Statement:
The U.S. gets 81% of its energy from burning fossil fuels, a source of carb emissions that are a driving force in climate change. Temperature changes have been dramatic at the poles. As the National Climate Assessment notes, “Rising temperatures are reducing ice volume and surface extent on land, lakes, and sea. This loss of ice is expected to continue. The Arctic Ocean is expected to become essentially ice free in summer before mid-century.” Melting permafrost is also releasing pathogens that have been trapped in the ice for thousands of years for which humans have built up no immunities or resistances.