The current drought in California
points to the tendency in society to ignore warnings about the negative effects
of climate change and ecosystem alteration.
Scientists throughout history have warned humans about the ramifications
of cutting down trees and emitting greenhouse gases long before the effects of
such actions surface. Yet,
society’s responses to scientific advice are consistently slow and changes in
behavior and policies rarely take place before it is nearly too late.
In 1864, George Perkins Marsh
forewarned America about the debilitating effects of logging in his publication
of the book Man and Nature and public
responses to the book proved to be dreadfully slow (Terrie, 86). Based on his studies in the Mediterranean
basin, Marsh stressed trees' ability to control run-off and concluded that
persistent abuse and removal of forests could lead to changes in climate and
the ruining of agricultural productivity (Terrie, 86). Unfortunately, Marsh’s calls were not echoed
until 1872 when Verplanck Colvin published the First Annual Report of the Commissioners of State Parks of the State of
New York (Terrie, 92). By this time,
water levels were already lowering in New York’s economically critical rivers
and canals as a result of logging and forest fires consuming large portions of
the Adirondack forests. In light of these occurrences, logging in the
Adirondacks was still not entirely banned until 1894, 30 years after the
publication of Marsh’s book (Terrie, 102). Despite slow responses, the forests have largely preserved and water levels restored in the
Adirondacks and as a result, delayed movements to protect the region seem negligible. Yet, the Adirondacks along with the rest of the world still remain victims of planetary warming, heat waves, and acid rain, problems that may have been weakened by earlier responses to warnings about climate altering actions.
In 2004, Meehl et al. (2004),
published a study predicting more frequent and longer lasting heat waves in the
21st century and explained that such trends would be exacerbated by
climate change. Two years later,
California experienced a 10-day heat wave that resulted in 650 human deaths, 16,500
cow deaths, and decreases in agriculture and dairy production (Steinhower,
2006). Climate patterns have continued
to align with the predictions of Meehl et al. (2004) as 37 states experienced
record high temperatures in 2010 (National Resources Defense Council). Lastly of course, California is now experiencing
its worst drought in 120 years (Fountain, 2015). Scientists conclude that planetary warming has
surely intensified droughts and subsequent evaporation of water from soils and
reservoirs (Fountain, 2015).
Unfortunately, mandates to conserve water have only been recently
implemented and movements to counter and manage climate change intensified in
California as late as 2013 (State Releases: Preparing California for Extreme
Heat: Guidance and Recommendations).
Similar to responses to lowering water levels in New York State, responses
to warnings about heat waves and drought have been quite slow.
While human-caused climate and
ecosystem alterations in the Adirondacks and in California have proven
devastating and sad, it is difficult to say that such events were unpredictable
or unavoidable. In fact, the concept
that humans could affect climate patterns was introduced as early as 1864 with
the publication of George Marsh’s book. Thus,
what remains truly sad is society’s continuing inability to recognize the
reality and relevance of warnings and predictions made by scientists regarding
climate change. Must it always take 650
deaths, decreased water levels, extreme droughts, and forest fires to raise
awareness of a problem? Sluggish responses to curb climate affecting actions may have managed to save some
aspects of the Adirondacks, but in the absence of earlier, more prompt
responses to climate change, the Adirondacks and the rest of the world are
still suffering from the effects of other human-induced issues like acid rain and planetary warming. Considering human’s were warned of the their
ability to alter the climate 151 years ago by George Perkins Marsh, America, along
with the rest of the world, should be ashamed of their inability to prevent the droughts, heat waves, and acid rain that are ravaging the American landscape today.
Sources:
Fountain, Henry. California Drought Is Worsened by
Global Warming, Scientists Say.
The New York Times. April 1, 2015. Web. Accessed April 12th, 2015.
Meehl, G. A. & Tebaldi, C (2004). More Intense, More Frequent, and Longer Lasting
Heat Waves in the 21st Century. Science, 305 (5686) 994-997.
Terrie, Philip G. Contested Terrain:
A New History of Nature and People in the
Adirondacks. (Ed. A.W. Gilborn,
Ed.). Syracuse, New York: Syracuse University Press, 1997, Print.
This blog post really exposes a lot of solid data that supports the concept that humans know we are polluting the environment yet we do nothing to stop it. We’ve understood the implications of our actions against the environment for over 150 years and yet we haven’t changed practices. One of the big questions I have is why do we continue to destroy the environment when we know what the outcome of our actions?
ReplyDeleteInitially, I answered that question by thinking of humans are efficient and don’t want to change their practices to accommodate the environment. Efficient methods generally produce goods the quickest and help make money. Yet, I don’t believe that’s the whole story. Until recently, people haven’t experienced the effects of global warming. Now, I’d say that because people haven’t experienced the effects of global warming, they can continue their efficient goods producing practices without moral conflict.
Even now that humans realize how they affect the environment, they continue their unsustainable practices. As I look into the future, I wonder if humans will change production practices to sustain the environment or if humans will pollute the environment past the point of no return – where we destroy the environment irreversibly.
Yes, I often wonder the same thing. I think you are absolutely right, in most cases efficiency and convenience come first. Unfortunately more environmentally friendly actions and habits can be less convenient and efficient and more costly. As a result, people are less inclined to change their behaviors. I also think humans are just innately stubborn as well. But yes, I am also wondering if this will change.
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