Global Warming and Wildlife

From the Global Environment Program, Union of Concerned Scientists, Jan 03.

Dear Educators,

We are excited to announce the release of an updated, online version of the Global Warming: Early Warning Signs map. This map was originally released in 1999 by the Union of Concerned Scientists, in conjunction with six other environmental groups -- Environmental Defense, Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC), Public Interest Research Group (PIRG), Sierra Club, World Resources Institute (WRI) and World Wildlife Fund (WWF). The map illustrates global climate change indicators or "hot spots" such as sea-level rise, melting glaciers, heat waves, floods, and shifting plant and animal ranges. Many of you have downloaded, or received copies of the curriculum guide associated with this map.

The updated version of the map includes more than 60 new "hotspots." Many of the new examples of a changing climate are in developing countries, for which we did not find much credible scientific information for the earlier version. The map now truly depicts the "...collective picture of a warming world and other changes in the climate system" that the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) noted
in its 2001 assessment.

In addition to these new "hotspots," the revised web site contains:

• A climate solutions page with direct links to information about climate change solution options put forth by the leading environmental organizations sponsoring the map.
• Pictures from around the world by professional photographer Gary Braasch depicting many of the map's "hotspots."
• A revised version of the UCS climate change curriculum guide that accompanies this map with updated links.

The revised map is currently not available in printed format but can be viewed online at < http://www.climatehotmap.org>. If you have already seen the map or used it in some activity, there is a direct link on the site that sends you to the list of new map points. For map viewers from around the world, the measurements for all the points are now also listed in metric.

Please also note that hard copies of the original map and the corresponding curriculum guide are still available from UCS. If you are interested in receiving a copy, please contact the email address given below. We hope the revised map continues to inform and educate the public, press, and policy makers who are concerned about global warming and who want to implement solutions that will begin reducing heat-trapping gas emissions. We look forward to your comments and feedback.

Sincerely,
Jason Mathers
Global Environment Program
Union of Concerned Scientists
jmathers@ucsusa.org