Recently my wife Fran and I made a trip out west to see our family – Dan and his family in Edmonton, Alberta and Suzanne and her family in Comox, BC. We went by train from Ottawa to Edmonton and then by car (yes, one of those fossil fuel dinosaurs) and a ferry to Comox.
The two sites visited could not have been more different. In Alberta we were in the fossil-fuelled heartland of Canada. In Comox BC we were in the agricultural, free-wheeling experimental zone of Canada. During our visit a growing climate crisis was raging in North America. Five hundred wildfires were burning in Canada sending waves of smoke everywhere, including down to the USA. A heat dome of up to 48 degrees Centigrade was occurring in Texas. The fossil fuel industry was charging ahead by plastifying everything they could.
We are all entering uncharted territory. Many past procedures will no longer apply. The environmental crisis is coming. In fact, it is already here. Extreme flexibility will be needed in the future. A new philosophy and action are needed. This was reflected by many persons whom we met, especially on the train between Ottawa and Edmonton. For example, we saw a young man reading the book, “The Ministry of the Future”. It describes a world after the climate crisis has hit India with a severe heat wave, killing millions. Fran asked why the young are not reading the classics anymore? The answer. Because for them, those classics are becoming less relevant as we move into a new era.
There seem to be at least three reactions as we experience our present situation:
1. “Yes, the environment is changing, but what can a single person do about it? I’ll make some small changes, but I will basically continue on with my life as usual” This is the common reaction of most people.
2. “This is mainly a hoax, not worth taking seriously. The findings of the IPCC (Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change) can be ignored.” These climate deniers represent a diminishing group.
3. “Yes, it’s real. Let’s sit down and discuss it and see what we can do.” During our trip we met quite a few people like this. They seem to be part of a growing number.
So, what can we do?
First, a little humility is required. What I can do personally will not change the direction of history. However, there are still valid reasons for doing what we can.
1. We will soon see how difficult and complicated it is to adapt to climate change. We will learn how trapped we are by the comfort and convenience in which we live.
2. If one speaks about the climate crisis, people will hardly listen if you are not matching your words with actions.
3. Pursuing the actions needed is one of the best mental therapies that I know of.
So then, let us proceed as best we can to adapt to the change that is coming. Here are some guidelines.
1. “Hope is a verb". It is often said that we must “’have hope” amid all that is happening. However, I am convinced that hope in this case is not a noun, but a verb. Having hope is impossible if we continue to live “normally”, by neglecting the environmental crisis. Hope is a verb. Hope, to be meaningful must be evidenced and exercised by action. Then we can “be hopeful“ by doing hopeful, peaceful actions.
2. Immerse yourself in nature as often as you can. The best is unmanaged, untouched nature. Love nature, protect nature, mourn nature. It is nature, of which we are ourselves part of, that is being threatened.
3. Search for meaning in it all. Victor Frankl lost all his family in the Holocaust. For him, the search for happiness did not meet his needs. Happiness is a wonderful state to be in, but it is the result of a deeper meaning. Search for meaning as you carry on. Your own meaning will sustain you.
Finally, there are many hopeful, technical, personal things that we can do.
- Cut down on fossil-fuel airplane travel. Airplane travel now produces 12% of global CO2 emissions.
- Eat vegetarian. It takes about 3 kg. of grains to create 1 kg. of meat. Worldwide vegetarians would reduce the need to clearcut forests in order to grow more grains for cattle.
- Convert rapidly to renewable energy sources (i.e., solar and wind power). Renewable energy sources can dramatically reduce the need for CO2 -producing fossil fuels.
- Move rapidly to electric vehicle transportation. This, accompanied by mass transit, bicycles and more walking can lead to the rapid reduction in fossil-fuel driven transportation.
- Travel by bicycles whenever possible. They reduce parking problems, promote physical exercise, do not pollute the air, lower vehicle circulation problems and reduce transportation costs.
- Stop harmful single-use plastification of packaging materials. Instead use glass and paper containers as well as reusable containers.
Finally, all the above measures (and many more) will not save us. There are simply too many people on this planet, consuming too much and throwing their wastes (including CO2 and CH4 ) into the environment. Since we cannot suddenly reduce our numbers, we simply need to consume less. This will mean reducing world inequality. Right now, in war-torn and poor countries, malnutrition is a tragic reality, while many in our affluent societies are overeating. Our wealth is stealing the world’s water and multiple resources.
How can we change all of this? We all need to pressure the world’s corporations and governments to act now.
So, there you have it. Nobody said it was going to be easy. However, as difficult as it is, doing nothing will lead to results that will be even harder to endure.
The Rebellious Seeker, Ottawa, July 4, 2023
No comments:
Post a Comment