Is Our Planet Already Lost?

Submitted by Richard on Sun, 27/04/2008 - 7:46pm
Global Dimming

Can The Earth Survive Global Warming?

As an inhabitable planet as we now know it – NO.

Is the world likely to curb Global Warming? NO.

Can Global Warming be stopped. YES, but only if immediate and drastic actions are taken.

Since 1997 when the Kyoto Accord on Climate Change was drafted, the worlds Green House Gas emissions have increased by over 15% and are still climbing with almost no remedial legislation from any of the major polluters including Canada. Canada's GHG emissions have increased by 12% and soon to rise by over 30% if immediate action is not taken to prevent them.

If Canada fails to stop the Pine Beetle crisis in British Columbia, the methane gas release from decaying forests will add 15% to 20% more GHG to the Canadian total within 10 years. If a large scale reduction in GHG emissions world wide is not realized within 5 years, the extent of permafrost damage will be irreversible and will release unprecedented amounts of GHG from ice trapped methane. Inside of 10 years, perhaps even fewer, the battle will be lost.

Here is a telling video called Global Dimming that points out some startling data and paints a very bleak outcome and a severe warning.

There are many reasons why the world is heading for a drastic change in climate, and none of them are because we can't put a slow-down to global warming, because we can. All the reasons are because nobody will. The basic reason being; there is a gluttonous world consumer frenzy that turns a blind eye to any consequences and is basically ignorant to real world conditions. There is a whole generation within the prosperous nations who have never really known what it means to be responsible for their actions. Someone else has always looked after them. They look to governments or science to magically come up with solutions. Many even deny that there is an environmental problem.

When it comes to the issue of global warming, guess what, there is no magic solution. Every solution will effect every body, and that just don't fit in today's “All About Me Society”. It cannot be left to the other guy to solve.

In the United States of America, the multinational corporations who have near total control over US politics just won't allow any change that may effect their bottom line. The US does not have the energy capacity to re-open or build any amount of industrial or manufacturing capability and will therefore continue to develope industry in China, India, Malaysia or any other country willing to let environmental issues remain unresolved.

Too much of the investment world has too much invested in multinationals that any legislation to curb GHG would result in huge losses in the stock markets and therefore almost everyone's pension funds and nobody wants to let that happen.

China and India will both continue to increase industry and manufacturing far beyond their means to be able to control the resulting pollution and GHG emissions. They are reaping the short term rewards of the consumer generation.

Here in Canada, no politician or political party has enough integrity or guts to initiate the legislation needed to effect any substantial cutbacks in GHG emissions. Not even the Greens. Is parliament to blame? Truth is that any political party who puts forth legislation with environmental clout will be voted out the very next election.

Even the David Suziki Foundation, which many consider the leader in environmental awareness is presently talking 25 to 30 year plans to curb GHG emissions. Sustainability Within a Generation Very good report, if we have a full generation left to achieve sustainability. Here is a sample of the report:

Sustainability Within a Generation

In Canada, over-consumption is the root cause of our environmental woes. As the North American Commission for Environmental Cooperation points out, our “prevailing emphasis on consumption – with high levels of waste, energy use, and greenhouse gas emissions – jeopardizes the capacity of natural resources and systems to support future generations.” Consumption in this context refers not only to the energy and resources consumed by individual Canadians but encompasses the use of energy and resources by the entire industrial economy. Most Canadians see only the tip of the iceberg of the resources consumed to supply the goods and services required by current lifestyles. We are largely blind to the industrial activities that consume vast amounts of resources and cause extensive environmental damage.

A detailed assessment of total energy and resource consumption in the U.S. revealed that the American economy uses approximately 85,000 kilograms of resources per person annually. Since Canadian and American consumption is similar, this works out to 232 kilograms of materials per Canadian each day, or the equivalent of about 45 full shopping bags per person, per day. Lifetime statistics for the consumption of energy and resources by the average Canadian are equally mind-boggling, as the average Canadian will, in his/ her lifetime:

  • use 125,000,000 litres of water;
  • consume the equivalent of 600,000 cubic metres of natural gas, 1,100,000 kilograms of coal, or 575,000 litres of crude oil;
  • travel 700,000 kilometres in motor vehicles which is equivalent to traveling around the world at the equator 17.5 times;
  • generate 40,000 kilograms of garbage;
  • produce 1,300,000 kilograms of greenhouse gases;
  • emit 7,000 kilograms of sulphur dioxides, and 5,000 kilograms of nitrogen oxides; and
  • use more than 7,000 kilograms of pesticides and fertilizers.

These staggering statistics indicate the extent to which current generations of Canadians are living beyond their means and having a disproportionate environmental impact. … in order to reduce our consumption of resources, we must reverse the path of several centuries when prices, policies, and governments encouraged exploitation, over-use, and waste of natural resources. .....Read Full Report (pdf File)

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