Global climate change is on the front pages again, with the release of a new annual report by the U.N.-based International Panel on Climate Change, which reports on the accelerating changes that threaten many aspects of the way we live. A full report is in the New York Times, but travelers may also be interested in a report compiled by travel-industry site Skift, which focuses on the effects on coastal travel and vacation.
The Skift report points out that coastal (read mostly beach) holidays account for 60% of vacation spending by Europeans and 80% by Americans, generating billions in revenue—and that a 1m rise in sea level by 2100 (not unrealistic) would wipe out many beach areas, hundreds of airports and port areas, and more.
What! and spoil my headline?
Seriously, though, not necessarily. The deposit of sand and similar materials is a longer process than is being discussed here, and the new shorelines would be quite different, at least for a long time.
Won’t the beaches just move inland too?
So many resorts truck in their “beaches”, it may turn out to be more an excuse to build new fancier versions of themselves than the prospect of their disappearance. Where there’s a will…and you know there is!
When the Vikings first discovered Greenland a thousand years ago they wrote of a “Green and pleasant land with pastures, cows and animals”.
Now its a frozen wasteland !
In 1817 the wine producers of North Yorkshire (England) abolished their trade association as summers were becoming too cold to grow grapes.
They’ve never grown grapes since !
This time last year we were digging the snow out. Today is 68f and sunny.
Climate change doesn’t go away. Ever.
No, climate change doesn’t go away…but until the last century, we lacked the ability to really push it in one direction or another. The issue these years is not the natural progression but the degree to which our emissions and more have upset the balance. On the one hand, I won’t be around to see how it all comes out…but I’m concerned because my grandchildren will be!
I do not believe that the burning of fossils fuels has any effect on the direction of the Jet Stream. Which in turn controls the weather around the world.
I do believe that the Petro-Chemical Refineries from the New Jersey coast and further south releasing tons of nasty unwanted chemicals into the atmosphere does have a big effect on the de-forestation of Europe with acid rain. They release this gas when the wind is blowing east across the Atlantic. And when the wind suddenly changes the Police drive around the towns nearby telling people to stay indoors. Burns your eyes and tightens your throat. Not one of my fondest memories of touring the east coast.
While I certainly agree with you about the refineries (remember how close to some of them I live) the jetstream is hardly the only factor involved in weather and climate. I’m not best equipped to explain more…that’s the domain of my wife the science teacher…but it’s clear there’s a scary future ahead…
I am not smart enough to know what the correct temperature or ocean level of the earth should be.
The Jet Stream is responsible for the California drought. The Polar Vortex you’ve been suffering from – and for the UK not having frosty weather since last November. English strawberries in Winter and de-icing salt being 15cents for a 10 kilo sack !
Its not yet April and I’ve cut the grass twice ! Blame it all on the Jet Stream.