are already causing major changes to the Earth's climate system, and it's only a matter of time before those changes result in more extreme weather and temperatures, according to a new study.

Researchers from around the world say they've identified 27 "apparent climate feedback loops" that are driving climate change, the Guardian reports.

"To the best of our knowledge, this is the most extensive list available of climate feedback loops, and not all of them are fully considered in climate models," says Christopher Wolf of Oregon State University, lead author of the study in the journal One Earth.

For example, warming in the Arctic is causing melting sea ice, which in turn is causing more warming because sea water absorbs rather than reflects solar radiation, reports the Press Trust of India.

"We need a rapid transition toward integrated Earth system science because the climate can only be fully understood by considering the functioning and state of all Earth systems together," says Wolf.

The researchers say it's too late to prevent the worst effects of climate change, but "if we take meaningful steps soon while prioritizing human basic needs and social justice, it could still be possible to limit the harm."

(Here's how to avoid the worst of climate change.) Read the Entire Article

A customized collection of grant news from foundations and the federal government from around the Web.

How's Your Community Doing?
Check Out it's
Community Vital Signs

South Berkshire Rural Health Network Gets State Grant

The South Berkshire Rural Health Network has been awarded $11,820 to develop a strategic plan and improve connections to the region's most vulnerable residents as part of a $250,000 grant from the...more

What Do We Know about New Schools in the United States?
Foundation: Carnegie Corporation of New York

A new report from the Carnegie Corporation of New York finds that more than half of America's public schools opened in the last 30 yearsand that's a big deal. "That is wild!" says Robin Lake,...more

The Freedom to Give Fuels American Generosity: How to Protect Charitable Giving

Americans are giving more money to charity than they've ever done in their lives, but there's a lot of room for improvement, according to an industry group. In a report released Tuesday, the...more

Over 250 Nonprofits Signed Up for Rural Philanthropy Days Next Week in Southwest Colorado
Foundation: Gates Foundation, Community Foundation Serving Southwest Colorado

"It's a really unique opportunity because it does bring together those regional funders, and then those Front Range funders that fund (across the state) but maybe haven't been down here recently,"...more

Reasons to Love Chattanooga'S People and Philanthropic Spirit
Foundation: Benwood Foundation, Lyndhurst Foundation

The city of Chattanooga, Tenn., has been named one of America's best cities to live, Quartz reports. According to the Chattanoogan, the top 10 cities to live in America are all in the South, with...more

22 Cognitive Activities For High Schoolers

If you've ever wanted to know what it's like to be a professional athlete, now's your chance. NBC News reports that the National Federation of State High School Associations has released its...more

Fostering Innovation for Climate Neutrality

A new report from the International Energy Agency finds that governments around the world are falling behind when it comes to developing clean energy technologies, with subsidies for wind and solar...more

Icsiapl

The UN's Food and Agriculture Organization has declared Kenya's arid and semi-arid regions to be among the world's most vulnerable due to climate change, the BBC reports. According to a press...more

Innovative Students Awarded

Denali Walrath was berry-picking with her family in Nome, Alaska, when she came up with an idea for an app that would keep tabs on dangerous animals like bears and musk oxen, KTUU reports. The...more

Calling All 'Ecopreneurs': Stanford Gsb'S Big Move In Ventures That Combat Climate Change

Last year, Stanford University launched a new school focused on sustainabilityand this year it's teaming up with one of its own business schools to create a new ecopreneurship program, the San Jose...more