Global warming is real and we caused it

It's time to cover anthropogenic global warming because it's real and we caused it. The evidence is irrefutable. Our use of fossil fuels has changed weather patterns and entire ecosystems, and that threatens life as we know it.

As temperatures soar to dangerous levels, it is important for all of us to follow the guidance on how to stay cool and safe. And to look out for those most vulnerable in our communities: our elders, our children, even our pets.

More than 310,000 people living in Illinois are especially vulnerable to extreme heat.

But it is also important for us to talk about our rapidly warming planet. The frequency and severity of summer heat across the United States is being fueled by climate change. Last year was the third hottest year on record, with many parts of the country, including Illinois, experiencing oppressively hot days. 2018 is already bringing more of the same.

But it gets worse: Currently, Illinois averages 10 dangerous heat days a year. By 2050, Illinois is projected to see a tenfold increase to over 60 dangerous heat days each year.

A Public Citizen survey of Illinois newspapers found that in 2017, out of 176 stories mentioning record heat, record heat waves, or the phrase extreme heat, only 9.7 percent overall mentioned climate change or global warming. One would not expect every article on record heat to mention climate change, but a rate of roughly one in 10 is far too low.

This is alarming. Our news outlets should be helping ring the alarm bell, and our local and state leaders, including Gov. Bruce Rauner, should be doing more to lead the charge in response to this crisis.

Climate change is not a distant threat. It's here, now, in Illinois, as this dangerous heat wave makes clear.

Jeffery Biss

Elgin