I continue to be struck by the environmental challenges facing planet earth. With signs of increasing public awareness about the deepening climate crisis, it is gratifying to sense a noticeable shift taking place in my own and others’ behaviour. For instance, I see more and more people supporting recycling programs, choosing Energy Star appliances, and driving fuel efficient cars. And we change our light bulbs! Yet is it enough?

At best, such actions represent well-intentioned but relatively modest gestures when viewed in relation to the major sources of carbon dioxide that humans influence.  Compounding the situation are the conflicting messages, increased costs and lack of feedback on the contribution of such initiatives. Still, these individual decisions to address global warming are essential demonstrations of the commitment to do whatever can be done to make a difference. Even if it is not enough, it is something. But what else might we do?

To help sort out what I might do, I have been reflecting on the dynamics underlying the choices that we make in deciding to act or not act when confronted by such big messy challenges. It seems that, for the most part, we rely on our experience as the source of our understanding and, in turn, our decisions. Thus, the educational efforts of environmental leaders do make a difference. For example, “An Inconvenient Truth”, the Oscar-winning documentary by Al Gore, and public service announcements featuring authorities like David Suzuki have helped shift our awareness about the seriousness and urgency of the situation we face.  

Another facet of how learning is shaping our behaviour can be seen in the school curriculum. Thankfully, children today study environmental matters and receive much more accurate and up-to-date information than did many of their parents or grandparents. Over a decade or two, this knowledge will hopefully alter the baseline understanding of necessary and beneficial environmental choices.

While we as individuals may argue that we did not consciously choose to pollute our water, create acid rain, deplete our agricultural land, clearcut our rain forests, wreck the ozone layer or cause global warming and likewise, individual actions alone will note resolve the problems. Rather, the challenge today is mobilizing urgent action at the corporate, national and international levels—before the mean global temperature reaches a point that triggers unstoppable warming or other catastrophic consequences. Failure to do this soon will cause untold problems such rising sea levels, massive migration, extreme weather, desertification, widespread famine, accelerated species extinction.... and ultimately put at risk the future of life on earth.  

More tomorrow....

Written by eldering at Wisdom in Action

Tagged with: al_gore an_inconvenient_truth carbon_dioxide david_suzuki environment learning

By Rick Fullerton | Bio

In church this weekend, I made a public announcement about the International Day of Climate Action on October 24, a global initiative to develop grassroots support for substantial agreement when world leaders meet in Copenhagen this December. At stake is nothing less than the future of life on planet earth. As of this morning, there were more than 3,500 events planned in a total of 161 countries. For more information or to join a group or announce your event, check out the official Day of Climate Action website.

The issue, of course, has to do with the concentration of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere and the consequences for warming of the earth. The science is clear: 350 parts per million (ppm) is now recognized as the level at which the earth’s ecosystems can sustain life over the long term. Concentrations above that level produce reinforcing feedback loops so that the warming becomes unstoppable. Evidence of this is already observable as the loss of the polar ice cap and receding glaciers means more of the sun’s rays are absorbed by the earth and oceans, thus increasing temperatures. And in case you are counting, the current concentration of CO2 is 387.

None of this will be new to inquiring readers: global warming has been with us, at least in the background conversation, for many years. The challenge now is that the canaries among us—the Sierra Club, the green movement, the environmental scientists, and leading authors—are often drowned out by other voices. The result is that we have made significant progress in raising awareness of the small personal changes that are required. For example, improvements in recycling and energy conservation do make a difference. Yet in real terms, it is much like rearranging the deck chairs on the Titanic. The scale and urgency of the challenge also demands more significant change.

Elizabeth May, leader of the Green Party of Canada, says we must do more than change our light bulbs. We must also change our leaders. In saying this, she is not referring only to our elected officials (although that is certainly an important choice we all can influence). But we must also look to other leaders in many domains of our life. For example, in the world of business, we can choose to support those corporations that demonstrate social and environmental responsibility—an important dimension of which needs to be accountability to the local communities where they operate. Similarly, we are now seeing a significant growth in eating local, a trend that will hopefully reverse the trend of agri-business and declining family farms. Another possibility that holds promise is the rise in sustainable energy sources, such as wind and solar.

While it is important to reflect on our choice about whom we follow, it is also critical to remember that we also are leaders in our own right. We are contributors to the global warming conversation, whether we acknowledge it or not.

What we say or do not say does matter, perhaps more than we ever know. And what we listen for is equally powerful, since it is in our listening that we can draw others to contribute their creativity and commitment to confronting this challenge.

After church today, I was pleased to talk with quite a few people—from seniors to pre-schoolers—including some individuals I had never met before. It was striking how many shared my concern for global warming and very obvious that naming the issue and declaring my commitment did make a difference. Indeed, it may be the only way things change.

Written by eldering at Wisdom in Action

Tagged with: 350 carbon_dioxide climate_action future global_warming leadership