When I see all these catastrophic events related to the the changes we cause to the climate, I sometimes question the point of living the way most of us do. The values and things we chase, our day-to-day endeavors. None of it matters if we don't drive towards sustenance, because nothing would last, all the pursuits would be forgotten, the light of mankind would fade if sustainability isn't the top priority. There would be no way for humans to become an interplanetary species, for generations to continue through all the ages of the universe. Nothing would matter if we live a life now that destroys the potential life of our successors.
If you'd told Australians in the 70s and 80s that the Great Barrier Reef would suffer catastrophic impacts in 40 years time and the government would both deny and ignore it, they would have been shocked and in disbelief. Australia was a different country then. The level of climate change denialism and the severe fixation on ‘houses and holes’ (property speculation and mining) is hard to believe if you haven't lived here. The change in political culture started taking hold around the year 2000.
In the last half decade the reef at port douglas has gone from "Straight out of finding nemo" to a ghostly wasteland (from personally diving there). It's a real shame.<p>There are still smaller good bits you can find, but overall it's no good at all.
Glad to see the promised investment from PM but its sad that it appears the only reason is because its likely impacting tourism and therefore jobs/income which is likely real reason. I vacationed in Cairns (and elsewhere) in 2001 and was best 3 week vacation ever and GBR was definitely a highlight. If it was dead then I'm not sure we would have gone there.<p>I almost feel that its wasted effort at this point as its like putting your finger in a dam and it will only hold for a short time. We really need to make a serious redesign in behavior and its hard to get any country to do anything and with recent political changes seems less likely and Kyoto will probably fall in short order.
Understanding a little science implies that you are interested in how the world works. It also helps to be close to nature to keep that sense of fascination. Get your mind thinking about the improbability of life in the universe.<p>Then you wonder... why are we the only planet with intelligent life? Why don't we see / hear evidence of life on other planets?<p>Then you realize that our planet has accomplished this amazing thing... to balance the levels of solar energy with our native chemistry so that life can flourish.<p>We know that conditions for life are the result of millions of years of balancing. With life consuming oxygen & producing CO2.<p>Now we have the problem that the people in charge do not share this fascination. They are only interested in their gain & immediate situation.<p>We live on a planet where if you change the thermostat just 1 degree in either direction, massive changes occur.<p>It's like seeing a top that is spinning, and giving it a good swift kick.
Phrasing like this pisses me off:<p>"Climate scientists argue that increased carbon dioxide in the atmosphere traps heat radiating from earth, creating global warming."<p>The words "argue that" imply that the matter is still in dispute.
7 billion human is a lot, but it could still work and not destroy the planet if people wasn't so much overconsuming resources. I think I've 10% or less of the average human environmental impact in my area
According to the best climate models: Mexico, most of the US, Spain, Italy are completely fucked in terms of ariable land. Alaska, Ethiopia and parts of India are projected to be the only real benefactors. When food and water run out, Mad Max will be a comparative fairy tale.<p>Here's some quality videos by actual climate scientists (trigger warning: science):<p><a href="https://youtu.be/ntOgBMgENTU" rel="nofollow">https://youtu.be/ntOgBMgENTU</a><p><a href="https://youtu.be/8iEj76iX-xE" rel="nofollow">https://youtu.be/8iEj76iX-xE</a><p><a href="https://youtu.be/UOm2t3QMR6k" rel="nofollow">https://youtu.be/UOm2t3QMR6k</a><p><a href="https://youtu.be/iOztwk6bjjU" rel="nofollow">https://youtu.be/iOztwk6bjjU</a>
Don't worry. This is not what is important folks. Reef schmeef. Fish! ha. who cares about millions of years of evolution. We can wait another million years to get it back!<p>What is important <i>right now</i> is making sure that people who can barely read who live in west Virginia can continue to count on burning coal so they can afford a big truck.
Does anyone know if it would be possible/useful to create some artificial "cool zone" to help the coral to survive in some place in order to ease recolonization after such events ?