Because I am a contrary person, I always check for what we might be missing. In my opinion we should give thanks for bad news, because bad news is a warning, telling us how we might avoid trouble.
I was a chemistry teacher long ago, so I know some bad news. Svante Arrhenius: a Nobel prize-winning physical chemist, back in 1896 told us about the Greenhouse Effect resulting from carbon dioxide in the air, which he thought wasn't so bad because it would prevent the next ice age. But he realized that if we kept burning coal, we would not only keep things comfortably warm, we would eventually cook the planet. Give thanks for Arrhenius who got us thinking about this.
Martin Hoffert, an Exxon scientist, back in 1982 found evidence for human caused climate change and accurately predicted the trouble we are facing now. When Exxon discounted his findings because the corporation was all about making money, not avoiding trouble, he said that their denial of the evidence was immoral and left in disgust to continue work as an academic. Give thanks for scientists and teachers who have told us bad news so we could work to make things better.
Global carbon dioxide emissions from combustion continue at a rate that cannot be reversed by natural systems. The last time CO2 was at the current level was three million years ago. Back then the average global temperature was 2.5 to 4 degrees warmer than in 1900, and sea level was an estimated 3 to 27 metres higher. The target we have set for emissions is net zero if we want to keep warming to 1.5°C. We have little time left to fix this, estimated at six months to six years. Do we have a plan? How do we, individually and collectively get to net zero?
More bad news. Here is a taste of the future.
Canadian wildfires in 2023 produced 647 million tonnes of atmospheric carbon emissions, almost four times the emissions from global aviation. 2024 was not as bad, but pretty bad if you lived in Jasper. Insured losses in Jasper are estimated at 700 million dollars. We are warned that if this level of wildfire continues, the boreal forests will become a net source of atmospheric carbon dioxide rather than a carbon sink.
Storms are getting more destructive and more frequent because of the increase in temperature which stores more energy in the ocean and atmosphere. Recently hurricane Helene caused an estimated 47 billion dollars property damage and 230 deaths. Hurricane Milton produced between 30 and 60 billion dollars damage and 17 deaths (as of October 12). Milton caused fewer deaths partly because people had seen what Helene did and got out of the way. Now the warnings are about a future where there is no safe place to which we can run.
Give thanks for bad news and look for ways to make things better.
Canadian wildfires in 2023 produced 647 million tonnes of atmospheric carbon emissions, almost four times the emissions from global aviation. 2024 was not as bad, but pretty bad if you lived in Jasper. Insured losses in Jasper are estimated at 700 million dollars. We are warned that if this level of wildfire continues, the boreal forests will become a net source of atmospheric carbon dioxide rather than a carbon sink.
Storms are getting more destructive and more frequent because of the increase in temperature which stores more energy in the ocean and atmosphere. Recently hurricane Helene caused an estimated 47 billion dollars property damage and 230 deaths. Hurricane Milton produced between 30 and 60 billion dollars damage and 17 deaths (as of October 12). Milton caused fewer deaths partly because people had seen what Helene did and got out of the way. Now the warnings are about a future where there is no safe place to which we can run.
Give thanks for bad news and look for ways to make things better.
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Neighbourhoods Fighting Climate Change: Philip Drost, CBC News, October 12, 2024
Neighbourhoods Fighting Climate Change: Philip Drost, CBC News, October 12, 2024
Voting in a Time of Climate Chaos: David Suzuki and Ian Hanington, October 8, 2024
Climate and Carbon Dioxide: NOAA ( U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration)
How to Stop Oil and Gas Industry Misinformation: David Suzuki Foundation
Climate and Biodiversity Solutions: David Suzuki and Ian Hanington
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