Warning! This will be my most preachy post. In general, I do not subscribe to scare tactics, but this subject really gets me fired up and I feel a responsibility to share the most recent information about climate change in case you have been ignoring the news lately (I try to do my best to avoid it!) After all, this is the whole premise behind this blog site.
I was listening to a radio program recently entitled “The Cost of Climate Change Across The Animal Kingdom”.(1) The alarming data that was discussed really startled me and got me thinking. More and more we are realizing that our impact as humans on this sacred environment is much greater than we ever expected. The evidence is all around us, and we can no longer deny or ignore this. We have all seen the pictures of the melting ice caps and heard of or experienced extreme weather events. In fact, our family has lived the consequences firsthand in 2018 with historic flooding in our village and home. Now, new reports are detailing even farther reaching effects and we all need to pay attention.
Two reports were released in October 2018. The most striking statistics came from the World Wildlife Fund (WWF), that released the Living Planet Report detailing that populations of mammals, birds, fish, reptiles and amphibians have declined by 60 percent between 1970 and 2014!(2) And the rate of extinction is even higher in the tropics and freshwater within that same time period; 89% loss in Central and South America as well as 83% loss in freshwater habitats.(2) This rate of decline in less than 40 years is outrageous and showcases how we are on the precipice of a mass extinction of our own creation. We are literally killing our environment and all the species within it. Humans have touched just about every square inch of this earth, affecting wildlife, indigenous people, and entire ecosystems. I don’t want to sound like an alarmist (I guess I already do), but we need to realize that we are headed for a crash landing if something doesn’t change. And that window of opportunity to change the outcome is very quickly approaching.
The second report released in October was from the UN. The global report, The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change 2018 , estimates that if we don’t make drastic changes within the next 12 years, the impacts will be irreversible and there will be little we can do going forwards to alter our course. The report emphasizes why we must keep global warming to a maximum of 1.5 degrees C and why our time is running out to do that. I have to admit that I was shocked to hear this. Usually I think that I am helping to do my part as a responsible steward of this world for the sake of my children and grandchildren. It is a revelation that I actually am fighting for the survival of our world as we know it during my own lifetime. If this doesn’t shock you as well, perhaps the report that followed shortly after will. The Fourth National Climate Assessment was released on November 23rd, 2018.(3) This report was compiled by over 300 climate scientists and 13 different US federal agencies. The details in this reports also highlight the grave changes we are facing and likely effects on our air quality, water quality, and the global economy. Yes, that’s right, our necessities for living, water and air, are at risk as well. And if you are more of a person that focuses and the financial aspect of a problem, there is some of that for you too. The economic impact of these environmental changes are estimated to be huge for both the private and public sectors.
All of this information is daunting and can make you want to shrug your shoulders and say “Well, we are all doomed. There is nothing I can do about it”. However, I implore everyone to take more actions in their own lives to help curb this change. Start by reading these reports (hyperlinked in the post and references below) and sharing them with as many others as you can. Awareness is key. Then, follow up with actions of your own – big or small. We all can make differences in our own ways. Whether it be voting for a political candidate that supports environmental research and conservation, or reducing your use of plastics, we all need to start somewhere. Small actions have big consequences, so really anything you can do will help at this point! Green Life Philosophy believes that we can have modern day conveniences and still respect and care for our environment. I will continue to share the things that my family is doing in our own lives and hope that I can inspire others to do the same. And don’t stress too much, there are countless examples of positive environmental actions out there. The younger generations are bright lights on the horizon as they recognize the problem and how it will effect their lives. There are many good companies working hard to combat their impacts on the environment and solve some of our environmental problems; companies like Patagonia as well as many small companies that may be right in your backyard. Seek out those companies and support them.
So I ask, what will it cost you? What will climate change cost you? What will be the cost to nature that we depend on? What will the cost be to halt and reverse the damage? Who will pay for this?
This quote from the WWF Living Planet Report sums it up “Everything that has built modern human society is provided by nature and, increasingly, research demonstrates the natural world’s incalculable importance to our health, wealth, food and security.”
The price is high and we will all pay in the end.
I would suspect that if you are on this website and have read this far into the post, that you already have some inclination that we are on the brink of major change and want to do something about it, but I don’t want to discount others that have different opinions on this topic. And if you are still doubting the science, I don’t blame you. There is significant political gain to be had from denying the truth and there are those that blatantly admit to putting falsehoods out there. So it can make it difficult to know what to believe. As with any topic, it is our own responsibility to educate ourselves and fight against misinformation (“fake news” if you will).
“People who shut their eyes to reality simply invite their own destruction, and anyone who insists on remaining in a state of innocence long after that innocence is dead turns himself into a monster”. -James Baldwin
Although Baldwin is speaking of racism, and this quote still applies to that topic today, it also applies to the environment.
But, regardless what you believe, I think most can agree that polluting our environment is bad, littering is bad, and consuming less is good. And that is what this blog site is all about. If you are skeptical, I would direct you to these resources for more information:
https://www.skepticalscience.com/global-warming-scientific-consensus-advanced.htm
https://www.pbs.org/video/frontline-climate-doubt/
https://climate.nasa.gov/scientific-consensus/
Thanks for reading!
References:
- https://www.wbur.org/onpoint/2018/11/01/the-cost-of-climate-change-across-the-animal-kingdom
- https://c402277.ssl.cf1.rackcdn.com/publications/1187/files/original/LPR2018_Full_Report_Spreads.pdf?1540487589
- https://nca2018.globalchange.gov/
- https://www.ipcc.ch/sr15/
