Are We The Next Meteor?

Two weeks ago I highlighted a few species of plants and animals that are considered to be recovering from near extinction. In that post, I briefly alluded to the fact that many scientists in the biological realm believe the Earth has entered its sixth mass extinction event.  Today I want to explore this matter with you in more detail.

Earth has gone through five previous mass extinction events before. The last, and possibly most well-known, was the extinction event that took out the dinosaurs. While extinctions have occurred regularly throughout history - made evident by the fossil records - what distinguishes a mass extinction event is the fact that large groups of species are lost in a relatively short time frame and that loss outpaces the formation of new species. Plants and animals face a great deal of stress coming at them from multiple sources on a daily basis. When those stresses drastically inhibit the species' ability to reproduce over a long enough period of time, eventually that species will become extinct. Mother Nature can be quite tough, and success really is measured in the ability to survive long enough to reproduce. In the case of many animals that do not reproduce the next generation on a massive scale (think frogs or insects laying their eggs), the parents also must be able to ensure that enough of their offspring survive to maturity so that reproduction by the new generation is more likely.

Today, biologists are seeing the rate of species able to successfully reproduce over successive generations in steep decline. This is due to a variety of reasons, but unfortunately they are either directly or indirectly linked to our activities. In the past, mass extinction events occurred after extreme and sustained shifts in biological parameters were achieved through natural means. The first and greatest extinction, the Permian, where 96% of all species went extinct came about because of a prolonged and intense series of volcanic eruptions that altered the atmosphere. The dinosaurs and other plants and animals from that same era are believed to have gone extinct after a meteor hit the planet, altering both ground and atmospheric conditions.

So how is it that humans are causing the sixth mass extinction? Our activities, whether directly or indirectly, are putting such stresses on biological life that they are unable to survive. Some examples of direct causation is the hunting of animals for food or other purposes. Steller's Sea Cow and the Passenger Pigeon are two instances of this cause. Other direct causations can be the competition for resources. We have all heard on some nature program at some point that a plant or animal is threatened because of habitat encroachment. This is because humans are much more successful at competing for resources. So much so that we don't leave a lot for other species to survive off of.

Humans are also indirectly causing the next mass extinction. Climate change and invasive species, among other factors, are drastically changing habitat structure, resource availability, and ecosystem dominance. We are not purposefully trying to cause a species harm, but our activities have introduced stress factors that burden these species even more. Coral reefs are an example of this, as rising sea-levels, warmer sea temperatures, and higher carbonic acid concentrations (all related to carbon emissions from human activities and subsequent climate change) are making it more difficult for the actual corals to survive. Not only would we lose the hard corals if they succumbed, we would lose an entire ecosystem and much of the marine life that depends on the reefs for their own survival.

This is another one those environmental topics that can be quite depressing. However, we needn't take a defeatist or there's-nothing-I-can-do position. As I previously posted, we have come to our senses before and saved a species from collapsing into extinction. We have prevented several species from dying out. There are those who work hard every day to raise awareness and funds to protect as many plants and animals as possible. By supporting measures such as the Endangered Species Act and consuming items that are clearly marked with an "eco-friendly" stamp (such as the Rainforest Alliance stamp), as well as continuing to push our leaders to enact meaningful emissions legislation, we can reduce the stresses that are being heaped up on the rest of our biological "family". These issues are raised - with clear warnings sent out - not to depress us, but to spurn us into action. We are the only species that has such a wide impact on the natural world and we are the only species with the ability to recognize it and alter our behavior. It requires all of us, but we can stop this mass extinction before it gets worse.

Let Me Introduce You To My Newest Friend

Those of you who have been reading my posts over the last couple of months know that I am very concerned about the emerging water crisis that no one seems to be taking seriously. With towns in Texas and California about to run out of water, more of us are becoming aware that this is a problem. I have just discovered a new series of infographics and basic information put together by the reputable BBC. Please visit this site, review the information, and then share it with your friends. It is something that needs highlighting so that we can begin addressing the problem. Wild weather may have been the first noticeable clue that our climate is changing, the water crisis is a much more long-term and tragic result of climate change. The growing water crisis threatens to destabilize entire regions and create a very complex, global humanitarian crisis. It's time to face this head on and do something about it.

Taking Action

This past week, President Obama, through the EPA, released an ambitious plan to cut carbon emissions from power plants by 30% from 2005 levels by the year 2030. Despite the plan focusing mostly on coal-produced pollution, we are finally moving in the direction we should have been decades ago. Of course, those in the coal industry are screaming bloody murder and their fellow climate deniers are saying this is all about killing jobs to enforce a political ideology. While there may be a loss of some jobs and a general decrease in coal-mining, it is likely more jobs will be created as the energy sector continues to undertake innovation in sustainable, cleaner forms of energy production.

