Note: For those who'd like it. All topics in here will be covered with detail in upcoming posts.
“Climate change” as we’re supposed to call it is our biggest threat - but what is it? By the working definition of the United Nations (UN), climate change is defined as shifts in our global temperature and weather patterns due to activity on the Sun’s surface, large-scale volcanic activity, and human interactions with energy systems. In the preceding two centuries, our reliance on non-renewable energy consumption has expedited changes in our atmosphere, resulting in large-scale changes to our Earth’s mechanics. If left alone, these changes can heavily impact our accessibility to land, our health, as well as the quantity of food and water we can provide (Emanuel, 2022).
On the geological timescale we are currently in the Holocene Epoch and have been for the past 12,000 years. In this period, we’ve experienced revolutions in communication, integration, and technology. In Homo Deus: A Brief History of Tomorrow, Yuval Harari emphasises the concept of our “humanism” centred ethos. Our own agency and power have allowed us growth in this era, and this is what we have chosen instead of stability. In 1712, the invention of the steam engine would set the tone foray into industry. By 1824, we added coal to our ships, then to our locomotives the following year (Ward, 2022). From here the implementation and transport of coal and nonrenewable energy would only increase, and as the world became more integrated so did our demand for it.
Our place in the Goldilocks zone is upheld by connected systems by way of the greenhouse effect: when the Sun’s energy enters our atmosphere, it can either be reflected or absorbed. The oceans, rainforests, clouds, and protective layers play a role in regulating incoming energy to maintain a livable climate. The increase of carbon dioxide (CO2) into the atmosphere has led to a significant decrease in the resilience of these systems. While it is a common misconception that we must avoid greenhouse gases, this is not the case. In the example of the ozone layer I appreciate the analogy of the blanket. We need the warmth as is, but increased rates of CO2 traps ultraviolet rays (UV) in our atmosphere. Hotter temperatures cause ice cap melt, sea level rise, and the increase in “natural” disasters.
In the preceding several decades, our reliance on convenient energy through the ignition of fossil fuels has allowed for these consistent climate emergencies. Though we know better, we continue to supply our energy demands with a quick and unsustainable fix. It is not only the energy we use, but it is the food that we eat, the clothes we wear, and the products we consume. This multi-pronged revenue-generating model only encourages the growth of these industries, as we see was suggested by Harari. We can identify our carbon footprint in these behaviours as determined in three phases: Scopes one, two, and three. Consider:
One: Burn. What we directly emit.
Two: Buy. What we indirectly emit through our financial decisions.
Three: Beyond. All other emissions associated with an act, for example, the transport of a product.
Of the 195 federal economies of the world, an estimated 100 rely heavily on the exploitation and trade of fossil fuels. Parallel to this, the nine largest energy conglomerates hold net worth values of 100 billion USD, greater than the gross domestic product (GDP) of 110 countries. Nonrenewable energy has become currency, status, and it thrives on the power that we give it. Despite the combination of stressors in all scopes, there are minimal to no efforts by the aforementioned players’ economies.
So, what “might” happen? In Uninhabitable Earth: Life After Warming, David Wallace-Wells suggests that if we enact radical change right now, we may still cut it close. He calculates the global $600 trillion USD cost of climate inaction to an estimate of climate change as urgent, and should we fail to act we will see our cities underwater, and he further suggests that by the turn of the millennium, we will experience a world that is only a third habitable. As it is already, we have a difficult time providing for those with our current resources, and if we fail to increase resource availability while decreasing habitable land, disparities will only expand. Though we're all affected, it’s important to understand climate inequality. As mentioned, advocacy for environmental justice is equated to that of advocacy in racial, gender and sex, as well as socioeconomic (SES) disparities. Communities in lower SES neighbourhoods are more exposed to hotspots, and areas of chemical and industrial waste which results increases their likeliness to contract an illness. In the example of urban settings, communities of colour are more prone to climate-related stressors and less access to health centres. Unequal effects can also be seen on the scale of nations, with traditionally smaller economies at higher risk. Countries such as Tuvalu, Vanuatu, Fiji, and other small island states (SIS) can be submerged by the end of the century - which has led to a mass displacement of their populations, and avoidable losses of culture. By 2050, Wallace-Wells theorises upward of 200 million climate refugees- a population greater than that of all but several countries.
