The climate and ecology of the earth is changing due to increasing temperature. Yet for many Jews, climate change is still not seen as a “Jewish issue."  The Torah in Genesis Chapter 2, G-D tells Adam "protect the Garden (Earth) if you destroy it I will not restore the garden." If after this presentation the consistent ecological change in the USA and Canada are not a concern, consider the following:  A Ben Gurion University study, if we enter an era of an increase in average global temperature of more than 2 degrees Centigrade – the Negev desert will expand northward into Lebanon. Almost all of the agriculturally productive lowlands – could be gone. On top of that, Tel Aviv will be underwater due to rising sea levels. The political ramifications of +2 degrees Centigrade are; Increased tension between countries sharing water resources. The difficulty for governments to provide for their country’s needs leads to internal and external strife.

 * Mean temperature increase of between 1.6° and 1.8° Celsius. * Reduction in precipitation between 4 and 8 percent; increased rain intensity; and changes in rainfall patterns. * Increase in evapotranspiration by nearly 10 percent. * Greater seasonal temperature variability. * Mediterranean biomes expected to shift 300 to 500 km northward; if a 1.5º C warming were to occur, which could mean that Mediterranean ecosystems in Israel, the Palestinian Authority and Jordan would become more desert-like. * Some models predict as much as a 50 percent reduction in mean annual precipitation in the Jordan River Basin.

* Severe water shortages, * More severe weather events, such as droughts and floods. * Desertification, loss of arable land. * Shifting of ecosystems, species loss. * Coral reef bleaching. * Increase in jellyfish population.

* Severe water shortages. * Agricultural losses. * Migration in search of resources.  * Refugees from inundated lands. * Economic crisis. 

* Increased tension between countries sharing water resources. * Difficulties for governments to provide for their country’s needs, leading to internal instability and a likelihood of failed states. * “Exacerbated marginal living conditions foster extremist and radical ideologies and conflicts.” The Syrian civil was  started when Assad cut the water allocation of water to the northern tribes.  

* Fewer water resources available for existing peace agreements. o More difficult to comply with Jordan River water sharing arrangement (50 mcm/pa). o More difficult to comply with Yarmouk River water-sharing arrangements (27 mcm/pa). o Palestinian future needs recognized as 70 to 80 mcm/pa. In a final agreement, Palestinian demands will be higher. * Fewer water resources available for future agreements. o Lebanon will want to share water from the Jordan River tributaries. o Syria will want to share water from the Jordan River and sources of the Sea of Galilee. * Less rainfall impacts the economy. o Palestinian Authority economy heavily dependent on rain-fed agriculture for income and employment. o Jordan Valley bread basket of Jordanian food production and rural support backbone of Kingdom’s political stability. * Rising sea levels will impact the coastal aquifer beneath Israel and the Palestinian Authority.  Further increase salinity of drinking water for Gaza,  further contamination of the coastal aquifer.

* Mean temperature increase of between 1.6° and 1.8° Celsius. * Reduction in precipitation between 4 and 8 percent; increased rain intensity; and changes in rainfall patterns. * Increase in evapotranspiration by nearly 10 percent. * Greater seasonal temperature variability. * More severe weather events, such as hurricanes, droughts and floods. * Desertification (USA south west expanding), loss of arable land. * Shifting of ecosystems, species loss. * Difficulties for governments to provide for their country’s needs, leading to internal instability.  The  United States is not immune.

 

 

• http://www.ipco.ch/graphics/jpg/fig6-4.jpg

• The Climate Issue, National Geographic, Vol.228, No. 5, November 2015

• Wallace-wells, David, The Uninhabitable Earth, NEW YORK, PG.24, July 1—23 ,2017

• The Climate Issue, Nature Conservancy, October/ November 2016