Global Warming Trends, 2014

A few days back I read an article about global warming.  The thesis was an interesting read, but full of scientific jargon that could turn even the most determined person cross-eyed.  So, rather than give you a link to such a daunting read, for your viewing pleasure, here is a link to the ScienceDaily report:


http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2014/09/140921145005.htm

However, the bottom line is this: 

Human activites contribute to an increased rate of global warming, and will continue to do so with the status quo. 

"The IPCC's Fifth Assessment Report collated from the peer-reviewed literature almost 1200 scenarios of future emissions, each scenario having a different 'story' of how the future might unfold. The scenarios can be grouped according to which of the four Representative Concentration Pathways (RCPs) they are most similar to, based on peak concentration of greenhouse gases.

Credit: Image courtesy of CICERO"

Source: http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2014/09/140921145005.htm

Due to emissions created by humans through the burning of fossil fuels, our planet will warm faster than it would on its own.  What burns fossil fuels, you may ask?  Fossil fuels are formed by a natural process using organic materials (dead organisms) that have taken Earth hundreds of thousands, to millions of years to make.  We burn them for things like electricity via coal, petrol for your car, natural gas for your hob/stove, fuel for the airplane, train, or ship that carries you or the goods you buy.  Unfortunately, there's a limited amount available and we're burning it faster than Earth can replace it, and in the process, we are increasing the emission of carbon and other hardy chemicals that deplete Earth's Ozone layer, and thus the greenhouse that keeps us safe.

Sure, it's true that Earth goes through normal cycles of ice ages, as has been shown through fossil records, sediment cores, and geologic studies.  But, a question I cannot help but ask is this: Why would such an intelligent species, the Homo sapiens, continue a behaviour that is ultimately going to bring it harm?  The only answer I can think of, leads down a path of negativity and labeling - that we are greedy, gluttonous, money-driven, and/or selfish - but perhaps there is more to it than that?  Biologically speaking, animals (including humans) are designed to make decisions for survival.  Considering the conditions of the world, from third to first, is it any wonder that most people are doing whatever necessary to survive, in the best (or perhaps only) way they know how?

No matter where you live or what your occupation, we all need food, shelter, and a sense of connection (usually to one another and/or the environment) to survive.  But with the system created as it has been - by humans - it is rarely possible to survive without money, because that is what has been deemed valuable.  In first-world countries, humans are fortunate to have the pleasures of fossil-fuel consuming sources that provide entertainment, vehicles, industry, and synthetics.  In fact, according to the the article:

"The top-four emitters of CO₂ have a critical role in global emissions growth:

• Chinese emissions grew at 4.2%, due to slower economic growth and faster improvements in carbon intensity of the economy compared to the previous decade
• USA emissions increased 2.9%, due to a rebound in coal consumption potentially reversing the downward trend since the start of the shale-gas boom in 2007
• Indian emissions grew at 5.1%, due to robust economic growth and a continued increase in the carbon intensity of the economy
• EU28 emissions decreased 1.8%, due to a weak economy and emission decreases in some countries offsetting a return to coal led by Poland, Germany, Finland"

Apparently, China is producing more emissions than the US and EU combined.  Frankly, these numbers are terrifying.  But, what is the answer??  Is someone, or a group of people, really going to make the kind of life-style changes necessary to make a difference?  And, just what would that difference be - if Earth is going to increase in temperature on it's own, anyways?  These are all questions I've asked and have heard my peers ask.  Do we give up, say that the snowball is already rolling?  Or do we start making changes in our lifestyles and how we run the economy?  The United Nations (UN) has tried to engage leading countries to address this problem, but as with many things, it's a choice.  In this case, it's a choice of our leaders and the leaders of other countries to enforce law and regulation.  In October, the UN is holding their sixth of it's second conference in Bonn, Germany, to talk about Climate Change Impacts.  It will be interesting to see what their session will lead to, and you can follow at:

http://unfccc.int/2860.php

As for what we, as individuals and communities can do, it's as far reaching as your imagination can hold.  But, it's a matter of personal judgement, morals, and ethics.  Honestly, I cannot say what that looks like for any individual, because this is when it becomes personal. It is a matter of how much you care and how much you're willing to change.  For me, this is a moral battle I struggle with.  Obviously, I like to travel; I have a vehicle, a laptop, an iPod, and plenty of clothes; and I too, contribute to the emissions system...  Perhaps this is an opportunity to start thinking about my energy consumption and use more seriously.  Perhaps this is an opportunity for all of us to think about it.

There are many things we can do, but not all of it is honest - "green" labeling doesn't necessarily mean green - many of the products sold to promote energy savings doesn't actually help the environment.  Just as a few examples:

-  Those twisty energy "saving" lightbulbs?  Yeah, those contain mercury and are exceedingly difficult to dispose of, let alone recycle.

-  "Electronic" copies of information or paper?  Yeah, the servers utilized to store the data need to stay cool, and require temperature controlled rooms, frequently using A/C.  Oh, and the materials the servers are made of?  It's not cost effective to recycle most of it.

-  "Energy saving" vehicles?  *HAHA* I find that succession of words such an oxymoron...  those batteries can be more damaging to Earth than the exhaust from a normal vehicle.

But, back on track - this article was a wake-up, a reminder - the choices we make today form the future of tomorrow.

May we all stop to think about our choices and how it effects the future of our children, seven generations in time. 

"If you're not part of the solution, you're part of the problem" - Proverb