A couple of facts: 7.6 million tons of Arctic ice has melted between 1994 and 2017; and that melting of ice has contributed significantly to sea level rise of 3.5 centimeters!
And the Arctic ice not only keeps the global temperature cooler, but the ice's reflectivity (especially in the northern polar region) helps to send some of that light (which would otherwise cause even more heat) back into space.
But all the Arctic ice could be melted by 2035.
Is there any hope? Yes! Our children.
Greta Thunberg, the 16-year old Swedish high schooler is, but one example of, a young climate proponent.
A North Carolina State University's study demonstrated that students educated about climate change saw their respective parents' concern about climate issues jump by almost 23%.
Adults often feel that changing their viewpoints, or actively involving themselves with different movements may alienate them from their own communities.
Danielle Lawson, a NC State PhD student associated with that study, says that children are willing to learn about climate change and share that information with their parents. And that such discussions are less from an ideological or politicized point of view, but rather can be just a chat between a parent and child.
Perhaps more of these parent and child chats could overcome the political and ideological obstacles of climate change?