107
Energy use, as discussed in Chap. 2, underpins every climate change story.
Generating and using increasing amounts of the energy required to maintain the
consumption/production status quo is directly linked to a network of complex environmental issues slowly playing out in the ecosphere (US EPA 2016). Attachment to
habits are the root cause of increased energy consumption. In order to avoid modifying behavior born out of ideas of what we want, need, and deserve, now and in the
future, some engage in endless debate to stall action (Oreskes and Conway 2011).
While we wait, mean global temperatures continue to rise.
For those who wish to stall, what is said in these opposing narratives is not as
important as how it is said in order to keep the debate going. If there are a hundred
steps needed to effectively address the actual crisis, the debate functions to keep a
long pause on the first step. While everyone is frozen, arguing the fundamentals,
concerted large-scale action is impossible. Democratically elected governments
wait, hedge bets for political and short-term economic reasons, and stall. Agencies,
tasked with studying the problem further, make incremental policy changes and
write regulations that may or may not be enforceable. Effective action to address
this problem is hindered, while the fundamental cause of the problem is endlessly
debated. Despite the majority of international scientists reporting overwhelming
evidence to support the view that human activity is causing global temperature to
rise, the debate continues.
Although gradual and incremental, sea-level rise may be the most visible of all
the effects, as higher seas directly impact coastal cities. Buildings and entire regions,
flooded or washed away by ever-costlier storms, make headlines. Rather than spurring action to address root causes, threats from large storm surges mobilize governments who have the means to “harden” infrastructure with steel and concrete
barriers against hurricane force winds and waves. Wealthy nations fund resiliency
initiatives to protect life and property in vulnerable areas where they have economic
or political interest all over the world.
Other effects, while even less evident, are no less real and even more dangerous
to life on earth. Subtle but irreversible changes to the chemical composition of the
same seawater that inundates shore communities have farther-reaching implications. These subtle changes extend beyond the shore to the air we breathe and the
soil we depend on to feed ourselves. They affect everyone, not only coastal dwellers. No matter how high up or how far inland we move from flood-prone cities, we
still need clean air, potable water, and healthy food to live.
6.2.1 The False Debate over Fundamental Causes
of Climate Change
Some people, with the potential to influence policy decisions, do not or will not
believe human activity has any significant impact on the overall environment. Some
may acknowledge the connection between the two but will not act. Many of the
6.2 Climate Change Story
Energy use, as discussed in Chap. 2, underpins every climate change story.
Generating and using increasing amounts of the energy required to maintain the
consumption/production status quo is directly linked to a network of complex environmental issues slowly playing out in the ecosphere (US EPA 2016). Attachment to
habits are the root cause of increased energy consumption. In order to avoid modifying behavior born out of ideas of what we want, need, and deserve, now and in the
future, some engage in endless debate to stall action (Oreskes and Conway 2011).
While we wait, mean global temperatures continue to rise.
For those who wish to stall, what is said in these opposing narratives is not as
important as how it is said in order to keep the debate going. If there are a hundred
steps needed to effectively address the actual crisis, the debate functions to keep a
long pause on the first step. While everyone is frozen, arguing the fundamentals,
concerted large-scale action is impossible. Democratically elected governments
wait, hedge bets for political and short-term economic reasons, and stall. Agencies,
tasked with studying the problem further, make incremental policy changes and
write regulations that may or may not be enforceable. Effective action to address
this problem is hindered, while the fundamental cause of the problem is endlessly
debated. Despite the majority of international scientists reporting overwhelming
evidence to support the view that human activity is causing global temperature to
rise, the debate continues.
Although gradual and incremental, sea-level rise may be the most visible of all
the effects, as higher seas directly impact coastal cities. Buildings and entire regions,
flooded or washed away by ever-costlier storms, make headlines. Rather than spurring action to address root causes, threats from large storm surges mobilize governments who have the means to “harden” infrastructure with steel and concrete
barriers against hurricane force winds and waves. Wealthy nations fund resiliency
initiatives to protect life and property in vulnerable areas where they have economic
or political interest all over the world.
Other effects, while even less evident, are no less real and even more dangerous
to life on earth. Subtle but irreversible changes to the chemical composition of the
same seawater that inundates shore communities have farther-reaching implications. These subtle changes extend beyond the shore to the air we breathe and the
soil we depend on to feed ourselves. They affect everyone, not only coastal dwellers. No matter how high up or how far inland we move from flood-prone cities, we
still need clean air, potable water, and healthy food to live.
6.2.1 The False Debate over Fundamental Causes
of Climate Change
Some people, with the potential to influence policy decisions, do not or will not
believe human activity has any significant impact on the overall environment. Some
may acknowledge the connection between the two but will not act. Many of the
6.2 Climate Change Story