Views About Climate Change
I came across two thoughts about climate change today. One was my own! The other I read in an article.
My Own Thought about Climate Change
I had an almost original thought today. Somebody wrote something along the lines:
1- The case for man-made climate change might have been made but
2- Unless there was global agreement, any action an individual nation might take was futile.
At first sight, it's impossible to argue with this. If little old UK takes action, but China, India & USA go their own way, what's the point?
The cold hard logic is right but morally it's despicable. We could try to save the world but why should we make the first move? It's the sort of argument that appeals to the worst aspects of human nature. Imagine trying to justify it to future generations (your grandchildren) struggling to survive with the consequences of our pigheaded inaction.
I then thought about the people making such statements. Most people are better than that. Reduce the argument. Imagine a street. The street is threatened with flooding in the next week or two. If all the residents work together to build a damn, using sandbags, then the flood can be avoided. Some people are skeptical about the upcoming flood. What would most people do? Would they sit back and hope for the best or would they lead by example and rally their neighbors?
What makes the case for action even more compelling is that those countries that take decisive action become technology leaders. So, for example, Germany is becoming a world leader in renewable energy, energy storage and energy efficiency. They are making mistakes and have higher costs in the short-term, but I have no doubt that they will reap huge benefits, as reward for their courage, in the long-term.
The Outstanding Article
I came across this outstanding article by George Monbiot in the Guardian. In a nutshell, he was pleading for the nations of the world to grow a collective pair, stand up to the lobby power of fossil fuel corporates and their media mates and just do the right and obvious thing.
Elitecodex I posted this under politics but, IMHO, this subject transcends tribal politics. Could we have an Environment category?
FOPP ClimateChange Environment
Image Credit » https://www.flickr.com/photos/mirjoran/425418155/in/photolist
Comments
SLGarcia wrote on September 11, 2014, 2:29 PM
Excellent article. I agree with you. Sometimes governments sound like bickering children.
MegL wrote on September 11, 2014, 2:37 PM
Yes, and behind the throne is the new Royalty - the mega corporations!
suffolkjason wrote on September 11, 2014, 2:42 PM
George Monbiot is a bit of a hero of mine!
suffolkjason wrote on September 11, 2014, 2:43 PM
They are the real enemy.
MarshaMusselman wrote on September 11, 2014, 2:54 PM
Love the picture regarding global warming. Good points made. Some bigger companies are finally sticking their toe into the water, but many are being forced to do so, where they should have seen the flood of the times coming and started their preparations long ago. Most don't want to deal with the costs, but I think the costs will be prohibitive no matter when they take the plunge. If more companies and countries were willing to dive in voluntarily, maybe certain companies would step up to the plate regarding new technology, fighting to be front-runners in those fields.
LynnWrites wrote on September 11, 2014, 4:03 PM
The only way to successfully deal with the issue of climate change is to have every country on board. Germany will learn by trial, error and cost but they will provide the world with a good model on how to go about it in the end. Sometimes it takes a catastrophe before everyone will jump in to do something about it.
LarrySells wrote on September 11, 2014, 8:10 PM
I keep thinking about our governments as one huge sandbox and they aren't playing nice with each other. I know or at least believe that if we use Alaska as a fuel source we would not need any fuel from the Middle East.
BarbRad wrote on September 13, 2014, 2:58 AM
Our fuel shortages in the USA are political. I really think we are in much more danger here from our open southern border than from climate change. If we don't do something about terrorism, we won't be around to feel the effects of any climate change.