Meteorologists and emergency managers from
the high Plains to the Appalachians are on alert as the U.S. has the year’s
first widespread bout of severe weather. The key message: Have a Plan.
(Christian Science Monitor, April 9, 2015)
The Climate Change Discussion
After the winter’s
snows, residents of the Northeast might disagree with the “first” bout of
severe weather in 2015! And, with regard
to the bulletin above, climate scientists warn us to not confuse weather (a
single episode) with climate change (observed facts over the long-term). Perhaps Noah or those who were in the path
of Hurricane Sandy might be reluctant to accept this distinction as both weather
events re-arranged the environment. The
increasing frequency of severe weather occurrences, observers say, are the result
of trapped warm air above us caused by human activities. The change in weather patterns is part of the
climate change that is modifying our landscape.
Change should not
be a surprise; the climate and environment are ever changing. Five hundred million years ago receding
oceans left the serrated ridges we see on the massive rock formations along our
roads. Fifty million years ago Mole
Hill stopped erupting and polluting the air with gases and dust. Five thousand years ago man began devising
written languages that allowed him to describe his environment and to observe and
report on changes. The newest force affecting
environment is man with the capability and intelligence to do well or to do harm. People who distrust scientific discourse and
people who deny existing change are often described as mentally lazy,
politically angry, or economically beholden to a special interest. Those on the opposite side are deemed doomsday,
hand-wringers and may also be guilty of the same traits as the deniers. Most people
are somewhere in the middle between the deniers and the doomsayers. Opinions on
what action to take on climate change is far from unanimous.
Efforts to solve our environmental problems
need to include personal, local, state, national and even international action. Given recent political debates, it may come
as a surprise to Virginians that its State Constitution (Article XI, Section 1)
promises “the commonwealth’s policy to protect its atmosphere, land and waters
from pollution, impairment, or destruction, for the benefit, enjoyment and
general welfare of the people of the commonwealth.” The documentation of climate history (often reduced
to a plethora of graphs) and a discussion of climate change in Virginia illustrate some
of the issues. From the existing records
Virginia once
had a generally stable, predictable climate but the long-term historical data show
recent trends to be otherwise. The
trend lines provide insight into what may be happening in the future. These transitional changes in climate affect
our ecosystems
Flora and fauna changes are climbing mountains, like at Mt. Rogers,
so where a flower that once bloomed only at the base of the mountain is now
found 1,000 feet higher. A flower that a
few years ago bloomed in Danville in April and
in Leesburg in May is now seen in bloom in Danville in March and in Leesburg in April. These changes are being followed by the
invasive stinkbugs and kudzu entering our neighborhoods. Virginia’s
occurring environmental changes are not bound by jurisdictional borders. The
State border is not a barrier to coal dust and acid rain carried on winds from
the Tennessee and Ohio Valleys. The “outside” factors as well as local factors
are causing deforestation affecting the canopy of our trees that moderate
temperatures and cleanse our air. Regional
and national programs are needed to address the problems.
What to do? The caution is that the solutions do not have unintended consequences, which make the problems worse. Solutions to reduce or eliminate fossil-fuels usage raise the most economic and political controversy. There are many solutions proposed, but unlike buggy whip manufacturers who were once only a small voice against the automobile, the billion dollar companies with interests in fossil fuel (the beneficiaries to a large extent of the automobile) are powerful players in the economy and in the political process that decide energy policy. For effective action to reduce fossil-fuels usage and, consequently, reduce the polluting discharges, many competing interests at international, national, local, and personal levels have a stake in the outcome. Scientists and policy makers also need to be alert to negative consequences. For example, in the development of alternative bio-fuels some are found not to be cost effective because production does not reduce polluting energy.
A few proposed programs
advocate managing our environment problems with infrastructure upgrades. All of us and the environment benefit from
increase fuel economy and reduced automobile wear and tear that well-kept roads
bring. In our neighborhoods greenhouse
gas emissions can be reduced through energy efficient buildings and improved
cement-making to build the buildings.
Individually we can move closer to work, consume less, go vegetarian,
unplug (more money is spent on electricity to power devices when they are off
than when they are on) and divest holdings of polluting businesses from our
portfolios.
Lastly, geo-engineering
should be considered in addressing the challenge of climate change. Some proposals sound like science fiction
solutions, for example, placing millions of small mirrors or lenses in space to
deflect the sun light. Before jumping
on this bandwagon, first ask “What could go wrong with this idea?” Geo-engineering, however, does have an
exciting future.
Those who have
observed negative environmental changes and wish to behave responsibly have
taken action. Regulations in place are
leading to cleaner power plants; a regional compact in the Northeast to cap CO2
pollution have reduced by half greenhouse gas emissions in half in the area;
state and national regulations are controlling methane leaks; and forest and
grassland management programs are bring implemented. In the private sector acceptance of the
science on climate change is evident in the design of facilities and operations
(Google, Apple) to reduce its effect on the environment. Still, many scoff that effective action to
address climate change can be made, Even if you don’t believe in human-induced
climate change, remember the weather forecast at the beginning of this essay. You know that a weather event will come through
the Valley and to prepare for this eventuality is practical for you and your
community. It is an insurance policy.
The
Massanutten Regional Library will host Dr. Les Grady on Monday, April 20th
at 1:00. Dr. Grady is a retired engineer
who taught environmental engineering at Perdue and Clemson Universities. He now devotes his time to the study of
climate change and global warming and to reducing his carbon footprint!
On April 27th at 1:00,
Jay Webb, Director of Meteorology for WHSV-TV-3, will give a talk on weather in
our valley. Bring your questions.
Sources:
Ben Adler. What do conservative policy intellectuals
think about climate change? Grist.org.
April 2, 2015.
Stephen Nash. Virginia Climate Fever. University
of Virginia Press. 2014.
David Biello. 10 Solutions for Climate Change. Scientific American. November 26, 2007.
7 Solutions to Climate Change Happening Now. Scientific American. November 17, 2014.
by Diane Rafuse
Good fact about the State Constitution!!! Everyone should read this.
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