Déjà vu and the Climate Roller Coaster

I have fallen behind scanning climate articles into my files. I count about 100 science and related magazines with tags sticking out in various directions. These tags, mark climate articles waiting to be scanned.  

Reading article after article on the unpleasantness assaulting earth and its people can be a bit depressing. In response, I took time off and read 1776. No climate change in it, just a great read about men and women that, against unimaginable odds, together somehow survived to make a new and better nation. These patriots, I might add, had a leader of impeccable character. Our founding fathers were the best educated men in North America. They knew, in the long run, if they were to persevere, they needed a man driven to learn and overcome insurmountable obstacles. They needed a man whose moral courage would be infectious to his men and to the nation. They selected George Washington.

After 1776, I read the New York Times Article, “Loosing Earth: The Decade We Almost Stopped Climate Change”. While reading this, I often asked myself what key elements were missing to solve the problem? Why have we failed to take climate action?  In, “Loosing Earth” Nathaniel Rich takes us on a one heck of a roller coaster ride.

As early as 1958 oil company scientists were aware that burning the product they were searching for would warm the earth. Surprisingly, it was not until about 1981 that the work of Chemist Melvin Calvin of Berkeley, by publishing a vigorous description of the Earth’s Carbon Cycle, earned himself a Nobel Prize and sparked climate consciousness throughout the scientific community.

Nearly simultaneously, the now famous climate scientist, James Hansen was working for NASA studying Venus. There are a few, “knowns” about Venus. One is that it has an atmosphere dense with carbon dioxide. Because of this the planet, in its distant past, experienced runaway heating.  It is now 863 degrees F.  James Hansen, as a leading scientist for NASA, saw the implications for our own planet and redirected his focus a little closer to our home, planet Earth.  

Through the work of these and other scientist’s it became clear that, if our energy source continued to be coal, oil and gas, our God given benign climate would turn on us. Many efforts were made to pass progressive energy legislation and to make international agreements.  It may seem odd now, but there was strong Republican support for science. A quote from William Carney, a Republican from New York, summed up what was, then, the well reasoned American opinion, “Science should serve as a basis for legislative action.”

Despite a can-do scientific/political environment, we failed on every occasion to turn the climate around.

Our nation, the nation the rest of the world looks up to for sound science based moral leadership, did not lead.

So why have we failed?  

First, in a democracy, we must value education. And, once we become “educated” our passion for knowledge needs to accelerate as adults.

But, even if we strenuously pursue knowledge, it is tough to be experts on all issues. We, sooner or later, must rely on politicians, who hopefully surround themselves with experts. In some way, we must find leaders that are driven to find truth and act on it. Our founding fathers knew George Washington.  They knew he had the moral fiber needed.  He acted and spoke in an honorable manner. He vigorously sought knowledge. He did not denigrate others but inspired them. He was not boastful. In fact, when the founding fathers told him he was their overwhelming choice to lead the Army, he told them he felt himself unequal to the task. Despite his doubts, he devoted himself to the task.

Are we up to the task? Of course, we are. We are Ameri-cans, not Amer-cants. I wish I had all the answers and could line them out for you here and now. I am certainly not that wise.  My instincts, though, tell me if we dedicate ourselves to acquiring knowledge and leading moral lives, we will be better at spotting the most qualified people to lead us. Also, I feel, while we should be impatient in our quest for knowledge, we need to be patient with each other. We are, after all, together on this roller coaster. There will be a lot more dips and curves than we can imagine. Working together, world-wide, we will prevail.

How to find the New York Times article: Search: “Loosing Earth: The Decade we almost stopped Climate Change”, by Nathaniel Rich

Another good and recent read from the National Geographic: “The More Things Change…” July, 2018. I searched, “National Geographic The More Things Change…”, by Andrew Revkin.

And, a quick word of the day that was popular in 1776: “Posterity”

If you think something can’t be done, read 1776 and learn how it can.