Scientists used to hope that we could cap the global temperature rise at 1.5 degrees Celsius.
Even at that level, the potential consequences could be catastrophic. Even 1.5 C could lead to disastrous climate shifts, entire ecosystems collapsing, weather patterns twisting out of control and the mass death of many, many species.
Keeping global warming under 1.5 degrees was the goal for a while, but due to general apathy on the part of world leaders and a focus on profit rather than proactive and preventative measures, we’re on track to overshoot it by miles.
We’re already looking at 1.8 on the most optimistic scale. Some scientists, in the grips of despair, think we could hit 2.6 by the end of the century — particularly since global temperatures are rising faster than anticipated and we already sit at the precipice of several major climate tipping points.
And with certain leaders actively destroying environmental regulations aimed at curbing Climate Change and slowing the rate of destruction, it’s not looking good.
Don't Look Up: Trump is Desperate To Hide Ocean Warming
I’ve spoken before about Climate Tipping Points.
For an example of what this looks like in reality, don’t think of an overly hot summer day. Think of the killer heatwaves that left hundreds dead across Europe this summer.
Think of the flash flooding in Nepal right now, and the roughly 1,300 people who have been confirmed dead so far. Thousands more are still missing, and entire communities have been left cut off from outside help.
Think of the wildfires tearing through multiple countries, including my own, wiping communities off the map and killing people, pets, and wildlife.
That’s what Climate Change looks like right now. We haven’t even hit 1.5 consistently, yet.
We’re not talking about mild discomfort. We’re talking about mass death. We’re talking about famine, disease, resource wars, dehydration, natural disasters, and mass migration as entire regions of the world are left completely uninhabitable.
This is not me trying to paint a dystopian hellscape out of a non-issue. This is me telling you the facts in the hopes that people take this shit seriously.
Pressure your leaders. Talk to the experts, listen to what they say.
It’s not a matter of recycling and turning your house lights off when you leave for the day — although that last one doesn’t hurt. On the individual level, our efforts are a drop in the bucket. Enough drops might fill the bucket a quarter of the way if we all work together, sure, but that’s not enough.
Because the other three quarters of the bucket aren’t in our control. That’s the governments of the world, that’s the corporate industries running hog wild with emmissions and pollutions in the name of profit.
That’s an Externality that we all have to pay for.
There’s no amount of individual actions that will fix this, because even if we all change our ways overnight, the polluting industries will shoot us over the line all on their own.
We’re heading for disaster. We can’t stop it by making changes in our personal lives, so we have to target the most significant causes now.
We need more regulations, not less. We need our governments and leaders to make real, sustained efforts to break from fossil fuels and clean up our environment. We need real, enforceable laws that amount to more than a fine and a light slap on the wrist for the people poisoning us, and the world we live in.
We need real change.
Otherwise, we’re totally screwed.
Solidarity wins.