Climate change, it isn’t just about the weather

A Minnesota lake by my home, ice free on 12/29/2023

It’s such a cliche, talking about the weather whenever there seems to be a lack of topics to discuss. But those of us who have lived many decades in Minnesota just can’t seem to stop talking about the weather from this past winter. Christmas came and went, snow free and temperatures relatively pleasant for winter here. But then it carried on, no snow, unseasonably warm weather, trees budding ahead of schedule. Yet there’s more to it than just an topsy-turvy weather report just about every day. Here in the upper Midwest, winter activities are welcomed with open arms, as well as a source of income for many. It was sad to walk by the local outdoor hockey rink with no ice save for a couple of weeks. And ice fishing tournaments and events got cancelled left and right, my son-in-law and grandsons not very happy campers. And this was the scenario in other states that count on snow and cold in the winter months to provide skiing, snowmobiling and other winter activities.

In a broader sense, the imbalances in our climate affect many other aspects of life here. In the midst of wildfires, record rainfall, and patterns of storms that seem to play out over and over, this touches our homes, our lives we have created in places we love, and cultural ways also.

Another sector of life here on Earth being affected by climate change is agriculture. I’ve taken great notice of certain foods that have gone up in price when I grocery shop. When I research the reasons for these food prices soaring, it often harks back to some weather event that either ruined a crop or is throwing a wrench in the continued production of whatever food item it may be.

And some places on Earth are dealing with water supplies that are drying up or becoming unusable due to increased salinity, factors that can be traced back to the effects of climate change. This also ties into water that is needed for agriculture, once more a factor that increases our food prices and availability.

So what to do? How do we right the imbalances that are playing out in our climate? There are some actions of adaptation that can and are being put into place, but those actions are really just a kind of bandaid. And talk of geoengineering schemes seems to be the quick fix so we can carry on with life as we know it. But that’s the problem, life as we know it needs to change. The continued use of fossil fuels, agriculture being practiced as it has been for decades, deforestation, these and other ways of being will need to be revised if we want a more pleasant, abundant, and healthy world to live in.

The importance of frozen regions

I recently read a good book, entitled A World Without Ice by Henry Pollack. The subject matter was just as the title says, imagining a world without ice due to the fast and furious melting of the Earth’s polar regions. Will it come to that, a world without ice?

It’s hard to say if our world will come to that, even with the predictive abilities of advanced climate modeling. It has happened before on Earth, a time of no frozen regions like we have now. But this occurred many thousands, even millions of years ago. And the difference between those eras of ice age shifting to ice free is the evolution of those changes took place very slowly and without any human influence. But now we see a rapid change in the polar regions that is artificially taking place, not the slower natural course it would normally be.

For most of us who live many miles from the poles, those frozen places seem quite inert and not a concern. But as I learned from this book, the Arctic and Antarctic regions play a very important and significant role in the balance of life of Earth in a healthy way for all of us, not just humans either. Those important polar effects range from how our climate is all over the Earth, to the way that ocean currents are meant to help balance things, to the important balance and flow of our atmosphere.

So maybe it’s time for us humans to wake up and pay more attention to the extreme importance of ice at the poles, because a world without ice would be a world we don’t want to or maybe could not even inhabit.

A winter scene in Minnesota

It’s an uphill climb, but we can do this!

Now that we have come to accept the reality that is climate change, what are we going to do about it? The general concensus from climate scientists is that we need to urgently start cutting our carbon emissions, that adding any more “fuel to the fire” that is global warming will end up creating a world that is near catastrophic – as if it doesn’t feel like that right now. And it is agreed upon that the most effective way of cutting those carbon emissions is changing our energy sources from fossil fuels to renewable energy sources.

Yes, in light of our ways of life that are very dependent on these fossil fuel ways, it will require massive changes in the way we live. It almost seems like a Herculean task, reconfiguring so many ways of life, that we might ask, can it even be done?

I’d have to say yes, this absolutely can be done, even though it may seem like an uphill climb. As humans we are blessed with the gift of intelligence that has allowed us to live and prosper and advance since the days of the first human life on Earth.

