I had some idea of the precarious state of our climate, but reading Wallace-Wells’ article “The Uninhabitable Earth” altered my perception once more. I have tried to be optimistic about the current climate situation, but after reading this week’s readings I feel an urgency for action and change because it finally dawned on me how serious climate change really is. If we do not do anything now, there will be dire consequences, and soon.
According to Wallace-Wells, the Earth will warm by four degrees Celsius if we stay on our current course without changing anything. This will bring a host of problems, some of which are already beginning to take form. Droughts, fires, food shortages, rising sea levels, and of course an increase in temperatures are just a few changes that we have already been witness to. Our goal is not to go over two degrees Celsius of warming. Yet, if we could limit it to an increase of 1.5 degrees instead, some of the negative effects that come with temperature increase would be lessened. For example, the global mean sea level would be about 0.1 meter lower at an increase of 1.5 degrees versus 2 degrees. Also, species loss and extinction would both be less at 1.5 degrees. This is not to say, however, that an increase of 1.5 degrees is great. There would still be terrible results from this rise in global temperature; it is simply that the consequences would be less severe than a 2 degree increase.
When we took the quiz in class that revealed how many Earths would be needed to sustain our current lifestyle habits if everyone lived like we did, I was shocked at how high mine was. I always thought I lived an environmentally conscious life, yet I realize I need to make more of an effort to do so. According to Wallace-Wells, if people do not change their lifestyles, many parts of Earth will become close to uninhabitable. I, as well as others, need to take a look at how our own individual actions could make a difference in saving our planet.
Climate Crew 