Warming of the world’s oceans. More intense cyclones in the Asian Pacific. More intense hurricanes in the Gulf of Mexico and Atlantic Ocean. Extreme terrestrial heat, drought, and rainfall. Record mountain snow accumulations. Glaciers in Greenland and Europe melting at extreme rates. Glaciers disappearing in North America. Ocean acidification and drastic changes starting to appear in major ocean circulation patterns.

These are all happening. Are these major disruptions simply local anomalies or are they a sign that Earth’s climate and environment is changing? If changing, is this just a normal, long-term cycle in Earth’s geological evolution or are human activities causing and increasing the speed and severity?

These are the questions that scientists, politicians, and ordinary citizens are wrestling with around the world. The answers seem to depend on whether one believes in science or not, or if one has vested interests in maintaining the status quo.

The majority of scientists are documenting conclusive evidence that the earth’s climate is definitely changing to the detriment of the environment. The data shows the earth’s climate changes accelerated after the industrial revolution that started over 150 years ago. That was when the need for fuels that could produce more heat needed to produce iron and all the other metals that were required to build everything that has made human living conditions better.

Maybe the biggest driver was the invention of all our modes of transportation coupled with the development of fossil fuels. That started with trains and has progressed to automobiles, airplanes, and all other modes of moving around that require non-human power. The rapid proliferation of these pushed further the need for industrial manufacturing which in turn, further increased fossil fuels demand and has resulted in massive increases in all types of pollution.

Additionally, natural gas is burned to heat and air-condition homes, commercial buildings, and other gas-burning appliances, and to generate electricity. These emit enormous amounts of carbon dioxide and other polluting gasses. Now scientists have discovered large amounts of methane is being released from the artic tundra as it melts from the warming of the atmosphere.

This doesn’t even address the detrimental effects of all the other chemicals that have been developed from fossil fuels like pesticides, plastics, and myriad other products that pollute our environment. Add in deforestation of tropical rainforests, increasingly intense large wildfires, and the occasional volcanic eruption and it seems disaster is inevitable.

So what, if anything, should or can be done to slow what appears to be a disastrous outcome, and by who?

The United States is one of the major contributors in creating changes caused by pollution, but the country’s leaders can’t seem to agree there is even a problem. So many of them don’t believe the science or are willing to ignore it to maintain their position in government. Or worse, derive their wealth from the fossil fuel industry. And the fossil fuel industry itself has been lying and ignoring the problems they create to keep their investors happy.

So now I guess it is up to individual citizens, investors, and industry leaders who care about the future to stand up and speak out. The marketplace is already having an effect with the development of non-polluting alternate fuel sources that allow the electrification of things that formerly were powered by burning fossil fuels. The latest United States administration is trying to support this effort, and the recent legislation is helping, but more is needed if the effects of climate change are to be mitigated. Additionally scientific education has to be bolstered so more people will understand what is happening and increase trust in the science.

After the second world war, this country placed an emphasis on science education and the resulting effects have been astounding for improving everyday living. Unfortunately, one major negative unintended consequence was the exploitation of fossil fuels. For some reason a great many people these past few years have either not learned about science or have simply chosen to not believe it. Now this revolution needs to occur again and the naysayers made to understand the negative effects of their positions.

Below are the two quotes I have posted on my blog that are important to be believed for civilization to continue and thrive.

“Science is true whether you believe it or not.” – Neil DeGrasse Tyson

“Man is the only animal that destroys his environment.” – Jane Goodall

Will mankind see the light and make major changes to slow the inevitable, or keep its head in the sand and continue to destroy what is left of the environment that is necessary for survival?

Only time will tell, but there isn’t much time left to make the right choice.

Ken Kaiyala
6-4-2023