Just think about all the advances made by people in the 20th century. Things like automobiles, telephones, electricity available for everyone, modern day appliances, computers – the list goes on and on! But I can say with confidence that some of those changes that we now take for granted as conveniences of everyday life were not met with great enthusiasm, despite making our lives so much better in so many ways. I recall reading a book about the early days of the automobile, and the idea of cars taking the place of horse and buggy seemed far fetched and not so well received! But wiser heads prevailed and these days the thought of a world with horse drawn transportation only sounds quite terrible and inefficient.

So here we are at a crossroads of change, and this time it is not so much a change for the betterment of our daily lives but rather a change to keep our planet habitable for humans. The truth is that the Earth itself will make it through even if we keep on, business as usual, the fossil fuel ways. And the writing really is on the wall, if we don’t start to make the change from fossil fuels to renewable energy sources, this world just might see the sixth extinction and that extinction will be the human species.

Weather, not just about our personal comfort

If you’re like most people, you check the daily weather and maybe even days beyond, to determine a personal level of comfort. You probably think about what to wear, what activities might be best, how to navigate your life so it feels the very best.

But the weather which is a day to day aspect, and the climate which is a long term aspect of weather, are ways of being on this planet that are not just about seeing to our personal comforts. The weather and climate affect the water sources we use, the food we eat, the places that we choose to live.

As climate change becomes more and more devastating we are seeing how what once was a concern only for our individual selves now must shift to a concern for the global community.

In regard to our precious water supply, there are many who are finding a lack of water due to droughts that are carrying on year after year. There are also those whose supply of what was once clean, safe water are finding that sea level rise is contaminating their water sources, making them unusable. And as far as sea level rise, this devastating effect of climate change is forcing many to look ahead to the sad possibility of finding new places to live.

And of course the weather is so important to agriculture, to the ability to grow food and provide what is absolutely essential for the human body to function. We often take for granted how important the weather and climate are for those farming the land and providing our food. It’s far too easy to make our way to the grocery store and all that we need is right there. But with the changes ensuing that are climate change, it becomes apparent that we need to be aware of how to make changes in agriculture that will assure our food sources are always there for us.

Recently a new bill has been introduced, the Inflation Reduction Act, which includes provisions for working on climate change and how to both adapt and mitigate. This important act of legislation is what we so desperately need to turn things around and get things back in balance. The longer we sit on the fence and do nothing, the worse it gets – and sadly far too many are living out the worst of it in tragic ways.

So the best way to help in all of this is to write or call your state senators, and ask for their support of this newest bill that is on the table. And it’s so easy!! Just go to the website senate.gov and click on where it says “senators” and then in the drop down box click on the “contact” tab. Then find your state and the officials to contact will come up, along with the contact information. We need to take action with our voices being heard, and as important as individual actions are well we really need the support and policies in place that come from our governments. Let’s step up and work together to make our world a much healthier and happier place.

Crystal Springs Rhododendron Garden, Oregon

Comparative suffering, hard to avoid these days

I recently read an article from highlysensitiverefuge.com that talked about the trap that many highly sensitive individuals may fall into, comparative suffering. This is when we compare our trials and tribulations with those of others. Sometimes it may lead to judgments, such as oh I’ve got it so much worse than you. But for the sensitive soul it may lead to guilt, feeling that the suffering one is going through is not valid or worthy of our attention. And yes, I’ve found myself in that guilt strewn place at times, not validating my own pain.

But lately I can’t help but feel that anything adverse I may be going through is so minimal compared to what others are experiencing due to climate change. Day after day I see the images of the wildfires burning much of Europe to ash, or hoards of people at the beaches in Britain as temperatures rise to extremes that have never been felt before. Our world is being destroyed right before our eyes. So how can I not compare any suffering I have to what so many are going through in such difficult ways?

And I wonder, when are we going to really start doing something about this? I do see changes that have come about, companies making strides to reduce their carbon output, individuals speaking out and imploring us to make the changes needed to avoid catastrophe. There is reason for hope.

But we truly need more, we need our leaders in government to put legislation in place that demands the fulfillment of promises and actions to get our carbon emissions done to zero. And as individuals we take the time to find those leaders who will do this and we vote them into office. So do your part and vote!!

