[LINK] Surviving Climate Change

[Stephen Loosley]

Interesting isn't it Janet.

What does the future of the earth look like? 

You do seem pessimistic .. especially as a result of climate change .. whilst, the study quoted may seem optimistic.

And sure, I might agree, climate change might well cause an end to humankind. On our newly very warm, wet planet surely the biosphere will necessarily go viral. Earth will simply be layered with a ball of living cells. That is, microbal life occupying every environmental niche possible. And with survival of the fittest, most of this rampant microbial life filling the air, the water and covering every land surface would become deadly to any humans trying desperately to co-exist?

Eg: www.ntnews.com.au/news/only-in-the-territory/culture-shock-for-driver-as-mould-takes-over/story-fnk2tg5d-1226812807005

But, that's basically one worst case climate change outcome. Personally I'm more optimistic. But I would like to hear other Linker opinions.

And, anyway, luckily the BBC with their "Infographic Guide to Doomsday Threats" are also much more optimistic. They say that the death of bees is the only think likely to do us in within the next five years. They say climate change death and disaster is only one possible eventuality within this century. So, we've got plenty of time to worry about that.

http://www.bbc.com/future/story/20141230-apocalypse-when

Helpfully, each potential BBC armageddon scenario is ranked on a very handy scale, from “keep calm” to “it’s all over”, and it's indicated whether it's a man-made or natural threat, and how quickly it could wipe out humanity. The rankings are based on the judgement of the BBC, using data from NASA, Universe Today and futurist Nick Bostrom etc etc. One can see an interesting list of all their armageddon sources here: 

https://docs.google.com/a/sciencealert.com.au/spreadsheets/d/1fUF6Fyp3pRD2cPusG9FnusD0D49LBeHnKAULQsRCePY/edit#gid=1715172179

Anyway Janet, whether we survive a short while, a long while, or even the next five years .. it's been fun .. so long and thanks to your mum. 

All the best :)

Stephen Loosley

---- On Sun, 18 Jan 2015 11:18:09 +1100 Janet Hawtin  wrote ---- 

> Improbable don't you think?
>
> We are fracking our water infrastructure which underpins everything else.
>
> Fighting bushfire in a landscape with leaking methane and flammable groundwater is going to be fun.
>
> Our climate is already crispy.
>
> We are largely dependent on things coming in and going out (including stuff that is breaking the planet anyway)
> and do not have good industrial infrastructure and skills locally.
>
> Can we make our own clothes, eco cars/trucks/trains. 
>
> How fast could we learn practical skills which would be useful as things change?
>
> I think these things are a form of denialism
>
>
> On 15 January 2015 at 21:58, Stephen Loosley  wrote:
>
> "This table shows the vulnerability and readiness of different nations around the world to adapt to climate change."
> 
> 
> 1    Norway
> 2    New Zealand
> 3    Sweden
> 4    Finland
> 5    Denmark
> 6    Australia
> 7    United Kingdom
> 8    United States
> 9    Germany
> 10   Iceland
> snip
> 178 Samoa (etc)
> 
> 
> Ref: University of Notre Dame Global Adaptation Index: http://index.gain.org/ranking
> 
> Zoomable Maps:  http://www.theecoexperts.co.uk/sites/default/files/filemanager/climatechange1.jpg
> 
> The ND-GAIN Index, a project of the University of Notre Dame Global Adaptation Index (ND-GAIN), summarizes a country's vulnerability to climate change and other global challenges in combination with its readiness to improve resilience. It aims to help businesses and the public sector better prioritize investments for a more efficient response to the immediate global challenges ahead.
> 
> When it comes to the factors measured, vulnerability was split into measurements of ecosystem services, food, health, human habitat, infrastructure, water, adaptive capacity, exposure and sensitivity. Readiness was measured according to three factors - economic, governance, and social readiness. The data was collected over 18 years, between 1995 and 2013, and is based on roughly half a million data points. You can download the data in full at the ND-Gain Index website. http://index.gain.org/ranking
> 
> "With climate change described as one of the greatest challenges of our time, the impacts of destructive changes in temperature, rainfall and agriculture will affect every country. These findings highlight the need for richer, more technologically advanced nations to help less developed countries. Ultimately there will be no winners from the effects of climate change, every country will be impacted in some way. Just how much depends on the decisions made now by world leaders."
> 
> --
> 
> Stephen
> 
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