Is Man-Made Climate Change Leading to Extreme Weather Events?

Benicia is home to one of California’s biggest emitters of greenhouse gas, the Valero Benicia Oil Refinery.  In 2009 the refinery reported emitting 2,889,000 metric tons of CO2 equivalent emissions ranking it as one of the top ten stationary greenhouse gas producers in the state.  It is also the highest tax producer for Benicia which, like many California cities, has had to cut employee salaries and services in order to keep a balanced budget.

Earlier this week the Dallas, Texas area was hit with a series of tornadoes.  There are some climate scientists who believe that extreme weather like that spate of Texas tornadoes is a result of climate change brought on by the actions of humans including generation of greenhouse gas.  In the attached video, Stephen Vavrus of the Center for Climatic Research in Madison, WI, argues that the increasing number of floods, droughts, snowstorms, heat waves and other unusual weather events are the effects of climate change.

What do you think?  Do you agree that the current rate of climate change is due to the actions of humans and is the cause of recent unusual weather events?  Tell us in the comments section below.

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If there’s something in this article you think should be corrected, or if something else is amiss, call editor JB Davis at 707-628-0051 or email him at benicia@patch.com.