As I get older, I see the writing on the wall for the remainder of my lifetime, learning to adapt to what is our world now of much warmer and so uncertain weather wise. Even with the lessening of carbon emissions, the carbon in the atmosphere at present time will take years to burn off, a gradual process. But let’s not forget those to follow, our kids and grandkids and beyond, that we work to leave them a much better place to live.

pretty trees in Portland along the Willamette River

Out west, climate change extremes play out

California wildfire/ credit CCO Public Domain

Rainy view of Seattle/ credit MyNorthwest.com

There’s no question about it any longer, climate change is upon us, rearing its big ugly head. And it seems that the west coast of the United States is experiencing the effects from one end of the spectrum to the other.

As summer kicks in, extreme drought persists, and the wildfires that now seem to be year round rather than seasonal have come with a vengeance. And California seems to be taking the brunt of this.

But moving north from California up the west coast, a different weather pattern is playing out. Record amounts of rainfall have been recorded in the Pacific Northwest, from Oregon to British Columbia. And it only looks to intensify, as a recent report of an atmopheric river of moisture is settling in over already rain soaked regions.

This is what climate change is now, patterns of extremes, in frequency and intensity. Yes, the Earth in its life thus far has had many eras of what we could call climate change. But they have occurred over very long periods of time, rather than the short span of our present day climate change, only since the mid 1800’s and the Industrial Revolution.

So once again we need to decide, will we let these extreme weather events become our new normal? We have the ideas, innovations and solutions to stop what seems to be a runaway train. Let’s all do our part in the ways we live and even better, let’s make our voices and concerns heard as we elect officials who will address an extremely important issue. Let’s focus and work on taking care of our beautiful home and all the inhabitants now and those to follow.

Forest Park, Portland, Oregon

Climate change, not meant to be back page news

It is hard to ignore the horrific conflict taking place in the Ukraine, and news in regard to what’s happening there certainly deserves front page status. But in the midst of all the atrocities that have sadly transpired, that we need to be made aware of, a recent report from the IPCC (Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change) tells us that we had better start addressing the issue of climate change before it’s too late.

Yes, there is still time to take actions that will get us to zero carbon and help the Earth recover, making this planet still livable for humans. The message from the IPCC is not one of hopelessness but rather of the urgency needed while we can still make a difference.

But today I read a bit of a sobering article from USA Today, listing five “tipping points” in regard to climate change that could herald a point of no return if not addressed.

1. Amazon rainforest: Because of extensive deforestation, this area of the world could very likely become a savanna environment. The loss of the rainforest would be devastating for so many reasons, upsetting ecological balances in a number of ways.
2. Coral reefs: These ocean dwellers are extremely sensitive to warming, which causes them to bleach and die. Coral reefs are important for both the health and well being of the oceans, as well as protection of the coasts for human life.
3. Ice sheets: The ice sheets in the Antarctic and Greenland have been melting at unprecendented rates, which if left unchecked could result in sea level rise that would be catastrophic for those living in coastal regions.
4. Atlantic Ocean circulation: The system that is the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation keeps our Earthly climates in a state of comfortable balance. An imbalance in the AMOC would result in drastic weather patterns and climate changes.
5. Boreal forests: The boreal forests of the Northern Hemisphere have been rapidly disappearing due to increased droughts, leading to more forest fires, as well as an increase in bark beetles due to warming. These forests are a huge carbon sink for the Earth that if gone, would result in massive amounts of CO2 being released that otherwise would be sequestered in the trees

As always, there are many ways for us as individuals to reduce our carbon footprint and make a difference. But the big changes need to come from our governments as well as businesses that are connected to climate change in many facets. We can shout out to our elected officials as well as supporting businesses that are going in a more Earth friendly direction. Remember, it is not too late to change for the better, to reverse climate change and live in a place that is healthy and happy for all who call this our home.

Forest Park, Portland, Oregon

Is geoengineering the answer? Maybe not such a great idea

Credit: Mann & Kump, Dire Predictions: Understanding Climate Change, 2^nd Edition
© 2015 Pearson Education, Inc.

There’s no denying it any longer, we are in the midst of human induced climate change. Sadly there are many who are experiencing the terrible adverse effects of this change in our air, water and land. There may still be some who dispute the human driven aspect of these changes, but the proof is out there, pretty undeniable at this point.

