Global Temperatures Reach Record High
For the third year in a row, the annual global temperature reached a record-breaking high. Nell Greenfieldboyce, 2016 was the Hottest Year Yet, Scientists Declare, www.npr.org, (Jan. 18, 2017). In the State of the Climate report, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration reported that Earth experienced the hottest year on record since 1880, when scientists began recording global temperatures. Id. The temperature in 2016 was 1.7 degrees Fahrenheit higher than average global temperatures for the twentieth century. Id.
Deke Arndt, head of the temperature monitoring group at NOAA’s National Center for Environmental Information, stated, “Last year was the warmest year on record, beating 2015 by a few hundredths of a degree, and together those two years really blow away the rest of our record.” Id. Arndt predicts that new records of warming will occur almost every year. Id. He also stated, “The long-term warming is driven almost entirely by greenhouse gases.” Id.
Even though Trump has stated that he will have an open mind about climate change, in the past he has referred to the science as a hoax. Id. Many are also concerned about Scott Pruitt, Trump’s pick to head the Environmental Protection Agency. Id. As Attorney General of Oklahoma, Pruitt has fought against greenhouse gas regulations and has defended the oil and gas industries. Id.
