Major Sea Level Rise Drowns Beach Goers

A central New Jersey beach is completely underwater during high tide.   Photo Credit – Robert Scott Thayer

Greetings! As I continue talking about climate change and the sobering news that goes along with it, the focus here is what the UN Secretary General António Guterres warns. “Rising seas are a serious threat requiring a coordinated global response at the highest levels. With 900 million people at-risk, sea-level rise could drive “a mass exodus of entire populations on a biblical scale. Sea Level Rise Could Drive 1 in 10 People from Their Homes, with Dangerous Implications for International Peace.”

Guterres continued and said at a UN Security Council meeting in New York, “Rising sea level isn’t just about losing a few inches of shoreline to the encroaching oceans each year. It’s a threat multiplier that will disrupt and destabilize global societies unless there is an organized international effort to get ahead of the problem. Mega-cities on every continent will face serious impacts including Cairo, Lagos, Maputo, Bangkok, Dhaka,  Jakarta, Mumbai, Shanghai, Copenhagen, London, Los Angeles, New York, Buenos Aires and Santiago.”

UN Secretary Guterres said, “The danger is most acute for about 900 million living in low-lying coastal zones. That’s one out of 10 people on earth, and some coastlines have already seen triple the average rate of sea level rise. Some countries could disappear forever. We would witness a mass exodus of entire populations on a biblical scale and we would see ever-fiercer competition for fresh water, land and other resources. The impact of rising seas is already creating new sources of instability and conflict.” 

The United Nations refugee agency, UNHCR estimates that, “about 21.5 million people have been displaced on average each year since 2008 by extreme weather and other climate impacts. The flow of refugees into Europe has triggered a social and political backlash that has strengthened right wing authoritarian parties, which could undermine international cooperation on various global risks, including global warming.”

The Guterres warning, “is well-supported by recent research and reports showing that the rate of sea level rise has doubled in the past few decades, up to about 1.7 inches per year, with twice that amount in particularly vulnerable parts of the global south, including small island nations.” 

Some research reported, “ice loss is still on a pace that would lead to a worst-case outcome, potentially with several feet of sea level rise by 2100.” One recent study based on new satellite data shows, “that about twice as much land will be submerged by rising seas in the coming decades because previous efforts miscalculated the elevation of some coastal regions.” 

Here’s an Excellent Way to Talk to Kids with “Soft Facts” about Climate Change

One awesome tool for talking to kids about climate change is to read my fourth installment in the award-winning Kobee Manatee® Children’s Educational Picture Book series. It’s titled, Kobee Manatee® Climate Change and The Great Blue Hole HazardIt contains “soft facts” about climate change and plastic pollution in our oceans.

Kobee Manatee Climate Change and The Great Blue Hole Hazard – (Lexile Measure:790L)

When you read this award-winning educational picture book to children, it’s a fun and fictional adventure loaded with weaved in “soft facts” on climate change and plastic pollution. This quickly helps children learn about this serious subject in a fun and entertaining way. Here’s a brief synopsis …

Kobee Manatee, the protagonist and his seafaring pals, Tess the seahorse and Pablo the hermit crab swim from the Cayman Islands to Belize. Kobee wants to help his cousin Quinn clean up plastic litter at her new, all-veggie underwater bistro called Quinn’s Seagrass Café.

On their Caribbean journey they encounter harmful effects of climate change and plastic pollution. As if that wasn’t enough, several other unforeseen problems occur with a distressed loggerhead turtle, a giant Portuguese man-of-war, and a venomous scorpionfish. They’re all amazed when they discover the extraordinary Great Blue Hole. Then their adventure takes another crazy turn when Pablo plunges into its huge abyss!

Each page includes in-depth, scientific details on climate change and plastic pollution in our oceans with Dr. Tracy FanaraNOAA Research Scientist (aka Inspector Planet). Tracy can be seen on The Weather Channel as a visiting expert and she’s also seen on their “Weird Earth” segments.

We have Fantastic Reviews on this New Release!

“I read the book to my 6-year-old this morning while he was having his breakfast before school and he loved it! We talked about the characters, what it meant for the pollution to be in the oceans for all the sea creatures, and how fun the story was. Thank you so much for writing such a great story for kids that is not only entertaining, but has a message!” – Jessica Vilchis, Co-Host KNBC California Live

“A well-crafted, thoughtful, and well-illustrated addition to a noteworthy educational book series.” Kirkus Reviews

“Robert Scott Thayer presents an important environmental message in an engaging story with wonderful characters. Anyone who loves the ocean and wants to help save it should read Kobee Manatee: Climate Change and The Great Blue Hole Hazard. I’m looking forward to the next Kobee Manatee adventure.”   Readers’ Favorite

For young readers who enjoy imaginative tales surrounding affable and heroic sea creatures, as well as parents and/or teachers looking for a way to introduce youngsters to the importance of marine conservation, Kobee Manatee® Climate Change and The Great Blue Hole Hazard offers a perfect blend. Highly recommended– Chanticleer Book Reviews

Keep watching for more of my updates on climate change!

If you see any sick or injured manatees, please call the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission at: 1-888-404-3922 (FWCC). They are the folks who are responsible for rescuing us in Florida.

Here’s the Save the Manatee Club link to learn more about us manatees …

www.savethemanatee.org

Here’s a cool link for you to learn more about how we’re rescued and brought into rehabilitation …

www.wildtracks.org

~ Robert Scott Thayer

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