A recent letter writer understandably questioned whether global warming is actually
happening, given how cold and snowy we have been in the last three months [“Misses global warming,” Feb. 25]. Much of Europe and Russia have also been unusually cold when compared to the last few winters.
But consider what is happening elsewhere in the world while we are donning our long underwear. Much of Australia has experienced temperatures over 110ºF in the past couple of months, with widespread brush fires. Deadly wildfires in Chile have forced tens of thousands to evacuate their homes. Southern Argentina is experiencing severe drought and fires. Heat waves in Africa have been longer and hotter than they were 40 years ago. The Canadian Arctic and Greenland have been warmer than average. Much of the Southern Hemisphere has been warmer than average.
So when temperatures across the entire Earth are taken into consideration, the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts has reported that January 2026 was the fifth
warmest on record. The scientific community that specializes in global climate is extremely talented and subject to exhaustive review and critique. There is very good reason to accept its conclusion that global warming is real and will result in substantial expense as thousands migrate from regions of intense heat and drought, and from areas destroyed by wildfire and floods. We must do all that we can to reduce our emissions of greenhouse gases — our children and grandchildren depend on our doing so.
Tom Johnson, paleoclimatologist and adjunct professor in the UMass Amherst Department of Earth, Geographic and Climate Science
Shelburne Falls