It is randomly intriguing how one life can link many lives together, in this case, it was Fergie our dog. It is that connection that we all have to one another that makes everyday full of possibilities. Hope Jahren is an ardent lover of the Chesapeake Bay Retriever, America’s first purebred dog. Her expertise on the breed and her caring heart has made Fergie, our OSR mascot, a much healthier and happier gal and along the way Hope has become a good friend. With much thanks and gratitude, OSR is posting Hope’s response to a recent post titled, Wyatt on Carbon Footprints.
Hope Writes….
Dear Fergie,
The environment! Now there’s a topic that brings out strong feelings
in everyone. It’s an issue that involves values, lifestyle, the
choices we make as individuals and the choices we make as groups (for
example, as a voting or governing body). As a scientist who has
worked on this problem for 15+ years, I can give you the highlights of
what I am concerned with …
#1. The amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere is increasing
dramatically. This is a simple fact that no one argues about. In
fact, the best measurements come from observatories on Mauna Loa,
right here in Hawaii! Since 1878, carbon dioxide levels have
increased to 130 % of what they were before the advent of the steam
engine, coal-burning factories, power-plants, and yes, automobiles.
People are concerned because one basic fact, that was proven in the
1800s, is that carbon dioxide blocks the transfer of heat. For this
reason, scientists believe that if you increase the amount of carbon
dioxide in the atmosphere, you will increase the temperature we
experience at the Earth’s surface.
#2. The amount of ice on the planet has decreased dramatically since
1878. This is especially true for continental glaciers, and easy to
recognize … tourist photos of Glacier National Park show the steady
retreat of ice over decades. Researchers at Ohio State have been
particularly diligent about measuring and documenting this, all over
North America, South America and Asia. Most scientists believe that
this is an indication of increasing temperatures, and a similar loss
of polar ice has been observed and is being debated.
#3. This is more controversial, but it appears that the average
surface temperature of the Earth is increasing (NASA result) and
catastrophic storms (MIT result) are becoming more frequent. These
results make sense, given an earth with more trapped energy at its
surface.
If you want more information on any of the above, just let me know, I
can point you to libraries of publications describing work done at
Universities and State and Federal institutions (such as NASA, NOAA
and the EPA). As a scientist who has dedicated my career to
environmental observation, I can assure you that there are no
“environmental operatives” out to ruin the economy or the American
lifestyle. Indeed, there is a huge community of scholars working very
hard for very little on these subjects. There are a few reasons why
this matters very much:
#1. About half of the carbon dioxide produced each year comes from
activities in the U.S. These include our use of electricity, our use
of coal, our methods of agriculture, and yes, our use of the
automobile. This means that our choices matter, and that it is
healthy to examine our choices critically and honestly.
What are our values? What are our priorities? Is it our duty to preserve the glaciers in Glacier National Park for the kids that you are helping to raise? Gasoline is burned while driving ambulances to the hospital, but a great deal also burned in order to make sure that 7-11’s stay stocked with candy-bars and cigarettes. Is all the energy used necessary? Do we really need to be able to use energy without restriction in order to feel like our lives are our own? Is there something better that we can build together? All difficult questions, but ones that we are capable of answering, as long as the conversation doesn’t degrade into anger and bullying.
#2. The majority of the Earth’s population (for example, all of China
and India) is now starting down the path of industrialization. These
societies require transportation and goods and services in order to
improve basic human quality of life (for example, most hospitals in
India lack adequate sterilization equipment). The challenge will be:
Can we make other options for development available, beyond the simple
use of fossil fuel? Can we learn from the history of Western
Industrialization?
I’d venture to say that much of the objection to environmental
concerns is actually an expression of personal anger about entirely
different issues (I think you’ve encountered this on your hiking
trails …), but there are a couple of common objections that are
particularly important to address:
#1. “The Earth has known high levels of carbon dioxide before,
greenhouse gases are part of a natural cycle.” Again, teams of
researchers have spent their careers studying the chemical history of
the earth (“geochemistry”) and several things are clear: A. carbon
dioxide levels have not been as high as they are now for at least 1
million years. This time represents a very different Earth, without
ice ages or any of the climate cycles that support the constellation
of species we know today. B. Periods of dramatic change in carbon
dioxide level carry with them dramatic extinctions and major
reorganizations of habitat (the extinction of the dinosaurs, 65
million years ago, is one such example).
#2. “Even the scientists don’t agree about global warming …”
Although there is controversy about the details, scientists as a group
believe that the Earth is changing due to changes in carbon dioxide
levels. Disagreement and controversy is absolutely standard and
healthy within any worthy scientific topic.
What’s more important than what I think, is what you think Fergie!
Take the time to think about all the ways in which you use energy in
your life. What does that usage bring to your life? How do you
prioritize those things? Your choices matter, for personal,
political, and global reasons. YOU matter for all of those reasons.
Keep an open mind, and an open heart, and don’t be drawn into the
anger and fear that people use to react to these issues. You’re
better than that.
Your doting godmama,
Hope Jahren
jahren@hawaii.edu
http://www.jahrenconrad.org/JLABindex.html
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