The carbon dioxide precipice

[n2doc]

Few recognize the magnitude of the threat climate change poses to our planet; some activists and scientists are trying to change that.


By James C. Stewart
October 6, 2010


It is time for more of us to step forward. By "us" I mean the growing number of thoughtful Americans who have recognized the threat of global warming but have tried not to worry about it too much or get involved. Even our president, who talks eloquently about the need to reduce our fossil-fuel consumption, initially rebuffed an environmental group's efforts to have the White House install solar panels (as detailed by Bill McKibben in his Sept. 16 Times Op-Ed article, "This is how they treat their friends?"). Sure, many of us have changed light bulbs and thermostats, and we drive fuel-efficient cars. We reduce, reuse, recycle and do countless other things to shrink our carbon footprint. But we have not yet admitted the size and complexity of the task we are facing.

I recently read "Storms of My Grandchildren: The Truth About the Coming Climate Catastrophe and Our Last Chance to Save Humanity." The book is by James Hansen of NASA, who is widely regarded as the leading climatologist in the United States and perhaps the world. The title alone is enough to give us a sense of his assessment of our situation. The book has been out for almost a year, but it is still not widely known. It is time for more people to read it and act on its message.

A key part of Hansen's message is that we must do everything possible to reduce our use of fossil fuels, especially coal. By burning these fuels, we are releasing more and more carbon dioxide into the atmosphere. The rapidly increasing level of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere is the major cause of the phenomenon known as global warming.


That rather mild descriptive phrase has not been enough to jolt us into action. Consider, by contrast, the title of a paper written by Hansen in 2003: "Can We Defuse the Global Warming Time Bomb?" This gets more to the point, which is to recognize the magnitude of the threat to our planet. As temperatures rise, the nearly irreplaceable glaciers around the world are melting and breaking up, raising sea levels and threatening huge populations living in low-lying areas. Storms are intensifying in many parts of the world. Seasons are changing. More and more species are struggling to survive. Rain forests are drying out. Coral reefs are dying. And the warming process is still in its early stages.

more

http://www.latimes.com/news/opinion/opinionla/la-oew-stewart-climate-change-20101006,0,2645579.story

[Warren Stupidity]

1. We already blew past 350. This is now, not 'our grandchildren'.

The feedback loops engaged from climate disruption are not reversible in the short run. At this point all we can do is mitigate the extent of the damage. Luckily we are doing absolutely nothing, in fact we are the leaders of the Global Do-nothing Faction.

USA USA USA

[n2doc]

2. Yep. Even when they write "wake up" columns they are too timid. n/t

[GliderGuider]

3. I learned a few things from running my own "doomer outreach" program in the past

1. The more you broaden your scope of inquiry the worse things look.

2. Things are worse than anyone can imagine, even dedicated doomers like me.

3. It is impossible to communicate this vision of catastrophe. The problems are simply too big and interlocked.

4. People in general are either unwilling or unequipped to comprehend the nature and size of our predicament.

5. Even if people are willing and able to comprehend the predicament, it's impossible to shift the direction of an entire civilization by pushing back against the symptoms.

6. The usual response to a comprehending problem this big and insoluble is despair. That does no one any good.

7. If the problem is too big to fix, and the usual reactions are either denial or despair, what's the point of waking people up - at least with the expectation that they will somehow engage with the predicament directly?

8. The only way to comprehend the predicament without any degree of denial and retain your sanity in the process is to completely shift your frame of reference. For me and many others I've met this requires a psychological transformation so profound that it's probably best understood in spiritual terms.

[XemaSab]

4. It's been a while since I read an update on your progress

Any insights to share with the class?

[GliderGuider]

5. My insights these days all revolve arount point #8

Loosely paraphrased, "We're screwed, but then we always have been. Don't let being screwed get in the way of leading a full, meaningful and value-packed life." On the one hand there is the Global Clusterfuck. On the other hand there is Zen and Advaita. For me that makes a perfect balance. Essentially I have responded to the insoluble outer situation with the time-honoured technique of turning inward.

Oh yeah, and I suggest that if there is any possibility that you can meet and fall in love with your Twin Flame you do so immediately. It changes everything! :party:

[hatrack]

6. It's at moments like this that I fully rediscover the Joy of Paleontology

In the most inverted and (depending on one's viewpoint) ironic sense of the phrase.

:toast:

[XemaSab]

7. I'm with hatrack

I've taken enough geology to have the long view firmly in mind. :P

[Terry in Austin]

8. Comprehension plus sanity

I'd say you've got a pretty good handle on it, GG. Life at the precipice goes on, so best to get on with it fully.

There's the old zen tale about the guy chased over the edge of a cliff by a tiger, but he manages to to grab onto one lonesome branch. He's dangling there, huge drop below him, snarling beast above him, and he contemplates his predicament. Then he notices a small crevice, from which grows a perfect, tiny strawberry. With his last bit of strength, he reaches out, plucks the strawberry, and eats it.

Of course, the cliff parable that might be closer to our own situation would involve the coyote a few feet past the edge, standing in mid-air until he looks down, at which point cartoon physics kicks in. Unlike the zen guy, though, Wile E. doesn't seem to get much out of it.

May we all have the fullest "coyote moment" possible!

Oh yeah -- I definitely agree about the Twin Flame part. Highly recommended!

:hi:

[GliderGuider]

9. Twin Flames rock your world.

:thumbsup: