The Climate Reality Project put together some quick points for reasoning with climate change deniers and Climate Central has an interactive map with projected summer in the city high temp comparisons between cities now and in the future. There are 1,001 US cities listed.
Some example temperatures our children and grandchildren could experience if current emission trends continue to the end of the century. In 2100, climate models show the current summer highs in the following cities will increase to that of the current high in the city they are compared to:
New York, NY 82.38º F. compares with Lehigh Acres, FL 91.76º F.
Chicago, IL 81.73º & St. Paul, MN 81.14º F. compare with Mesquite, TX 93.11º F.
Boston, MA 78.98º F. compares with N. Miami Beach, FL 89.11º F.
Los Angeles, CA 82.81º F. compares with Fountainbleau, FL 89.83º F.
Austin, TX 94.39º F. compares with Gilbert, AZ 103.91º F.
Las Vegas, NV 100.94º F. compares with Riyadh, Saudi Arabia 111.02º F.
Miami, FL 88.56º F. compares with Harlingen, TX 94.87º F.
Helena, MT 79.59º F. compares with Riverside,CA 91.53.11º F.
Seattle, WA 73º F. compares with Placentia, CA 83.75º F.
What if they say:
It’s only a few degrees warmer, so why bother? - A few degrees can raise sea levels, impact weather events, change comfort levels, even cause death. Disease carrying insects are expanding their range, while some more favored plant and animal species are losing theirs. More hot weather and fast growing economies like China and India are already increasing air conditioning which ups energy demands and in turn snowballs emissions and climate disruption.
There’s been a cold snap, so there’s no global warming. - So what, there will always be variations in weather, but hot streaks and droughts are happening far more frequently and lasting longer impacting agriculture, water and food supplies.
Setting carbon limits will destroy the economy. - Economists have calculated doing nothing and continuing business as usual under the changing conditions will cost economies more. The growth in the renewable energy sector and making changes to mitigate climate disruption will grow the economy.
It’s too late to do anything. - It’s true climate change is already happening, but with cautionary action we can slow it down and have time to get ready for it’s impacts. Some populations will be forced to move especially from low lying coastal areas and pacific islands. Adequate time and warning will allow a migration with dignity rather than just some sort of climate refugee camps.
It is too difficult to change our energy infrastructure. - It’s never too late. Times change, technology leaps ahead and it’s time to go with it or stay stuck in the mud. Just as some thought humans would never fly or go to the moon or eradicate diseases, some have missed the great strides in delivery and development of the clean renewable energy sector.
http://www.climatecentral.org/news/summer-temperatures-co2-emissions-1001-cities-16583
http://climaterealityproject.org/blog/five-reasons-why-naysayers-are-wrong?utm_source=Facebook&utm_medium=Social&utm_campaign=WWN&source=Facebook