This week the the IPCC report on the impacts of climate change was released. It detailed quite a gloomy scenario the effects climate change will have on civilization if we fail to curb global emissions of greenhouse gases within the next few years. I listened to several discussions about the new report via BBC, The New York Times, and The Guardian which disturbed me. While these media outlets were documenting what the report actually said, they then spent a great deal of time debating about whether the reports were actually too gloomy for the public and world leaders to pay attention to it.
I understand that scientists need to do a good job of communicating the science of global warming in a way that is identifiable to the public. I also realize that the public and government leaders are probably tired of hearing the dire forecasts that scientists have put forth. However, as a student of the environmental sciences, I have been privy to the research being done on this subject and there is indeed a great need to sound a loud and jolting alarm. More and more research is indicating that the climate and different ecosystems are experiencing worst-case scenario predictions that were made years ago. If we put that next to the fact that world leaders have yet to agree to a binding international agreement that calls for even modest reductions in greenhouse gas emissions, we are faced with the prospect of very disruptive, if not completely chaotic climate change.
The world is changing; the evidence is mounting that it is already underway. How much it changes is up to us. I do not doubt human ingenuity or adaptability in tackling the changing climate and the effects it will have on ecosystems, species, and civilization. In the meantime, we must not only press our leaders to come to an effective, enforceable agreement to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, we must show them we want change by altering our consumption habits and our awareness of environmental matters.Whether we vote at the polling booth or with our dollars at the store, we must send a clear message that we don't want even more drastic climate change than we are already experiencing.
I hope to contribute to this growing awareness by highlighting environmental issues through this blog. There are many different issues that exist, and many are interconnected. Even if everyone on this planet engaged with one specific environmental cause that was dear to them, we would already be on a better path. If you see a topic on this blog you would like expounded or if I have missed a topic that you would like to see covered, please let me know and I will do my best to highlight that issue. We are part of the natural world, so it's in our interest to be concerned about the "health" of the planet.
I understand that scientists need to do a good job of communicating the science of global warming in a way that is identifiable to the public. I also realize that the public and government leaders are probably tired of hearing the dire forecasts that scientists have put forth. However, as a student of the environmental sciences, I have been privy to the research being done on this subject and there is indeed a great need to sound a loud and jolting alarm. More and more research is indicating that the climate and different ecosystems are experiencing worst-case scenario predictions that were made years ago. If we put that next to the fact that world leaders have yet to agree to a binding international agreement that calls for even modest reductions in greenhouse gas emissions, we are faced with the prospect of very disruptive, if not completely chaotic climate change.
The world is changing; the evidence is mounting that it is already underway. How much it changes is up to us. I do not doubt human ingenuity or adaptability in tackling the changing climate and the effects it will have on ecosystems, species, and civilization. In the meantime, we must not only press our leaders to come to an effective, enforceable agreement to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, we must show them we want change by altering our consumption habits and our awareness of environmental matters.Whether we vote at the polling booth or with our dollars at the store, we must send a clear message that we don't want even more drastic climate change than we are already experiencing.
I hope to contribute to this growing awareness by highlighting environmental issues through this blog. There are many different issues that exist, and many are interconnected. Even if everyone on this planet engaged with one specific environmental cause that was dear to them, we would already be on a better path. If you see a topic on this blog you would like expounded or if I have missed a topic that you would like to see covered, please let me know and I will do my best to highlight that issue. We are part of the natural world, so it's in our interest to be concerned about the "health" of the planet.
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