About us
We meet monthly to escape shallow, petty talk for a safe harbor to ponder broad, complex yet practical subjects. We expect members to support opinions and use logic in conclusions, but expect all present to keep the meeting FUN for all. We teach, and don't scold. We expect the conversation to move without getting stuck so sometimes, we are forced to “agree to disagree” and move on.
We arrive and parts friends. There are no personal attacks, but each IDEA goes under the microscope. Members agree, others disagree, often with enthusiasm! We have no gates, and no gatekeepers. All are welcome and we tolerate no personal attacks, sarcasm, or even indirect denigration. IDEAS RULE and stand on their own.
Finally, we are “thinkers”, not “doers”. Go forth to take action. Come, join us, participate, learn, exercise your brain, but mostly HAVE FUN.
Upcoming events
1
What is happening with climate change now and can we stop it?
·OnlineOnlineGemini says: The primary indicators tracking global climate change show that the Earth’s climate system is experiencing unprecedented imbalances, with human-induced warming reaching 1.37°C above pre-industrial levels. According to the latest data from the Indicators of Global Climate Change (IGCC) initiative and the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), the planet is currently warming at a rapid pace of 0.27°C per decade, putting the world on track to firmly and permanently overshoot the 1.5°C Paris Agreement threshold within the next four years.
1. Atmosphere & Greenhouse Gases- Carbon Dioxide (CO₂) Concentrations: Atmospheric CO₂ hit a record monthly average high of 432.3 parts per million (ppm). This represents a nearly 45% increase from pre-industrial baselines.
- Methane & Nitrous Oxide: Alongside CO₂, both methane and nitrous oxide levels reached all-time highs with accelerating rates of accumulation.
- The Carbon Budget: The remaining carbon budget to keep global warming below 1.5°C with a 67% probability has dwindled to just 80 Gigatonnes (Gt). At the current global burn rate of roughly 42 Gt per year, this budget will be entirely exhausted.
2. Ocean & Cryosphere Changes
- Ocean Heat Content (OHC): Global average ocean heat has reached its highest level in recorded history. Over 80% of all planetary heating is absorbed by the oceans, triggering widespread ecosystem disruptions.
- Marine Heatwaves: The frequency of marine heatwave days has more than tripled globally. Coral reefs are officially projected as the first major global tipping point likely to be pushed into irreversible collapse.
- Sea Ice & Glacier Retreat: Land-based glaciers have officially documented ice loss for 38 consecutive years. Arctic sea ice extent is hovering near its lowest measurements ever taken.
3. Planetary & Weather Extremes
- Earth's Energy Imbalance (EEI): This crucial metric tracks how much extra heat energy is being trapped near the Earth's surface rather than escaping back out to space. The EEI has more than doubled since the late 20th century.
- ENSO Reversal & Temperature Extremes: Climatologists are tracking a major El Niño Southern Oscillation (ENSO) transition, predicting that a powerful El Niño will intersect with baseline global warming. This is projected to push global temperatures to peak at 1.8°C above pre-industrial levels.
- Human and Economic Toll: Extreme events like floods, wildfires, and dangerous heat waves are shifting from "unusual anomalies" to a fixed new reality. Data from the Global Climate Risk Index notes that human-caused climate change has added upwards of 41 days of dangerous, high-risk heat for billions of people.
Watch for more info and do your own research
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Past events
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