Climate Change
It was in the 1800’s, post industrial revolution, that humans began to experiment with the idea that our activity could effect the climate. We began to understand that CO2 and other gases could collect in the atmosphere, creating insulation that would trap the sun’s heat and raise the surface temperature of the planet.
By the mid 1950’s scientists had the data to show that climate change was in fact happening, not just a theory, and that if left unchecked would have catastrophic consequences for all life on Earth.
Now, it’s 2023, and according to most scientists we have about 7–10 years to avert the worst. Some say 2050, and that’s because there’s gray area, and nothing so complex, can be so exact.
The world authority on climate change is called the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC). They exist to collect scientific assessments from all over the world on the state of climate change to understand it’s future implications, and risks to give them to policymakers and governments. People who make real world decisions for everyone else.
These scientists are measuring the environmental degradation, pollution, and emissions rates all over the planet. It looks like deforestation, the burning of coal and fossil fuels for industry and transportation, a food and agricultural system that is depleting the soils and general health of the population, and more. Since the preindustrial era, we’ve seen a global temperature increase of about 1.2 Celsius, on average. We’re expecting another 1.5 Celsius temperature raise by the end of the century, under the presumption that we reduce our emissions.
The U.S. Governmental goals are as follows (From the White House):
- Reduce Greenhouse Gases emissions to 52% below the 2005 levels, by 2030.
- 100% Carbon Pollution-free electricity by 2035.
- Achieving a Net-Zero Emissions Economy by 2050.
- Delivering 40% of the climate investments to disadvantaged communities.
Governments & Institutions are measuring the output of greenhouse emissions through carbon credits which are allotted to companies, governments, & institutions to create a set of social & economic regulations that ultimately reduce and keep in check carbon output on the planet.
According to the Yale Climate Opinion 72% of the country believes global warming is happening, and is underestimated in the damage it can bring. This leaves almost a third of the country who doesn’t believe it’s happening.
As humans we’ve evolved to respond to immediate threats. Things like a loud ‘boom’ would constitute an immediate threat to our senses. Climate change, as off now, hasn’t posed an ‘immediate’ threat to the majority of the planet, while it is urgent. What’s happening, socially, surrounding the Climate Emergency, is something called the bystander effect and the diffusion of responsibility. When there’s so many people who are apart of the situation, and others see that there’s a problem, people are less likely to help due to that fact that they see that others aren’t helping.
You can throw all the facts at someone, but ultimately what determines most people’s behavior, is what other people are doing.
What are you doing?
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Here are a comprehensive and simplified list of problems that are (and will) occur as a result of climate change. Take the time to consider what the rest of your life will look like, and what that means to you.
Land: Due to increasing temperatures and changing weather patterns, the risk of desertification grows as the moisture from the land is increasingly evaporated throughout the year. This leaves the land mass more prone to erosion.
Heatwaves & Wildfires: By 2030, almost all countries will experience ‘extreme hot’ at least every other year. By the end of the century we’ll be at much greater risk of wildfires, and the landmass will be regularly smothered in smoke & flames.
Water & Drought: As the sea level rises, the salt water/fresh water boundary will merge further upstream, reducing the water quality of surface water resources. Due to erosion & runoff, pollution, drought, and sea level rise — the amount and quality of fresh water on Earth will be reduced.
Crops & Blooming Seasons: Depending on the region, crop & blooming seasons could be extended, or decreased due to altered ecosystems, saltwater intrusion, vulnerability to increased pest & disease outbreaks, and other factors. This will, overtime lead to food shortages, and less foliage across the planet.
Air Quality: As temperatures rise there will also be an increase in mold, dust mites, bacteria, wild fire smoke, and airborne allergens. This will, traditionally, affect certain populations more than others. However, it will effect everyone a lot.
Sea Level Rise: Sea levels could rise between one and eight feet by 2100 through the melting of ice. Many smaller island nations are at risk of becoming uninhabitable. Coral Reefs could die off completely.
More Storms & Extreme Weather Events: We can expect more floods, heatwaves, droughts, hurricanes, typhoons, and other storms. These will cause more migration, disruption, death, and water & food insecurity.
Human Disease & Health Problems: According to WeForum 153 million Americans are chronically ill. Due to the effects on the environment, chronic health conditions will rise, expanding the range of infectious diseases and more mental health problems will surface.
Supply Chains Breakdown & Resource Scarcity: Extreme weather events, heatwaves, water & food shortages, the increasing price of transportation and other factors will lead to breakdowns in the supply chain. This is already happening, as we noticed during Covid, but it will happen more, at an increasing rate.
Migration: Due to rising sea levels, increased extreme weather events, food & water shortages, and other climate problems over 143 million people are predicted to be forced to migrate from their current territories over the next 30 years. It’s already happening in third world countries.
Emissions By Country/Continent: The five biggest emitters on the planet are China, The United States, Russia, The European Union, and India.
Countries That Will Be Most Effected: The Countries that are most vulnerable (and are already being affected) are Nigeria, Haiti, Yemen, Manila, Kiribati, & United Arab Emirates. These are all third world and developing nations, who don’t necessarily have the same access to resources to solve the climate crisis, but are most at risk. Depending on where you look, you may find there are other countries that are more ‘at risk’.
Sources: EPA, The Guardian, NASA
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In our lifetimes, the climate crisis will never go away, but it can be tended to, and averted. Assuming things go well, we can expect the far-reaching effects of climate change to last for well over 100 years, potentially millennia.
There’s a cultural shift happening on the planet. There always is. As we become increasingly more aware of what’s happening across the world, we move closer to Unity Consciousness. The awareness that everything is connected, the First Law of Ecology. This is what the Heart knows.
As you consider what’s happening all around us, I invite you to think about your children or your family, if you have them. Or if you want them. Consider what world you want to leave behind for them. While it’s mostly out of your control, what you do matters and has an impact on everything around you.
The Earth has it’s limits.
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With love,
Broderick