The large-scale loss of land and habitat also suggests that by 2050, one third of all animal species face extinction. As of right now the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) suggests an estimated 1,300 species are listed as “endangered” with 9,000 further classified as “critical”. Loss of habitat for both terrestrial and marine species affects their migratory patterns, populations, and in many cases, a source of livelihood and sustenance for people that rely on them.
But all is not lost, what can we do?
On the journey to reduce our carbon footprint and adopt sustainable and circular systems, there are a myriad of strategies we can implement. Educate yourself on the products you consume, the clothes you wear, the food you eat, and the organisations you support. If you think you can do any of these things with less of a carbon footprint, try it. Have conversations on climate to share what you know, and to learn from others. Join organisations and contribute to the greening of your preferred hobbies. Individual action can be encouraging and by doing just one thing, you may inspire that of another. Beyond that, demand action on climate from your representatives or use your agency to support those that do. The same can be said for the services you rely on.
In summary, climate change is our biggest threat. It is currently being expedited by our activity, resulting in the loss of lands, animals, resources, and cultures. If we allow for a one-degree Celsius increase, damages may be irreversible. The intersectionality of the crisis affects us all, but it is important to remember that we can all do our part to avoid unnecessary doom. For our home, eight billion daily acts and decisions can make a difference. Me personally? I’m a football fan (understatement) and a believer. So, I believe that we can mobilise to get the last-minute winner. It’s a team effort and once we sub some of you in before stoppage time, I like our chances. Thank you for reading, and I look forward to exploring these concepts with further detail.
For this pale blue dot; suspended in a sunbeam,
Nate
Visual
Adobe stock image on the greenhouse effect.
Citations
“Anthropocene.” National Geographic. https://education.nationalgeographic.org/resource/anthropocene/
“Basics of Climate Change.” Environmental Protection Agency. https://www.epa.gov/climatechange-science/basics-climate-change
“Countries at Risk of Disappearing Due to Climate Change.” Sustainability For All. https://www.activesustainability.com/climate-change/countries-risk-disappearing-climate-change/?_adin=02021864894
“Global Warming and Endangered Species Initiative.” Center for Biological Diversity. https://www.biologicaldiversity.org/campaigns/global_warming_and_endangered_species/index.html#:~:text=Global%20warming%20is%20projected%20to,human%20societies%20across%20the%20globe.
“History of Technology: Steam Locomotive” Britannica. https://www.britannica.com/technology/history-of-technology/Steam-locomotive
“Largest Oil and Gas Companies by Market Cap.” Companies Market Cap. https://companiesmarketcap.com/oil-gas/largest-oil-and-gas-companies-by-market-cap/
“What are Scope 1, 2, and 3 Emissions?” Sustain Life. https://www.sustain.life/blog/scope-emissions#:~:text=What%20do%20the%20different%20emissions%20scopes%20mean%3F&text=If%20this%20is%20hard%20to,3%20is%20everything%20beyond%20that
“What is Climate Change?” United Nations. https://www.un.org/en/climatechange/what-is-climate-change
“What is Climate Change?” The Climate Question. British Broadcasting Corporation. 16 Aug 2023. https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p0g6zfx9
Emmanuel, Kerry. “What to Read to Understand Climate Change.” The Economist Reads. 22 Oct 2022. https://www.economist.com/the-economist-reads/2022/10/28/what-to-read-to-understand-climate-change?utm_content=section_content&gclid=CjwKCAjwoqGnBhAcEiwAwK-OkcL8cr6myYn7x3f9xSytKssLSTeuytR8vKD9W1HAYqVcovczW8c-mRoCuF4QAvD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds
Lynn, Christine. “Endangered Animal Statistics and Analysis - The Urgent Need to Protect Them!” World Animal Foundation. 24 Dec 2022. https://worldanimalfoundation.org/wild-earth/#:~:text=The%20IUCN%20lists%20over%209%2C000,is%20extinct%20in%20the%20wild.
Harari, Nuval. “Homo Deus: A Brief History of Tomorrow” HarperCollins. 2016.
Renner, Angelika. “A Brief History of Climate Discoveries.” Discover UKRI. https://www.discover.ukri.org/a-brief-history-of-climate-change-discoveries/index.html
Wallace-Wells, David. "The Uninhabitable Earth: Life After Warming” Tim Duggan Books. 2019.
Ward, Charlotte "Sail to Steam: A Timeline of the Development of Maritime Steam Power." HistoryHit. 4 Jan 2022. https://www.historyhit.com/a-timeline-of-the-development-of-maritime-steam-power/
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