The vessel planet Earth we are now aboard is not only the biggest of all time;
it is the only one. Our future and everything we have accomplished will depend on the wisdom of our actions toward climate over the next few years. If not we will reach tripping point that will dramatically change and alter the atmospheric, geologic, hydrologic, biospheric systems and cycles.
PERCEPTION
“Is it global warming or just the weather?” Most people don’t think about global temperatures but local ones. However, extremes have a profound impact on people. Awareness of links between climate change and the local weather thus makes sense in both science and public understanding.
‘ OUGHT TO ‘ REASONING
Climate change is an abstract and very slow world wide phenomenon. The whole of the interacting and entangled processes is unimaginable complicated and not totally understood yet. The effects of solutions are not immediate and palpable. Results and improvements in environmental conditions will like wise be a slow process.
Maybe therefore the ‘ought to’ reasoning is generally used to frame most of the climate and sustainability solutions:
- You ought to recycle.
- You ought to drive less.
- You ought to adjust your thermostat.
It is most questionable -in terms of acceptance and awareness- if it sounds like a good reason to do something.
COSTS AND RETURN OF INVESTMENT
And last but not least:
The costs of solutions, mitigation and adaptations.
Money, being as a universal measurement of value, is embedded in our social and economical structure. Investments are driven be ‘return of investment’.
This brings us by the question: What is the value of our climate and environment?
It seems that it only can be measured in in terms of financial losses and costs.
For example:
- The decreased profitability of food productions due to flooding, draughts.
- Increased costs of healthcare due to air pollution or lack of drinking water and sanitation.
