Global Warming Hot On HBO

April 20th, 2006 at 05:07am Keith Hemstreet 8

The Canary Initiative is partnering with Home Box Office (HBO) for a special premiere of a documentary on global warming. Aspen is one of 10 cities hand-selected to show the film. The documentary, "Too Hot Not to Handle," is a comprehensive analysis and critical look into the effects of global warming in the U.S. The film features in-depth discussions and analysis from leading scientists in the field.

The documentary screening will take place at 3 p.m. on Saturday, April 22, at the Given Institute in Aspen, followed by a question and answer session.

The film’s writer, Basalt local and Aspen Global Warming Alliance member Susan Joy Hassol will introduce the film and will be available for questions following the screening. Hassol is a Climate Analyst and Author of Impacts of a Warming Arctic, the synthesis report of the Arctic Climate Impact Assessment, and the co-Author of Climate Change Impacts on the US, the report of the U.S. National Assessment of the Consequences of Climate Change. She has also been a contributing author to additional books on climate change and has testified before the U.S. Senate on the impacts of global warming.

Hassol’s message is clear: “The science is in: the Earth is heating up and human activities are the primary cause. Impacts of this warming are already occurring, and much greater consequences are in store unless we take action now. It's great to see Aspen taking steps to reduce its emissions of heat-trapping gases and leading the way for other towns to follow suit.”

Global warming is caused by a man-made increase in the blanket of carbon dioxide that surrounds the Earth and traps in heat. The warming of past 50 years is very unusual in the long-term record of climate, and scientists have determined that this warming has been caused by human activities. There is broad scientific consensus that our continued reliance on fossil fuels and outdated technology in transportation and power plants is leading to global warming.

Local measurements show observed changes in Aspen's climate over the past 50 years. Theses measurements are consistent with observations of global average changes as well as with the projections of global climate models. For example, Aspen's data, global data, and model projections all show nighttime low temperatures rising more than daytime high temperatures, earlier springs and later falls, and a decline in the number of very cold nights. Cold night-time temperatures are necessary for making snow for early ski season opening, and for keeping the snowpack throughout the winter.

For specific questions about the film, please contact Susan Joy Hassol at 970.927.3421.

Post by: Dan Richardson, City of Aspen Global Warming Project Mananger

Entry Filed under: Movies, Environment, Basalt, Aspen