Sunday, January 8, 2023

No Worries

You made it past the title. I fooled you. You already know that in my opinion climate change is something to worry about. I am tempted to say it's the only issue to worry about, since ignoring it leaves us with no future. So why aren't we doing more to fix it? There are reasons. If you continue reading and dip into the reference links below, you may get vaccinated against complacency or denial. You may also lose hope. I suggest we forget hope and just do what's right.

A few scientists say there is no climate emergency.
Do a search if you want. I won't provide references because I don't want to contaminate your mind with misinformation. However, I will give links to rebuttal. Whenever  scientists publish conclusions, they invite criticism, a process known as peer review. The vast weight of peer reviewed scientific literature concludes that climate change is happening and is caused by human activity. 

Whether it's an emergency may depend on how close you were to the latest disaster. If the disasters are happening elsewhere, you may gain some respite from anxiety by listening to those who say there is no emergency. Remoteness in place and time feels safe. It isn't. The greenhouse gases (GHGs) that have already accumulated in the atmosphere are not going anywhere anytime soon, and emissions continue to increase. Release of GHGs from the ocean, tundra, and soil are going to add to emissions from human activity; and the loss of carbon sinks from deforestation, desertification and warming of the oceans will accelerate the temperature increase. Within decades there will be no place to hide.

We got here by well-intentioned use of science and technology to make life more comfortable, prosperous and safe for human kind. This progress was fueled by fossil carbon. Since 1900, human population has increased from 1.6 billion to 8 billion (factor of 5), and annual carbon emissions have increased from 0.5 to 10 billion tonnes (factor of 20). A future without burning fossil carbon is the only way out of the impending collapse. When it happens, don't complain that nobody told you this was coming.

Pay attention.
Make a plan.
Do something.
Rejoice in success.
Learn from failure.
Plan what to do next.
Don't lose hope.
Forget hope and do what's right.
Belong with restraint to the world that gives us life.

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Assessing Exxonmobil's Climate Change Communications: a history of the science from within the fossil fuel industry.

The Climate Future: Just Have a Think, January 8, 2023.

Debunking Denial: by Steven Vigdor and Tim Londergan

Debunking Climate Change Denial, part 1

Debunking Climate Change Denial, part 2

The Sacred Balance: David Suzuki in search of a new worldview.

Act Now: United Nations Plan for Individual Action


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