Global Climate Change and Other Non-environmentalist Thoughts

Last weekend I had a long conversation with a good friend of mine. He's done a lot of work recently investigating the effects of climate change on some of the small central and south Pacific islands.

His idea, or at least my interpretation of his idea, is that global climate change should not be presented as an environmental issue. Environmental issues bring with them the stigma of people munching granola with long hair and sandels. They also bring with them an idea that "the environment" is separate from the world that people inhabit. It's something you visit on weekends when you go for a walk, or in august when you drag the wife + kids to Yellowstone.

Environmental issues also set up a built in opposition. Let's say the issue is protecting the rain forest. In posing the issue as "humans must protect the rain forest" , you are artificially separating yourself from what you are protecting: the rain forest. It becomes easier to then argue the issue as humans versus (insert environmental issue here). It becomes human economic growth versus rain forests. Or it might be logging jobs versus old growth forests. It's habitat versus humanity.

If you argue global climate change as a human issue, it becomes harder to separate oneself from the problem. First of all, what is global climate change? Essentially, the global temperature has been rising steadily over the last century. This temperature increase, based on incredibly thorough modeling and testing, can be traced to human causes. Most of the uncertainty is related to the impacts and mechanisms of climate change. We know that atmospheric carbon dixoide is increasing from human sources. We know that this can lead to a warming of surface temperatatures, but it's more difficult to determine exactly how and to what degree. For a more detailed information see the US Environmental Protection Agency, the US National Climate Data Center , or the UK's Hadley Center among many other organizations.

So, why should this not be presented as an environmental problem? Well, I firmly believe that the only way the United States will change is when businesses decide it is in their best interest to consider climate change important. Why would they? Well, fundamentally, climate change is an energy problem. Fossil fuel consumption is one of the greatest contributors to the carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. If businesses decide that is in their best interest to reduce the amount of energy they use, which I believe it is, then this country can begin to turn around. Alternative efficient engines can be produced. Businesses will take into account commuting time and public transportation when they consider their location, rather than just land cost. Most importantly, they will lobby congress and the president and make it an issue. GE has led the way. Hopefully other businesses will soon follow.

So, what about the personal view? As consumers, we have to make businesses and government know that climate change is a problem that affects us. It's a symptom of the way humans view the world. Everything we do impacts not only "the rainforest", or islands in the south pacific, but our home town. Long commutes not only release carbon dioxide, they emit other pollutions that are a health threat. Using excess plastic or paper causes pollution both at it's production and filling up extra space in a landfill. Little decisions we make matter.

So, my challenge to my blog readers: Add something..one thing to your life to make a difference. Pick up a bike and ride to work if that's possible. Bring a reusable bag to the grocery store. Turn down that plastic bag for an item you buy in the store when you don't really need it. Drive your SUV off of a cliff and buy a hybrid. At the very least, think about the impact of the decisions you make. And please, comment with any suggestions or choices you have made. Global climate change: it's not just for environmentalists any more.