The Florida Keys reef is dissolving, drought and record temperatures fuel wildfires that burn Ft. McMurray, Alberta, Canada to the ground, scientists are discussing the rising risk of wildfires in Alaska, 93 percent of the Great Barrier Reef is now bleached, five of the Solomon Islands have sunk due to rising sea levels, and Miami Beach is making decisive moves to protect the city from destruction. These are not cataclysmic events in an apocalyptic future. They are not plot lines from a new sci-fi trilogy. They are real headlines, pulled from reliable, credible sources, over the past month. This is happening now. It is the present. And it should scare the hell out of you.
The current administration of The United States has acknowledged the negative effects of climate change, and has put an initiative in place to help combat this growing threat to our species’ survival. However, public opinion continues to remain skeptical and out of touch with what factual science has proven over and over about climate change: “…rigorous scientific research demonstrates that the greenhouse gases emitted by human activities are the primary driver." Nowhere in these studies do scientists deny climate change is a natural occurrence – a common misnomer fed to the public by climate deniers. But they do show, with great detail and supporting data, that compared to historical eras of climate adjustment, the current cycle has been escalated by human activities. And humankind may not be able to evolve quickly enough to keep pace with these changes – unless we act now.
The phrase “The squeaky wheel gets the grease” has never been more readily identifiable. The loudest and most influential voices continue to insist that you believe the inaccuracies parroted by politicians rather than the data collected over decades of study. Studies performed by those clearly trained in scientific theory, well versed in how to apply the scientific method, and without ties to the industries currently suspected of exacerbating climate change.
Last year, Pope Francis stated that “…climate change is a problem which can no longer be left to a future generation. When it comes to the care of our common home, we are living at a critical moment of history.” He’s correct. This issue has grown beyond the ability to “put it off” or wait for others to come up with solutions. The time is now. The generation is us.
What we do see is small, local pockets of activity aimed at stemming the tide of climate fueled disasters – like Miami Beach’s push to install bigger pumps, better storm drains, and higher streets. What we don’t see is a collective agreement that this is something we need to address sooner, rather than later. Our “leaders” still bicker over the validity of climate change while the polar ice caps disappear at an alarming rate, and sea levels quickly encroach on coastal cities that are home to millions.
A recent NPR article touches on University of Miami’s climate modeling expert Ben Kirtman’s work with other Florida scientists to convince Florida Governor Rick Scott that the time to acknowledge climate change is now. So far their efforts have fallen flat. But Kirtman, who has not given up hope that change can happen before it’s too late, states he’s “quite optimistic that there'll be a Miami Beach 50 years, 100 years from now. But we need to set aside the political nonsense about the debate about whether climate change is happening and embrace our problem and start developing comprehensive strategies." More voices such as Mr. Kirtman’s need to be heard. More citizens need to speak, often and loudly, about our concerns.
Procrastination is sometimes far too tempting – especially when the scope of the problem is so intricately intertwined with our species’ survival. But the longer we put off the need to make changes, the harder it will be, and the less likely we are of realizing a positive outcome. We’ve reached the point where it is no longer acceptable for our right to enjoy a continued existence to be held hostage by the rigid, closed minds of politicians with little to no scientific training. Gambling on an “idea” that may result in the extinction of our species is never going to be okay. If it takes a little work between global governments and a bit more involvement on a public scale, to ensure there’s a livable planet here for the next generation, then that is the logical direction in which we should be moving. Any argument to the contrary is absurd and dangerous.
Sinking islands, record temperatures, severe drought, out of control wildfires, massive storm fronts dropping record rain and spawning numerous, destructive tornadoes: this is the new normal. And never has it been more clear that, as a species – regardless of religious ideologies, or beliefs, and despite our cultural or political differences – we need to band together against the continued denials of climate change and demand solutions. It is time to wrest the title of squeaky wheel away from those who would let our voices rust, and insist on some grease of our own. The time is now.
