We're sleeping on climate change

A United Nations panel focused on climate change released reports on the state of the environment and, not surprisingly, found governments are not taking the steps necessary to avoid disaster.

The report states, as a global community, we need to make extensive changes to cut down on carbon emissions in order to keep atmospheric temperatures at a livable level without breaking the bank.

In 15 years, the question will no longer be about what we can do for the future but about how we are going to undo the past. The report states we will be forced to rely on expensive technology that does not exist yet — and very well might not exist in the future — to remove toxic gasses from the air. Instead of looking forward to that gamble, I’d rather cut out many of the toxic gases as we can now so we don’t have to reverse them later.

This is the third report to come out in the last few months concerning climate change.
The other two mentioned in the New York Times also state facts I thought we already knew, like the undeniable connection between the actions of humans and global warming and the increasing danger and frequency of the effects of global warming already being felt.

The report suggests that the most cost-effective way to promote low-carbon energy is to tax carbon-heavy industries that rely on burning coal. This will create an incentive to invest in more climate friendly options, which are now more effective and cheaper than ever.

Changes made to stop, or at least slow, the broiling of our planet will of course cost money. The report finds climate-friendly technologies currently available are becoming increasingly cost-efficient. We can afford to make the changes in the next 15 years that need to be made.

What we can’t afford is to wait any longer and be forced to rely on pipe dream technologies that will be completely out of our price range.

With the increase in natural disasters and the melting Arctic ice, as well as general increase in yearlong temperatures, it seems crazy to me that people are still denying this. Continued ignorance on the subject will result in serious and likely irreversible effects for everyone.

The truth is, sooner or later everyone is going to feel the effects of climate change. If we wait any longer, it’s going to cost a lot more to stop it, if we can at all. Establishing global and government-instituted changes is the most cost-effective solution for now and could help avoid playing catch-up later.

jordrile@indiana.edu
@RiledUpIDS