The first thing I read this morning was an article about the disappearing Arctic ice cap. Once again, scientists are observing and predicting change coming even faster than the last prediction. From the article by Elodie Mazien (emphasis added by me):
The Arctic ice cap will disappear completely in summer months within 20 to 30 years, a polar research team said as they presented findings from an expedition led by adventurer Pen Hadow.
It is likely to be largely ice-free during the warmer months within a decade, the experts added.
Doctor Martin Sommerkorn, senior climate change adviser for the World Wide Fund for Nature's international Arctic programme, said the survey painted a sombre picture of the ice meltdown, which was happening "faster than we thought".
"Remove the Arctic ice cap and we are left with a very different and much warmer world," he said.
Loss of sea ice cover will "set in motion powerful climate feedbacks which will have an impact far beyond the Arctic itself," he added.
"This could lead to flooding affecting one quarter of the world's population, substantial increases in greenhouse gas emission from massive carbon pools and extreme global weather changes."
Sharon also wrote about an article on climate change. To quote from the article by Stephen Leahy (emphasis added by me):
The climate negotiators heading to Copenhagen in December must accept the fact that the world’s carbon emissions must eventually stop – and stop completely. There is no sustainable per capita carbon emission level because it is the total amount of carbon emitted that counts, explains Myles Allen of the Climate Dynamics group at University of Oxford’s Atmospheric, Oceanic and Planetary Physics Department.
Carbon dioxide remains in the atmosphere for many centuries, which makes it the most important greenhouse gas to reduce and eliminate. The current focus on CO2 concentrations like 450 ppm or 350 ppm is the not the right approach since it is the total cumulative emissions that determine how warm the planet will get, Allen told the conference.
If climate negotiators only look at slowing rates of carbon emissions, then natural gas will be substituted for coal because it has half of the carbon – but the total amount of carbon in the atmosphere will continue to increase.
Melinda asked this morning, "Do You Have to Change Your Life Entirely in Order to Stop Climate Change?" She suggests that rather than feeling overwhelmed by the problem, people start out with change, any change, to begin to make a difference. After reading the other two articles this morning and several of the comments left on her post, I think my answer to her question would now be YES! We do have to change our lives entirely in order to stop climate change.
People, the planet is facing large changes as a result of the action of human beings. By consuming so many resources and burning massive amounts of fossil fuels, we have managed to alter the temperature of an entire planet. Yay us? Uh, no. This is not an accomplishment to be proud of; this is incredibly irresponsible behavior. It is short-sighted and the equivalent of "crapping in our own nest", something other species have figured out is a really stupid thing to do.
The articles above make it clear that half-assed efforts to "save the planet" are not going to cut it. It's time for digging in and making some big changes. It's time to give up our easy lives filled with labor-saving devices of every type that run on carbon-spewing fuel. We have to consume less and burn less carbon and we have to be good enough. The alternative, the results of our not being good enough, are moving towards a world uninhabitable by humans and many of the other planet's species.
Is that "okay"? Should I give up feeling guilty when I'm not good enough, even in a seemingly unrelated challenge? No way! We need to do whatever it takes to push through the hardship and challenges of changing our lives. We need to develop the skills required to stick to a tough commitment to ourselves and the planet. Making an exception just because we are tired or grouchy or had a bad day just won't work anymore, not when we are already in the end game. One exception turns into many, giving up today leads to giving up entirely, not being good enough shows others the effort is too hard so they shouldn't even try. We have to be good enough. Or we just might not make it.
Overly dramatic? I don't think so. I've read somewhere that the scientists are getting pretty freaked out by what they are finding with climate change. Scientists don't generally get "freaked out" but their findings are so startling and the potential impacts are so devastating that it's alarming them. We all need to be shaken up, startled, alarmed, and scared about what's happening if that's what it takes to truly commit to making dramatic changes in our lives. Anything less is not good enough.
13 comments:
So it's "not good enough" in relation to climate change, not "not good enough" in relation to other areas of life. Okay. That stops a hyperventilation attack.