So what to do? We certainly need to do something but not just anything either. As we work to mitigate this issue the ideas of geoengineering our way out of this mess come to light. These are solutions that might be giant mirrors in space, cloud seeding, iron seeding our oceans, or even growing trees in desert landscapes.

But the problem with these solutions is that once more we are messing with the natural balance of Earth and nature. And isn’t that what got us into this predicament in the first place? Our constant use of fossil fuels has rendered nature out of balance, to the place that a “business as usual” way of life would result in possibly no life for many species, humans included.

On the surface these well thought out geoengineering plans look like a way out of the climate change mess. But even with good ideas and intentions, maybe down the road not so good.

Take the growing of trees in the desert for example. We know that trees are a wonderful way to capture and hold carbon, natural carbon sinks that would clear so much CO2 out of the atmosphere. Problem is, adding trees to a desert landscape changes the color of that landscape. The darkness of many trees absorbing more sunlight would result in more heat absorbed. So even though the trees capture more carbon, there is the side effect of perhaps more heat on the land from the trees rather than the desert landscape reflecting more of that heat. We would be interfering with the very color of our Earth that is designed in a way to be balanced and healthy.

We need ideas, solutions and actions to take in response to climate change, while we still have a fighting chance – and we do! But I fear that too many of the geoengineering schemes are like putting a bandaid over the wound, without doing the healing that will result in really making a difference.

Ocean appreciation

the Oregon coast

Every morning when I have my coffee, I am treated to a splendid view of the lake near my home. I live in the “land of 10,000 lakes” as Minnesota is often called, and living in close proximity to a lake is a dream come true.

morning coffee view

But since I started taking an online course through edX entitled “One Planet, One Ocean”, I have come to think more about the bodies of water that are the various oceans. Oceans make up 71% of the Earth’s surface, and affect all of us in ways that perhaps we don’t even realize.

I enjoy eating seafood, but I’ll admit I don’t give a thought to how it was obtained or where it came from. Sadly there are many issues of overfishing as well as illegal fishing practices. I intend to pay more attention to the seafood I buy, reading labels and making an effort to support healthy fishing practices.

Then there is the crucial role that the oceans play in our climate, our weather systems, and in general working to maintain a healthy balance between atmosphere, land and water. The specifics of how the oceans operate in this way are complex and I won’t try to explain, I am a beginning learner in all of this myself. But one can find plenty of information out there in this regard, and I feel it really brings home the fact that oceans play a critical role in the health and well being of planet Earth.

And I’ve been made aware of how many cultures and nations are ocean dependent, from ways of economics to ways of life. A lack of respect for the oceans becomes a lack of respect for those ocean based peoples. Time to think outside of ourselves.

Plain and simple too, the oceans and the life within are magnificent! I was fortunate enough to travel to the Oregon coast a number of times when I lived in Portland, an easy hour and a half drive to marvel in all that massive water. The joy and beauty that we find in our oceans is also an important reason to think of those waters, and what can we do to help, even if we are hundreds of miles from the coast? Perhaps take some time dear reader, to search out ways to support that health and well being of our lovely oceans.

sea anemone

Get to know the Sustainable Development Goals, or SDGs: A global plan for a better world

There are 17 of them, goals decided on by the United Nations, shared with the world in 2015. They are goals for the whole of humanity, to combat and wipe away poverty, hunger, injustice, environmental issues and a host of other concerns in order to bring about a way of life for all that is so much better.

I discovered them as my interest and concern regarding climate change has opened up, and goal # 13 is titled Climate Action. But all of these goals are equally important, one not having more need to be achieved than another. In fact they were designed to work as an integrated unit, one goal connected with and influencing other goals. The UN goal for these SDGs is that “development must balance social, economic and environmental sustainability.”

It may seem like a daunting task to achieve any of these goals in our world these days, where does one start? But within each goal is are subclasses, targets to shoot for so the work to be done does not seem so overwhelming. And it would be a good thing for more people to know about and read about these important issues to be addressed. Here is a link to the SDG website: https://sdgs.un.org

It seems as though the major events in our current world such as the pandemic, diversity issues, economics and climate change, have taken on a global aspect. It is time for us to think outside of our little boxes of self and immediate community, and realize how very connected we all are in a global sense. It’s time to care about all of humanity and the world around us.