Facing The Facts

The validity of climate change is a topic long debated.  Due to the complex nature of the subject, and the far reaching consequences of even our smallest action (or inaction), it can be difficult to establish a “cause” for every “effect”.  In fact, although the climate on our planet has been altered (by us) for many years, only now are some of the effects becoming apparent.  It's no surprise then that the general public is beginning to take notice.  However, in order to make the right decisions we must be properly educated.  Those looking for truth beyond the ridiculous statements of politicians and pundits ought to check out BIll McKibben’s book, Eaarth. He does an excellent job of laying down the cold hard facts about climate change.  It’s not possible for me to list every effect the warming climate has had on our planet, but let’s take a look at a few.  McKibben states that “one of the key facts of the twenty-first century turns out to be that warm air holds more water vapor than cold: in arid areas this means increased evaporation and hence drought.  And once that water is in the atmosphere, it will come down, which in moist areas means increased deluge and flood.”   This basic fact explains many of the unusual weather patterns we've seen in the past couple of years.  But what about the effects unseen?  The oceans are becoming more acidic due to the rise of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere.  They’re also becoming warmer,  increasing the chances of hurricanes and tropical storms.  Some of these are cycles that were set in motion years ago, and they can’t be stopped.  For instance, in arid areas the drier conditions caused by climate change lead to more forest fires, which lead to more carbon being released into the atmosphere, which leads to even drier conditions. The frozen tundras of the world are beginning to melt, releasing methane into the air and making them more susceptible to fires caused by lightning strikes. Human behavior may even be affected, as the changing climate is negatively influencing crop yields in many places. Fertile land is becoming less available, and there will likely be conflicts over it as people struggle to feed their families.    

According to a paper published in the science journal Nature,
the Anaktuvuk River Fire in Alaska released approximately 2.3
million tons of  carbon into the atmosphere.
Photo: Bureau of Land Management  

The list goes on and on.  McKibben focuses on the fact that much of the damage we've done is irreversible, and everyday through inaction we make it worse. We're just deluding ourselves if we think we can continue living on this planet without making a drastic change. Even if we stopped all carbon emissions today, the chain of events set in motion would continue to increase the earth’s temperature.   According to McKibben,"Scientists are now telling us that 350 parts per million [of carbon] in the atmosphere is the upper limit. We're at 387 parts per million now, and we're up in that zone where the rist of going past irrevocable tipping points is elevated." But if the damage is done, is there any hope for the future?   Fossil fuels are a major part of our economy, and the companies who produce and distribute them are some of the richest in the world.  Unfortunately this also means that they are some of the most politically influential, and its hard to pass regulations that negatively affect these companies.  McKibben set up 350.org in order to help organize a movement and guide climate change policy in a worthwhile direction.  Take a glance at the site if you’re unsure what you can do to help - there’s news of upcoming events, a Q&A section, as well as some success stories that can help anyone feeling a bit too hopeless. 

Major policy changes would help, but we also need a change in our minds - a diversion from the idea that bigger is better.  It’s going to require a lifestyle restructurization: think using less, producing less, and considering alternative and local power sources. We must make the best use of space, eat locally grown foods, and depend on our community more than many of us are used to.  If we can successfully initiate a change in policy and in ourselves, we can hopefully start a new chain of events that will help reduce the amount of carbon in our atmosphere and make our planet a more hospitable place.

When we hear about survival skills we almost always associate them with dire circumstances, but this isn't always the case.  If a small community truly wants to work together to provide food and necessary items to each other obtained from local resources, there will be some skill required in doing so.  Members may not possess all the skills for extracting resources and creating goods, but instead might specialize in a specific skill set.  This way each member contributes to the community and the community has a greater variety of goods and services available.  Find more information on some “eco-villages” at  the Global Eco Village Network website.