Well this makes me feel really guilty that I just don't know what else I can do.
But, you know, I made a decision today that will greatly help me survive this semester. Yay?
Really nice post, Chile and I think you may be right, sadly enough.
Makes me realize how small my efforts have been to date and how much more I need to do! Thanks, Chile, for the reminder. And yes, absolutely yes, we are going to have to change the way in which we live . . . and if we believe government is going to do it for us, we need to think again!
Maybe we need to stop taking OURSELVES so seriously. Yes - if we keep on this way, then likely Planet Earth will no longer be able to sustain many of the species that now inhabit our planet, including humans. However - I have a lot of faith in Mother Nature. I'm sure this planet of ours has been through a lot of changes during its lifetime - and will go through many more. If we humans mess things up too badly, then Mother Earth will simply "off" us and come up with another plan - maybe a species that does not foul their nest. Considering what a mess we seem to be making of things, would that be such a bad thing? Do what you can, and then try a little harder, but remember to stop and smell the roses along the way - while we still have roses to smell. I really don't think that we are as important to the universe as we think we are!
Olivia - After reading a number of extinction theory books some years ago, I came to the conclusion that you have - earth will continue with or without us and our demise would not be the end of the world...just the end of us. However, most people do not have this perspective and are not ready for humans to cease existing. Therefore, it is their responsibility to get their butts in gear if they are serious about their continued survival.
Personally, I am appalled more at our destruction of other species than I am at the prospect of humans not surviving. Ironically, my word to verify is "speciest." ROFLMAO!
For myself, I would like to live out my natural lifespan without causing too much additional harm to the planet and its lifeforms, or living in abject misery. I have chosen, for environmental and personal reasons, not to reproduce, a decision I am eternally grateful for not that the life of "our" collective children looks to be pretty harsh in the future. If I can enjoy another few decades with my loved ones (family & friends), I'll be happy.
Chile - I agree with you. ..and the destruction of all the other "innocent" species is truly a crime. However - the most important thing, I think, is just to live in love. When we start beating ourselves up and fretting to the degree that we create a lot of negative energy, then I don't think we are doing much good.
I am probably a lot older than you - a "hippie" survivor of the 60's and the early environmental movement and have lived my life as consciously as possible. But, just as we cannot "beat others into the Kingdom of Heaven", so too can we not beat or guilt or fret or threaten others into living their lives more responsibly. I tried that approach - it doesn't work.
I have pretty well given up reading "environmental" blogs because of the doomsday approach they take - or, if not doomsday, then a sort of "holier-than-thou" approach. I live in a different country - Canada - where environmental issues are, I guess, maybe more advanced than in some other places. We - or I - have been refusing, reducing, reusing, recycling and composting for most of my life. Have always bought second hand, grow my own food, etc. etc. But if we truly care about each other and the planet then we have to be kind to ourselves and to each other.
There's an old saying - "No doubt the universe is unfolding as it should." Maybe not necessarily as we would like it - but we aren't in charge of things.
I simply wanted to say that beating up on ourselves and creating feelings of guilt does more harm than good. You have a great idea - but just cut yourself a little slack. Do your best - that's all we can ask of anyone.
And - as an older person - life goes by far too quickly. Try to relax and enjoy it. We all need to be kinder to one another - myself included. This earth is all we have - let's love it and one another.
I think I really needed to read this today. I haven't been making my blog rounds in a couple of weeks so I was out of touch. I have been struggling to keep the chaos of my life at bay and wondering how I can also do the things I need to do around my house to do better at conserving energy. We aren't particularly bad offenders of energy waste but there are a lot of little things that really add up to a lot of waste and I've been trying to tackle them.
Because it is so incredibly important that I never stop trying to better my efforts.
Balance is the word I keep trying to approach.
You're saying we all need to be harder on ourselves, not give ourselves so much slack, and to redouble our efforts.
I agree with you and it's time I expect more of myself as well.
Everyone is right when they remind you that you're human and humans fumble- we are never perfect. I would say that if you feel disappointment in yourself punch it out on your punching bag and then let the disappointment go and move forward. Always get up and keep moving. You will constantly be improving yourself.
