Whenever a topic of controversy comes up during mutual exchanges among adults, one on which we would not express our views or opinions, whether it be politics or racism, we more often than not sidestep the subject by mumbling some rhetorical or feeble excuse. “Political correctness” will only take us so far, at which point in time, the elephant in the room can no longer be swept under the carpet or pussyfooted around. The time has come for Man to address and act swiftly on the subject of climate change.
Two years ago the Union of Concerned Scientists revisited the manifesto published twenty-five years earlier in which they had expressed serious concerns about humanity pushing the world’s ecosystems beyond their capacity to support the web of life. In this column, (Second Warning, SN 15/11/17), their earlier well documented concerns and their pleas for cuts in greenhouse gas emissions and fossil fuels, and an urgent “change in our stewardship of the Earth and the life on it is required, if vast human misery is to be avoided” were duly noted.
The subject of climate change is heating up again (no pun intended), not that it ever cooled off, thanks to the sterling efforts of a teenage environmental activist, Greta Thunberg. On 23rd September, the sixteen year old Swede addressed the UN’s Climate Action Summit in New York City where she launched a scathing attack on world leaders. Thunberg confronted the leaders on their lack of action despite the scientific evidence on hand and their thinking that “this [problem] can be solved with just ‘business as usual’ and some technical solutions? With today’s emission levels, that remaining CO2 budget will be entirely gone within 8 ½ years.”
Thunberg’s tongue lashing (indeed, it was a tongue lashing) culminated with the stinging observations that, “You are failing us. But the young people are starting to understand your betrayal. The eyes of all future generations are upon you. And if you choose to fail us, I say: We will never forgive you.
“We will not let you walk away with this. Right here, right now is where we draw the line. The world is waking up. And change is coming, whether you like it or not.”
The gauntlet was thrown down. Like a lawyer trying to defend an obviously guilty murderer, the critics and the non-believers of climate change have cowardly resorted to attacking Thunberg advocating that she return to school where she has been leading weekly strikes on “Fridays For Future” since August 2018 in protest over climate change. They have accused her parents of manipulating her to lead this action and have even gone as far as to question her mental health and her appearance.
Shooting the messenger will not resolve the problem. The persons who have been elected or appointed to, or attained positions of leadership have to function in that role. Adopting a myopic approach or passing the buck on to the next person in office or paying lip service or avoiding the issue all together will not suffice. Climate change demands immediate action from world leaders. Signing off on the Paris Accord is only the beginning, real action has got to be taken and tough decisions will have to be made.
Recent overtopping of the seawall is a stark remainder to us here that we are not exempt from climate change and should be prompting us to ask what are the long term effects of offshore oil drilling on the environment and climate change?
Two years ago the Union of Concerned Scientists had warned that time was running out and “soon it will be too late to shift away from our failing trajectory.”
What will be Man’s Legacy to Thunberg’s generation and those to follow? Will our leaders grasp the mantle with both hands and take the bold steps to deal with the escalating problem of climate change?
