The ISCFC is all about reducing our individual and collective contributions to climate change.
But is climate change really happening? Is it mostly caused by human activity, including our production of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases?
In the United States and elsewhere, there are people who are not convinced by the science. But the great thing about science is that we use evidence to evaluate scientific questions. So what is the evidence related to climate change?
Are you or are you not convinced by the majority of climate scientists who say that climate change is real and largely human caused? Why are you convinced/not convinced? What evidence might change your mind one way or the other?
Is Climate Change Real & Human-Caused? >
Taking responsibility for our part
I agree with the scientists who state that humans are largely to blame for the drastic increase in temperature which humanity will face in the future. The exponential growth of CO2 emissions is not only associated to the natural course of geological eras, but also to our cultural evolution which, from the industrial revolution, has determined our conception of climate change as a global issue. I also think that most people, though they are not skeptical about scientists, can't really be bothered to worry about the environment. The issue can see, if it's not treated well, as a very far-fetched one. Some people think that it constitutes a very far away problem that shall only arise in 3 or four generations. Alas, this is not true. A four degree increase in temperature is expected for 2050, causing incredible changes for our infrastructure, food security and global organisation generally. Statistics can help us change our minds if we are not convinced. Sources of greenhouse gas emissions vary widely, from the natural to those related to human activity. I think that one way of truly grasping the magnitude of this problem is to speak about it in schools and to do it well: it is important, not only to acknowledge the phenomenon as a problem, when most people continue to lead regular lives and not see the influence of the environment, but also to talk about the tangible consequences we will experience in 2050 if we are to adapt (or at least try to adapt) to extreme weather conditions.
I definitely agree that we are to blame for the current climate change. It is true that there are fluctuations in the norms of weather over long periods of time. However, there is still a ton of evidence, such as the breakdown of ozone, that supports human activity as a root cause. I also must say that this affecting our great-grandchildren does not seem so great either because that is the point of sustainability. It is " the responsible use of natural resources as to not harm the availability of these resources for future generation." We are absolutely creating this problem bigger and bigger each day. It must be stopped, and it will be extremely hard. Yet I do think it is possible, because every other option, such as the end of humanity, seems so bizarre. Also, we have many solutions, such as solar energy, yet the enforcement and implementation of these practices will be hard to create as the new norms.