Olivia, sounds like you and I are of the same age group -- unfortunately, I have not lived my life as lightly as you apparently have . . . but regrets do no one any good. I like Angelina's approach -- to find the balance between trying to do better and still loving ourselves, however imperfect we may be.
Personally, I'm just starting to simplify my life -- to live more lightly on this earth and find more joy in the little things. And the fact that I'm waaaay behind the rest of you isn't as important as being on the right path and headed in the right direction.
As for saving the world from global warming, species extinctions, resource depletion, mass starvation and all the rest, I really believe it is too late. There is no way in h*ll that government can do it for us and no way in h*ll that the majority of people will make the hard choices voluntarily. I'm not trying to be doom and gloom here, just realistic. I think the best we can hope for at this point is an economic collapse so drastic that we are all forced to live simply and lightly. Optimistically, I am hoping that we find inner strength, resourcefulness and ingenuity we never knew we had and that life turns out to be good in a whole new, more authentic, more meaningful way.
These are, as they say, interesting times.
Olivia - I may not be able to guilt them into action, but in some cases, I simply am trying to make my readers aware of issues they may not have considered. A broad range of people check in on the blog from over 100 countries across the world. Many stumble across it from things they've searched on completely unrelated to climate change but stay to read other posts.
Angelina - nice to see you. There is a balance to be found between living consciously and being kind to ourselves. I think the key is watching out for our typically American self-indulgent nature; that self-indulgence is why Americans are using far more resources per capita than most other countries. We must do better but it doesn't mean we have to grovel in the dirt either. Find the balance.
Gaias Daughter - I think some people definitely will learn to thrive in different times. It's the ones that don't want to give up what they have that worry me. If you've ever watched a reality show on TV, you've seen what people do when there is competition for a scarce resource. Not the prettiest side of human nature...
Hi Chile - First of all, *hugs*.
Second, (uh oh, here it comes, I'm about to put my foot in my mouth again!) I think you're missing the point. As are most people. Actually, you're missing it less than most people.
It's the BIG things that count. Most of our emissions come from very few sources, when you go back to the roots of things. They are: coal, oil and cows. You could add consumerism into the mix, but the first three are really it.
We can make a massive difference by:
a) changing our energy source from coal to renewables. Most people have this option in their cities now.
b) changing from big to little cars, changing to bikes, choosing PT. You're really getting this one better than just about anyone I know.
c) Stopping eating meat and dairy. I used to think that maybe the friends of mine that say they only eat a little would be fine, but I think we humans just need to quit these foods altogether. They're doing too much damage. It's not about vegetarianism, or veganism, or any other label. It's about methane and deforestation, and getting the problem solved.
We cut these from our lives by, say, having renewable electricity sources, not having a car, and going cow-free (if here's any dietary label to be used!), that's about 80% of most people's emissions, unless they're major consumers.
You nail the consumer issue by just buying secondhand, and buying less. Easy.
If we all take these steps, we've got it licked pretty much. And getting our numbers down (oh crap, I've mentioned the BIG issue now!). So that means having 2 or fewer kids, not having carnivorous pets etc.
You're good enough. Of course you are. And of course you can do better. We all can. But you're getting there pretty fast, wherever "there" is.
If we all work together and support each other, we'll make it. It's the only way we will. So be positive, take heart, and take action :-D
Cheers,
Daharja at Cluttercut
I'm with Olivia as well even though I haven't read any species extinction books. I think George Carlin said the same thing in one of his routines.
I remember when I originally decided I didn't want kids it was because I had read a paper about global warming and didn't think a change was possible by humans.
The destruction of other species really bugs me. I drive myself crazy trying to figure out why no one thinks about their actions.
No I didn't have anything new to add to this discussion.
Daharja - thanks. Good points. Focus on the big stuff first.
Beany - I don't know why some people don't care. Boggles the mind, doesn't it?
Such great sentiments expressed in this thread...just nice to hear a little more heartfelt honesty and humility once in awhile...
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