Like thousands of countless other habitats in the hundreds of millions of years before it. From the planet's perspective, this is like worrying about running over ants while driving to work.
The planet is fine. We're fucked.
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Feel free to reply to any comment by clicking the "Reply" button.We are making progress. But is it fast enough ?.I read book recently on climate change written in 2006 and the author was bemoaning the fact that in the UK we only produce 2% of our electricity from renewable resources. Earlier this year it up to 40% and for a week none was produced from coal powered stations.
My hope is that those lunatics don't try any of those mad geoengineering projects that are being talked about. The results could be disasterous.
Moravian
Level 8
May 11, 2019
0
My entire point is that from a planetary perspective, climate change is inconsequential. If we're speeding it up, even significantly, we're only harming oursleves - not the planet. And even if we usher in the extinction of other species 20,000 years sooner, in the 4.5 billion year planetary timeline, that is scarcely a millisecond. Our focus is purely selfish, it isn't concern for the planet. The planet will easily survive us; hell, it survived an impact by another planet the size of Mars, if scientists who study such things are to be believed.
Just looking at the bigger picture from the standpoint of the planet. We haven't even been in existence long enough to even register yet. We are literally one of the ants that gets run over during the daily commute to work; inconsequential and here for the briefest of moments. So we take a few other ants with us a millisecond sooner - why would that matter in the planet's 4.5 billion year history so far? It will be around for at least as long again after our species is extinct. Just ask the dinosaurs and millions of other species that have already been erased. And the planet is till here, just fine.
@Piratefish I think I can understand why we are being selfish. Our continued existance on earth depends on it.
@Moravian I just don't like how we try to dress it up as concern for our planet.
Yes i take your point. Are maybe some people so self centred that they think that they and the planet are synonymous.
As an ecology/environmental scientist I must disagree.
Yes we're ignoring many signs -
-the dying old trees in the Carolinas
-the dying coral reefs
-the shocking warming of the Northern Canada/Alaska range, and the melting of the Arctic; which could be ice-free in summers within 10 years.
For every 1 city that has a record cold day (yes, they still happen) 1.74 cities suffer record warm days.
We are ignoring these things..
But there's good things happening;
- We're slowing our growth. The population still is growing - but it's slowed down from a peak rate about 3 decades ago. We're predicted to reach 10-11 billion and ZPG by the end of this century.
- Alternative energy is making big moves....wind is closing in on hydro power. EV's are taking off. Solar panels are becoming solar shingles.
- Nature stewardship is growing. Not as fast as many of us would like...but it is making progress world wide.
I'm optimistic. I think we'll turn the corner. I don't think we're f.....d.
see this fabulous link for info on population growth;
Source:
Robecology
Level 9
May 10, 2019
1
As a scientist, then surely you are aware that climate change has been occurring for hundreds of millions of years, and has wiped out countless species and habitats over the eons. Even if we're speeding up the latest climate shift by a few thousand years, that's barely a millisecond in the planet's 4.5 billion-year lifetime. Hardly of consequence. And humankind has only been capable of significant climate impact for about 200 years.
My point is still valid. The planet will be just fine and will continue on for billions more years after we're gone. We're the ones who are only going to last for the blink of a geological eye.
By the way, I'm curious. Your bio states that you're a retired teacher, not a scientist. So which is it?
@Piratefish I'm not a professional, paid scientist. But anyone who applies the scientific method, and demands facts and evidence, is behaving scientifically. Being a scientist isn't necessarily a paid position. It's a way of life.
@Robecology Then, by that definition, I am also a scientist. My Online credibility just went up exponentially.
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