Into the anthropocene?
Into the Anthropocene: are we heading for climate catastrophe?
By Philippa West.
In July 2019, global temperature records were broken in several countries, including peaks of 38.7 degrees in the UK and more than 40 degrees in Paris and Belgium. Temperatures for the month were 1.2C above pre-industrial levels. Heatwaves pose a significant risk to human health among vulnerable communities, as can be seen in mortality spikes following sustained periods of elevated temperatures.
In 2015, at the Paris climate talks, the world’s governments reached a historic agreement to limit global warming to 1.5°C above the pre-industrial average. According to a recent report by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, temperature increases greater than 1.5C risk triggering climatic destabilisation whilst those higher than 2C make such events more probable.
There is a growing consensus that existing climate models are underestimating – and possibly under reporting – the velocity and potential impacts of global warming.
Consider the data. As reported in New Scientist, June 2019, Greenland’s ice sheet is melting at record speed. Runaway carbon emissions coupled with escalating ice melt, could lead to major sea level rises by the end of the century. According to the New Scientist’s May 2019 edition, methane emissions, a major contributor to global warming – are approaching their highest level since the 1980’s.
The term Anthropocene is increasingly used by earth scientists to describe a new epoch in geological history reflecting the profound changes humans are making to Earth’s natural systems. Humans currently exploit 72% of the planet’s usable surface to support the growing population – projected to reach around 9 billion by the middle of this century. Biodiversity loss is escalating – we are exterminating species at an unprecedented rate – what some have termed the sixth mass extinction.
Portrayed in some media outlets as dystopian fantasists, climate activists like Extinction Rebellion are campaigning for radical solutions now. These would entail a reduction of global carbon emissions to net zero by 2025. Additional measures would include cohesive action by governmental agencies, a focus on sustainable transport, enhanced investment in renewables – a reduction in meat eating – and recognition that the Earth is in climate and ecological crisis.
Significant funding – both public and private – is channelled towards the study of climate change, with the World Bank pledging to allocate $50 billion between 2021-2025. Is it heresy to suggest that some of these entities may have their own agenda for under reporting potential future catastrophe? It can be a comfortable life, flying to global conferences – staying in air-conditioned hotels – and being ferried by taxi to discuss climate change – carbon emissions to be offset accordingly. The UN’s previous environment chief – travelling 529 out of 668 audited days and spending $488,518 in the process – did not set a good precedent. It’s time to demand enhanced accountability on the part of governments, corporations and environmental agencies.
At the recent COP24 Climate Summit, the UN’s Secretary General António Guterres acknowledged that “we are still not doing enough, nor moving fast enough, to prevent irreversible and catastrophic climate disruption.” Renowned British environmentalist David Attenborough – also in attendance – concluded his address to world leaders with the following statement: “The continuation of our civilisations and the natural world upon which we depend, is in your hands.”
The consequences of climate change go beyond extreme weather events such as flooding, droughts, and heat stress – and could include social disruption on a potentially massive scale. Without urgent climate action now, humanity may be hurtling towards a precarious future.
(Writing by Philippa West. Photos byVincent West and Eloy Alonso; )