I heard a notable climate scientist today explain in one breath that 350 ppm should be our target, then in his next breath describe how increasingly difficult it would be to obtain even a "conservative"--his word--goal of 450 ppm. If it's "conservative" to contemplate a goal that all but ensures a fundamental and unpredictable change in the ability of our planet to sustain life, we're screwed.
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I've read of soldiers, hunkered down on the beaches of Normandy, forcing themselves to move onward up the beachhead only after realizing that staying put meant certain death. Yeah, the incoming barrage of bombs and bullets may have made hiding behind a chunk of debris or in a crater the safest place on D-Day, but stay put too long and you're dead.
War analogies may grow tired and certainly are overused, but become completely appropriate where the ability of the earth to sustain life is concerned. At some point, we must recognize that business as usual is certain death--if not for you or me, for many others--and push on up that beachhead.
Tomorrow morning, I'll venture back to the conference room, load up on coffee, consider the fact that my home is barely above sea level, and brainstorm what the hell to do about it. Do I charge up that beachhead or seek shelter? Dedicate myself to the cause or head to the hills?
In truth, I think I'll do a bit of both--and I suggest you do the same.
2 comments:
If you want the projection details for various regions of the US, check out the regional projection reports at the website of the US Global Change Research Program (at http://www.usgcrp.gov/usgcrp/nacc/background/regions.htm).
You're right, its really grim...certainly for my lifetime (and likely yours and your kids'). Clearly we already are feeling impacts (in more intense storms and temperature swings, as well as accelerated glacial melt and sea level rise). Just how much we magnify the impacts before the globe stabilizes is still up in the air, but the kind of substantial global response needed is huge, and unfortunately unprecedented.
I wish us all luck in fighting the good fight to secure societal reduction in GHG emissions, but also urge everyone to at least metaphorically head for the hills...we've got to do all we can to prepare to weather the change that already is in motion.
The science has been overwhelmingly clear on this topic for decades...but we've badly failed to meet our moral/ethical obligations to the future. We have to do better!
OR Mom
It is really scary to think about what the future holds if we continue along our current trajectory. If we really are past time to act, or only have a few years in which to make drastic changes, it is truly grim indeed. The human population (my self included) have been unable to fully comprehend what the results are if we continue with business as usual. The idea that we could effectively destroy our planet is way to abstract and unrealized by everyone.
I just checked my email and yahoo does a "trending now" section. Well, the top picks were the San Francisco Giants, Kim Novak, and The Hangover 2. This just goes to exemplify what is on the mind on most people in the U.S. Not once have I seen anything on climate change or any other environmental issue. There is a massive disconnect between nature and Joe Public. Why is it people care more about when Lost or Greys Anatomy is being televised and not on their own future, or the future of their offspring? And why is it these projections are not flooding the airwaves and causing civil unrest? This reminds me on the tragedy of the commons idea. Only this is not a pasture, or body of water, this is our one and only planet.
And what is even scarier is to actually look at your own use of natural resources and their effect on the world. I like having a vehicle to drive, warm house to sleep in, and easy access to food. Is this something we will have to give up in order to persist as a species? I hope not… but we have to change the way we live and operate in this world. I certainly don’t have the answers but it sounds like we are about out of time…
Josh
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