WiLD Blog

California Governator, Arnold Schwarzenegger and five other regional leaders along with two Canadian provincial leaders pledged to enforce a tough regional cap on carbon emissions. They aim to cut emissions by 15% of the 2005 level in 13 years.

While it’s great to hear that some states are stepping up to the challenge the fact remains that nothing like this is being done on a national level. The current administration has been dragging its feet for too long and only now as we stand on the precipice of global climate change are officials beginning to realize the scope of the problem. California officials were more than justified in calling out the administration’s unwillingness to enact a national level program to cut greenhouse gases. Some states see the clear and present danger and are taking the steps to address the problem while some still drag their feet.

Other states need to step up as well and stop catering to business interests. In particular an article in the LA Times notes that “Nevada has advertised itself as a haven for businesses fleeing California” because environmental regulations are stricter in California. While economic values and interests should have a place in state government, the effects of global warming could eclipse whatever monetary gains some states might gain.

The states need to be united in their stance in the fight against global climate change and it’s a fight that’s spreading to other countries as well too. Canada’s participation and the Mexican state of Sonora’s consideration to join the effort speaks volumes on how global warming is truly a global problem and it requires, as the Governator aptly put it, global solutions.

Besides, we are part of the United States of America. It’s about time we doing some uniting to address global warming.

Calvin Lee

Good news and bad news. Lets get the bad news out of the way first:

Satellite images showed that the amount of Artic sea ice was at it’s lowest ever on record and the melting is still continuing. The measurements showed that the ice dropped from 2.05 to 2.02 million miles. This melting is further evidence of the global warming trend. Polar regions are more of a concern because they are more sensitive to global climate change than more temperate areas. This trend of rapid melting is exceeding what computer models predicted. At the current rate a complete summer melt could happen by 2030.

The World Bank has been involved in efforts to stop the deforestation of Congo’s tropical forests. Deforestation is the second leading human contributor to global warming. Congo issued a moratorium on new logging contracts in 2002 and in support the World Bank says on its website that its private credit organization, the International Finance Corporation (IFC), “has no client in the field of forests in the DRC (Democratic Republic of Congo).”

However on the financial end, the World Bank actually has investments in Olam International. Olam International was one of three owners of two cargo ships that were discovered to have underreported the amount of timber from the rain forests. Since then, the IFC has reduced its investment in Olam International. Groups such as Greenpeace have been calling on the IFC to divest its interest in Olam.

Now for some good news:

Democrats in the House are moving to spend as much as $6.7 million dollars to combat global warming, a 33% increase from previous fiscal years. This increase will most likely lead to a showdown between Congress and the White House, whose proposal calls for a meager 3% increase in spending.

Support of the increased spending isn’t limited to Democrats, as Republicans are also on board to spend more money to fund research and projects that will reduce air pollution and carbon emissions. Environmentalists are welcoming the increased funding but are also calling for more pollution regulation.

The House passed an energy bill that will require most utilities to produce 15 percent of electricity from renewable sources, such as solar and wind power. The House also passed a bill to repeal around $16 billion in tax breaks for the oil industry. Some of the money would go towards research grants and renewable fuel projects in the energy bill.

So there’s a bit of good news and a bit of bad news.

Unfortunately it seems like the good news is a little too late. We’re beginning to see more and more extreme weather events (flooding in various parts of the world, etc.). Yet at the same time we cannot stop or control the activities that we know are contributing to global warming. We know the problem, we know the consequences and we know the solutions. It’s a matter of putting them into action and action is needed now.

 Calvin Lee

Okay, we all know about global warming. We’ve all heard about the extreme weather. We’ve seen the hybrid car commercials on TV. We’ve heard about the Live Earth concerts. We’ve changed our light bulbs, turned off the lights when we leave the room, etc. But honestly… do you care?

A day before the Live Earth concerts, a poll showed that 56% of people in the UK believed that there is no scientific consensus that human beings are causing climate change. More people felt that dog messes and litter were bigger problems than the destruction of our planet. That same day, Michael McCarthy, the environmental editor of a British newspaper, wrote an article on why we shouldn’t be shocked by public apathy, by bringing up the differences between activists and citizens.

The greenhouse effect (graphic by NACC/USGCP)

“Activists are on top of the agenda, hyper-aware of problems and issues, and because they mainly talk to other activists, they think everyone sees the world the way they do. But most people don’t. Most citizens, most ordinary people, are not idealists, never mind activists; their main concerns are naturally self-regarding. Thus polls tell us they care most about their income, and then about their health, and then about the education of their children.”

“It is not evil, or even lamentable; it is the human condition. If people seem unconcerned at the greatest threat to their well being of all, it is for a simple reason: money, health and schools are now, but global warming takes place in the future.”

All of us here at WiLDCOAST can be considered activists. We are passionate about protecting and preserving the coast and wildlife. We read the news and blog about the environmental degradation going on, we work with and educate people, and we fight hard to protect the things important to us. But we understand that not everyone agrees with us, we understand that people don’t know or haven’t seen the things we have and we understand that everyone has different priorities. Not everyone is as passionate about the environment as we are. When is the last time you’ve heard a question about the environment at a presidential candidate debate? It’s because people have other, more immediate concerns about their lives.

Graph showing increase in economic losses due to weather related events (source UNEP)

To me, that’s why the Live Earth concerts are so important and why the work we do is so important. We need to raise the issues, we need to generate the discussions, we need to get the people thinking and looking at not only their own lives, but also the lives of other people and of the environment. Even if you’re not extremely passionate about the environment there are still ways you can help. Education is key here, the more you know, the better educated and aware you become of your actions and the actions of others. From there you can take action.

Taking action isn’t all about angry protests and carrying signs. There’s more to action than being loud and verbal. Take action by being responsible for your actions. Make the effort to reduce your carbon emissions, support make the educated choices to be more environmental friendly and conscious. Taking action also means generating discussion and educating others. Be willing to listen and discuss. Some wise advice I got from a friend once was to avoid discussions that generate more heat than light. Just helping others become aware of their impact on their environment is a step in the right direction.

McCarthy observed that: “… by the time most ordinary people see their own vital interests are indeed threatened, it may be too late.”

Lets make sure it’s not too late.

-Calvin Lee