a big, gigantic, serious, weighty, substantial report was released today in paris wherein it was reported that global warming is:
a-real
and
b-the result of human activities
and
c-not such a good thing.
the big news, however, is that the bush administration is actually, slowly, tentatively acknowledging that global warming might be:
a-real
and
b-the result of human activities
and
c-not such a good thing.
so that’s a plus.
what can we do?
well…very little?
lobby governments and politicians and industry to sign on to the kyoto protocol?
stop subsidising old and outdated industries that create and/or rely on fossil fuels?
stop subsidising animal production(a huge source of greenhouse gases)?
but the sad truth is that we’re not really going to do much, because:
a-it would require effort(and we’re all pretty busy)
and
b-it would mean giving up a lot of the things that we like(cars, for a start)
and
c-it would force governments and industries to do things differently.
so, what do we do?
i know that i’m an opinionated loudmouth, but i have no idea.
divest our real estate portfolios of coastal real estate?
think twice before moving to a european ski resort?
get some hurricane insurance while they still offer it?
ok, those are selfish things.
the truth is that with india and china(over 2 billion people)becoming affluent and industrialized we’re basically screwed.
suppose we buy eco-friendly lightbulbs and take public transportation.
great.
but what about the 2 billion indians and chinese who are understandably rushing out to buy cars and lawnmowers and airplanes and etc?
can we ask them not to?
wouldn’t they just say, ‘hold on. you’ve done nothing but make and drive gas guzzlers for 100 years and now you’re telling us not to? isn’t that like a leopard advocating vegetarianism?’
we are, as i said, screwed.
to somehow attenuate global warming it would require a global effort the likes of which the planet has never seen.
it would be great. we would end our reliance upon oil. end our dependance upon animal products. stop subsidising old and inefficient industries. and so on.
but, not to be too pessimistic, will any of this happen?
i dunno…doubtful?
which isn’t to say that we shouldn’t try. but i have a feeling that the phrase ‘far too little, far too late’ will become the mantra by which future generations curse us.
i don’t mean to be such a bummer, and i really do hope that i’m wrong.
i hope that we all come together as citizens and politicians and consumers and turn back the tide of global warming.
but thus far there’s nothing suggesting that this will happen. which is sad.
oh, happy groundhog day.
i do love rodent related holidays, like squirrel-sunday, mole-ee’n and rats-mas.
-moby