A unique aspect of this carbon-cutting plan is that it relies on individual states to make decisions on where to make cuts and undertake energy-investment opportunities. Much like the European Union allows its member nations to implement many of its environmental regulations in their own individualized ways, this allows states to be flexible in how they will actually achieve these cuts. Some states have already met the goals, while others will be given credits that take into account that their energy production largely comes from coal. Far from limiting the country and individual states in economic terms, this promotes innovation as well as flexibility which is a good thing when dealing with such a complex issue. Opponents may claim that China will more than make up for what we don't dump in the air, but there are signs that isn't true. In addition, it finally looks like America is showing that it is willing to take part in the international need to cut carbon emissions. America is a leader on many issues, but has been far behind on the challenge of global warming and climate change. It is entirely possible that with our nation finally taking important action on carbon emissions, other nations that have been holding back will follow suit.

Again this is an ambitious plan, but for those of us who want to see meaningful change there is a need to stay vigilant. The plan is up for public comment over the next year, which means there will be plenty of opportunities for opponents and the coal industry to water this plan down. Beyond that, power plant emissions are just a fraction of overall human-based carbon pollution. We would see the most immediate benefit if greater regulations were placed on transportation emissions. Cars, trucks, planes, anything that runs on oil-based fuel puts a large amount of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere. Fuel-efficiency and the push to move away from fossil fuel-powered vehicles (including planes) needs to be stressed to our lawmakers. It's up to us to make sure that regulators, lawmakers, and industry pay attention to the science of carbon emissions and global warming.

Biodiversity Preserved

I am a huge advocate for biodiversity. I believe our planet's greatest strength can be found in the range of life that is found on its surface or below the waters. Healthy biodiversity increases the chance that biological life would continue after a significant natural cataclysm. We value diversity in our own DNA supply chain because it reduces the risk of succumbing to a deadly disease, birth defects, etc. The number of different species on this planet (bacteria, protists, fungi, plants, animals, and even viruses) can and should be considered a barometer of the health of the planet's DNA supply chain.

There have been five times in the Earth's history that a huge portion of species went extinct, with the first great extinction event wiping out 96% of life. Scientific evidence is mounting that we are in the throes of a sixth extinction event, this one largely driven by us (more on that in a later post). Despite the stresses we have placed on plant and animal species, we have taken action to preserve many species that are recognized as endangered. Thanks to the Endangered Species Act in the United States and similar programs around the world, plants and animals on the brink of vanishing are given a metaphorical lifeline that helps to reduce the stress on them and allows the species to recover to healthier populations. I would like to provide links that highlight some of the successes here.

White Rhinoceros

Golden Lion Tamarin

Gray Wolf

Eggert's Sunflower

Tennessee Coneflower

There are many more species that are recovering thanks to programs/management plans designed to protect species and help them propagate. The success stories are proof that humans can do good things for the environment. Biodiversity is a thing of beauty that we should work hard to protect.

It's Tough

I was thinking of the topics I could write about today, and what came to mind made me step back and think: "This is why lots of people don't read environmental blogs. The subject matter always seems to be depressing." I decided to start blogging again because I felt, as I did previously, that it is important to highlight the environmental issues that exist. Some topics are more uncomfortable than others to deal with, but I have tried to make it a policy in my life to not hide from the dark realities that are out there.

But why does it seem there are more negative environmental topics to write about than positive-feel-good topics that make us feel all warm and fuzzy inside? Unfortunately that is reality. There are great environmental stories to write about that discuss things such as conservation success stories, a species being saved from near extinction, the discovery of a new species, resilience after an environmental disaster, etc. However, for each one of those news items, there are at least two that highlight the sorry state of affairs our global environment is in.

Part of that lies in the fact that nature has always been a very tough "mother". Stephen Fry said it best a few years ago, remarking, "You have to account for the fact that almost all animals in the wild live under stress with not enough to eat and will die violent and bloody deaths. There is not any way that you can just choose the nice bits . . ." (Fry, 2009). Yes, if you reference that quote online, you will find Stephen Fry is talking in terms of atheism/proving the existence of God, but I feel that it fits here. The environment is a rough and tumble place, undergoing constant (though sometimes slow) and chaotic change, punctuated by abrupt, violent episodes of natural disaster. It is amazing and complex, and I am always left in pure amazement by all this planet has. Despite this, it has always dealt biological life some depressing cards.

Beyond the day-to-day reality that the environment is a tough place that taken alone will have plenty of depressing stories, is the fact that we as the human species have been and are the cause of many of the depressing changes in the global environment. Sometimes our activities are indirectly causing these negative changes, such as the disappearance and stress put upon coral reef ecosystems due to sea level rise/increase in carbonic acid in oceans which is linked to climate change. Others are directly linked to our activities such as oil spills, climate change, the near-extinction of many species of plant and animals, etc.

