Luke Hamann
11/20/19
Climate Consequences
A recent headline that has filled newsstands and Twitter feeds has been something like “Venice is Underwater” or “California is On Fire”. While both of these are alarming statements that prompt thoughts and prayers from onlookers and well wishers, they double as indicators that climate change is no longer just speculation. Real consequences have begun to appear and people are dealing with them in real time. Venice and California are not the only victims of the fluctuating climate stemming from a global temperature increase. All around the world, things are happening that we may or may not be aware of. Regardless of our ignorance, there are entire civilizations that are having to rethink how they live and plan to survive the undoubtedly tumultuous decades to come. Interest groups have bought leadership in government and put out false information that naive members of the public will continue to promote. The silent billionaires put money in the pockets of those that further their economic interests and ensure that economic policy does not infringe on their business. However, the Earth continues to warm as a result of our emissions and countless other wasteful byproducts of our creations. Everywhere we turn, there are reminders of what we have done to the planet and the urgency that must be used when we talk about and try to mend our misuse of resources.
The highest water levels in the last 50 years are threatening the homes of hundreds of thousands that reside in Venice, Italy. Not only that, but priceless buildings and works of art are also within the water’s grasp. St. Mark’s Square, Basilica and crypts are all dealing with flooding on a scale that hasn’t been seen since it’s construction hundreds of years ago. Subsequently, injuries and deaths have resulted from the high water mark. Namely, one man was electrocuted when he encountered live wires in a place that had previously been above water (BBC). Ironically, this comes during the same year that Italy mandated for climate change education to be taught in school (the first country to do this). Does this mean that the only way to convince the public of the severity of this crisis is through natural disasters? We better hope not. We are already far behind where we need to be with regards to temperature benchmarks and ecosystem destruction. It may seem like these consequences are far fetched and intangible, but there are symptoms evident all around us that are becoming a greater risk as each year passes.
California is currently experiencing the most extreme dry periods and fire seasons on record. Fifteen of the twenty largest fires in the history of the state have occurred since the year 2000. This is no coincidence. The global temperature increase plays with the weather patterns that keep all ecosystems on Earth at an equilibrium. In California’s case, this means dry periods that can last years. California has warmed more than the global average in recent years (Borunda). Homes have been destroyed due to deadly wildfires and animals have resorted to roam farther than they are accustomed to in order to find water and food. Rivers have dried and lakes have receded dramatically. This process results in habitat destruction, reduced future prospects of new growth, and endangerment of human residences. It does not just affect one species or one population. All are involved and this chain reaction will only worsen with time. Yet again, we can see where our future is headed. This isn’t some far off country or a consequence that we can’t actually feel. These are real flames headed towards real communities of people that have nowhere to go. While these are risks that have already claimed hundreds of lives and millions of acres, it is very different from the kind of danger that is facing remote island nations across the world.
The country of Tuvalu is one of the most remote and unknown places on the planet. A British Commonwealth island chain located in the South Pacific, Tuvalu is at risk of losing it’s entire landmass to rising sea levels. From more sporadic and aggressive tropical storms to higher tides, the people of Tuvalu have already restructured their society based on these factors. Abandoning their oceanfront homes, they have been forced to live communally in town-hall-esque structures that are the only constructed places that can support the population. Although the island is inhabited by just over 11,000 people, we must keep in perspective what this means to them (Roy, Gallagher). The majority of these people have never left the island and never plan to. If storm surges and tides make living on Tuvalu impossible, these people will be stranded with one air strip to get them out. Not only that, but assimilation into safer territories will be shocking to all involved. Tuvalu isn’t the only victim of such circumstances. Throughout the ocean, people live with little to no outside contact. Many have never seen white people before. Climate change puts these places and people at risk and there is no real way to get the warning out to all that should heed it.
The biggest struggle that the climate crisis has faced is a lack of cooperation and understanding by the international public. Although we are seeing steps taken to combat this (mandated education and lobbying for policy change), it is all happening at too slow of a pace. We can keep asking ourselves what will happen if we fail to respond, or we can simply look around us to find the answer. Near and far, things are changing that are far too powerful to be combated with modern tech or crafty workarounds. It is imperative that we draw attention to these events and categorize them as climate catastrophes by way of the climate crisis. If we continue to do this, phony evidence used to dissuade the public from believing such things exist will disintegrate. Clearly, there are things happening that would not occur without our fossil fuels and wasteful habits that have gone on for a few decades too long. When the fight or flight response kicks in, lawmakers will have no choice but to concede and put in place measures to save whatever land and resources we have left. Policy making is the only surefire way of making some sort of substantial change. When left to their own devices, people will procrastinate their contributions until the problem is, quite literally, in their own backyard. One can only hope that the increased media presence and access that we all have will work with the climate crisis effort to gain popular support and activism.
Works Cited
- “Venice Floods: Climate Change behind Highest Tide in 50 Years, Says Mayor.” BBC News, BBC, 13 Nov. 2019, http://www.bbc.com/news/amp/world-europe-50401308.
- Borunda , Alejandra. Climate Change Is Contributing to California's Fires. National Geographic, 25 Oct. 2019, https://www.google.com/amp/s/relay.nationalgeographic.com/proxy/distribution/public/amp/science/2019/10/climate-change-california-power-outage.
- Roy, Eleanor Ainge, and Sean Gallagher. “'One Day We'll Disappear': Tuvalu's Sinking Islands | Eleanor Ainge Roy.” The Guardian, Guardian News and Media, 16 May 2019, https://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2019/may/16/one-day-disappear-tuvalu-sinking-islands-rising-seas-climate-change.