Rapid cascading climate change

Talk about rapid collapse of the Arctic ice and an associated cascading climate change are on the agenda. The Northern Hemisphere has had the warmest winter since 1880. Expressed concern is not so much the loss of biodiversity of an icy niche, or agricultural areas – but will the European ski industry survive.

The increase in temperature seems to be wholeheartedly welcome here: Each urban park is packed with sun-seekers rolling on the ground (Liegewiese). Smoking parents wheel their asthmatic kids out more. Leisure-time driving is more fun, Berlin-style parking too. The most common flower seems to be an array of orchids on window sills and in shopping windows. Flown in from distant tropical lands where it is claimed that they are threatened or endangered.