We will always have an impact on the environment. That is how biological life works. Plus, we don't always know when we are having a direct or indirect negative impact on the environment. Thankfully, science exists to help us determine what is influenced by our impacts on the environment. When it comes down to it, I often write more about these alarming topics because only when we become informed of an event and what it is we are (not) doing, can we begin the path of changing. I believe strongly in the ability of humans to move away from destructive habits when they are educated about what it is we are doing wrong. I believe in our ability to address the issues we face through innovation and corrective action. That is why I always urge some sort of action on our part at the end of each post.

Writing about and caring about the environment is tough. At every turn there is another disheartening story of a species going extinct, a major industrial accident that has significantly impacted a local ecosystem, or climate change deniers preventing meaningful change in how humans consume energy. I remain dedicated to the environment not just because it is the only thing we've got, but because it is something unique and special. The type of life and the varied ecosystems it thrives in on this planet is spectacular. What's more, we are a part of it and because of our intellect we have the ability to correct our course of action before things go horribly wrong. It may be depressing to read all the bad news, but the bigger picture I see is that we can stop more depressing news from reaching us by acting now on the knowledge we are acquiring. The truth, in this case, can indeed set us free on the path to conserving all our planet has to offer.

Sometimes Pictures Really Are Better Than Words

I read an article on the online version of The New York Times this morning about increased melt from glaciers and the Antarctic ice sheets. The first image they had reminded me of all the other pictures I have seen of glaciers retreating. For me, these pictures give powerful voice to the evidence that scientists have acquired that the world is warming. It's not just one glacier, it is all of them. Here are some pictures that really do speak louder than words that global warming/climate change is real.

Upsala Glacier

Portage Glacier

Pederson Glacier

Rhone Glacier

McCarty Glacier

West Rongbuk Glacier

Lunacy and Money

My last post briefly mentioned that there may be a reason why people are not responding to the facts that climate change is indeed happening. We may be evolutionarily ill-equipped to deal with long-term, long-range threats because of our brain habits. There is that, but then there is the fact that plenty of leaders, both business and politicians pour money and rhetoric into discrediting climate change along with meaningful action to mitigate it. Today's post looks at the latter.

I was scrolling through Huffington Post today when I came across this article stating that a House Republican added an amendment to a Military Budget bill that forbade any usage of the ascribed funds to research the threats associated with climate change. The bill and amendment passed thanks to all Republicans and four Democrats voting in favor of the measure. The actual amendment is peppered with Tea Party and climate denial catch phrases such as Agenda 21 and the IPCC Fifth Report. No funding provided by the US government may be used in any research that may actually validate and assess the threats posed by climate change. This comes despite the fact that the Defense Department has repeatedly acknowledged the threat that climate change poses to national/global security and its military operations around the world.

So who is the House Republican that was behind this short-sighted amendment? It is none other than West Virginia Representative David McKinley. Rep. McKinley has a long history of climate denial. Last fall, he got himself embroiled with scientists over whether increased carbon dioxide in the atmosphere increases global temperatures or not, passing himself off as an expert on the issue. You may have had the same thought I did when you saw that Congressman McKinley hails from West Virginia: "Of course! He comes from a state whose entire economy revolves coal." It is not hard to connect the dots between a once powerful industry afraid of disappearing and McKinley's climate denialism.

Some people may not alter their habits or reduce their carbon footprint because they do not comprehend the severity of this long-term, long-range threat and the part they play in that threat. For others - including businesses, it is simply about money. Their virulent, relentless attacks on sound science - science that has been settled for a considerable length of time - is because they don't want to lose money. Individuals like Representative McKinley are in the pocket of these fossil fuel industries, pushing their pseudo-science and denialist drivel to get the money the industry showers over them for campaign or other pet projects they want funded.

McKinley's disregard for the environment is clear. Every time a destructive coal-mining/fossil fuel practice or byproduct is being legislated against, Mr. McKinley always sides with the fossil fuel industry. Congressman McKinley is of the opinion that there is still a debate going on about climate change. His latest action, in regard to the amendment he proposed adding to the Military Budget, shows a man who is reacting to the mainstream acceptance of climate change as fact. He has the industry's back, but not the actual humans who make up his constituency. This is the problem with irrational people who wield power. Fact and reason may surround them, but they can still whip up enough frenzied support to control the direction we take on the environment through the purse strings. We can rejoice that many more are actually convinced of the science both professionally and on an individual level, but we must remain vigilant against those who continue to put forth fiction and flawed policy based on that fiction.