March of 2015 was the warmest March on the global meteorological record. Since January, we've experienced the warmest January to March on record, which in turn came on the heels of the warmest year on record. Given current trends and the presence of an El Nino in the Pacific, 2015 may likely replace 2014 as the warmest year on record, and not by a small amount.
The thermal map looked like this for March:
In an editorial last week, the largest newspaper in Kentucky, the Lexington Herald Leader, likened Kentucky Sen. Mitch McConnell and others fighting to block action on global climate change to those more than 150 years ago who fought to prevent the emancipation of slaves. "How could economic interests blind them to the immorality of their position?", the editorial asked. "Political donors might reward elected leaders, but future generations will never forgive those whose vision ends with the next election."
The charge clearly stung McConnell, who in a subsequent response argued that the moral equivalence "reveals a profound lack of moral seriousness." Personally, though, I think the comparison is quite apt. Our grandchildren and great-grandchildren will look back at our era and marvel at our selfishness and refusal to recognize what in reality is pretty damn obvious.
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