Let’s be optimistic and assume there are historians at work above-ground a century from now, and that they are examining what we did and said during the last few precious decades on earth before severe global climate change kicked into gear.
They might reasonably look at the century from 1950-2050, i.e., our time, as the pivotal years when humans had both the scientific knowledge and still enough time to change course and avert the worst.
But did we?
The answer almost certainly will be no. Check out the Atlantic: There’s No Scenario in Which 2050 Is ‘Normal’.
As much as I hate being a downer, it’s also true that our smartest environmental thinkers have been warning us since the 1950s and 60s what we would face if we didn’t mend our ways.
And although the alarms bells were loud and clear, not enough of us listened and hardly any of us did anything about it. Collectively we took baby steps when giant leaps were required.
Thus our children and grandchildren will be the ones to suffer. My oldest child will be reaching my current age (75) circa 2050; my oldest grandchild will be reaching my daughter’s current age (45) circa 2050.
Long before then, they will both certainly know that we didn’t do enough when we had our chance. And it shouldn’t take the self-immolation of a climate activist outside the Supreme Court to awaken a nation either. Alas, he died in vain.
The rise in global temperature by two degrees will transform the planet, rendering human life impossible in some places, more difficult than it is now in many others. Even more troubling, the fundamental operating systems on earth will be disrupted in ways we can’t predict — the oceans will be higher, the planet hotter and drier, super storms common, “natural” disasters continuous, and many species of plants and animals (including our food sources) extinct. No one knows what that means, but it is not good news for Homo sapiens.
So what now, beyond regret and recrimination, can be done about the inevitable?
We need our best minds to focus on whatever we can figure out about our possible options to intervene in the sequence of unfolding events to help the planet re-attain some of the balance it is losing — at least enough of a balance to sustain life in a few places at some semblance of normality for a while longer while we figure out a longer-term alternative plan.
That may sound like an inadequate, awkward, imprecise statement (the kind I hate), but that’s about the best we’ve got as to options. We will not, as a species, be able to leave earth for distant worlds by 2050, although various billionaires will try. We will not be able to extend life indefinitely through modern medicine by then, though some scientists will try. We probably will not achieve world unity, either, though as unlikely as it seems, that may be a slightly more attainable goal.
Working together toward the survival of our grandchildren rather than fighting silly wars over fossil fuels may indeed be achievable in the coming quarter-century and probably represents the best chance for the survival of our species.
Think about it.
Today’s Headlines (51):
There’s No Scenario in Which 2050 Is ‘Normal’ — The two paths to avoid the worst of climate change would still dramatically change the world as we know it. (Atlantic)
A man who died after self-immolating in front of Supreme Court was a climate activist (CNN)
Russia warns Poland, Bulgaria of gas supply cuts (Reuters)
European gas prices soar after Gazprom halts supplies to Poland and Bulgaria (Financial Times)
As Diplomacy Hopes Dim, U.S. Marshals Allies to Furnish Long-Term Military Aid to Ukraine (NYT)
Putin warns against 'outside intervention' in Ukraine (BBC)
VIDEO: Ukraine Removes ‘Friendship’ Monument in Kyiv — The statue, built to represent the connection between Ukraine and Russia, was taken down as part of a broader campaign to remove any lingering symbols of Russia’s dominance during Soviet times. (Reuters, AP)
Putin breaks out the Kremlin's ridiculously long table to meet with the head of the UN (Business Insider)
Russian provinces bordering Ukraine report series of blasts (Al Jazeera)
Drone giant DJI Technology said it will temporarily suspend business in Russia and Ukraine to ensure its products are not used in combat, making it the first major Chinese firm to cite the conflict in halting sales in Russia. (Reuters)
U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres and Russian President Vladimir Putin met one-on-one for the first time since Russia invaded Ukraine, and the United Nations said they agreed on arranging evacuations from a besieged steel complex in Mariupol. Guterres is due to meet Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in Kyiv on Thursday. [AP]
Rand Paul says U.S. backing Ukraine in NATO played a role in invasion (WP)
Russian-occupied area of Moldova blames Ukrainian militants for explosions (NPR)
As Russian forces tightened their siege of Mariupol and missiles rained down, Mykhailo Puryshev drove into the city six times last month to evacuate its citizens, somehow surviving despite his red van being all but destroyed. The 36-year-old Ukrainian, who once ran a nightclub in the city, said he evacuated more than 200 people. (Reuters)
Mystery fires at sensitive facilities compound Russia’s war challenge (WP)
Why U.S. Oil Companies Aren’t Riding to Europe’s Rescue (NYT)
Russian Gas Stoppages Spur Europe’s Race for New Energy Supplies (WSJ)
The war in Ukraine sparks biggest commodity shock in half a century, World Bank says (CNN)
British defense ministry: Ukraine retains control of most of its airspace (NHK)
Beijing testing millions for COVID amid outbreak, prompting concerns of a potential lockdown (CBS)
More than half of Americans have had Covid, including three of four children (Guardian)
U.S. no longer in ‘full-blown’ pandemic phase, Fauci says (WP)
‘It's insanity’: Providers end Covid care for uninsured in the wake of congressional inaction (Politico)
VIDEO: China Orders Mass Covid Testing for Beijing Residents (Reuters)
Disney Employees Slated to Relocate to Florida Caught in Political Crossfire (WSJ)
Judge Orders Man Who Defaced L.G.B.T. Pride Mural to Write Essay on Pulse Shooting (NYT)
Harvard releases report detailing its ties to slavery, plans to issue reparations.(NPR)
A bipartisan bill that would subject U.S. Supreme Court justices and federal judges to tougher disclosure requirements for their financial holdings and stock trades is expected to win final congressional approval today.(Reuters)
New Details Underscore House G.O.P. Role in Jan. 6 Planning (NYT)
Elon Musk boosts criticism of Twitter executives, prompting online attacks (WP)
The religious right had a great day in the Supreme Court (Vox)
Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine) was no fan of Donald Trump’s incendiary tweets and even called one post “appalling.” But now that Tesla CEO Elon Musk is buying Twitter, the moderate Republican says Trump’s Twitter account should be reinstated. "To me, it’s ironic that we allow Russian government sites to be on Twitter, but we don’t allow President Trump,” she said. [HuffPost]
Google parent Alphabet reported its first quarterly revenue miss of the pandemic after the war in Ukraine hurt YouTube ad sales, leaving investors rattled as the global economy sputters. (Reuters)
Meteorites could have brought all 5 genetic 'letters' of DNA to early Earth — These key building blocks of life were found in space rocks, scientists confirm. The scientists detailed their findings in the journal Nature Communications. (Space.com)
Two planets will appear to ‘nearly collide’ in the night sky this week (WP)
SpaceX launches Crew-4 mission for NASA, has now sent 26 astronauts to space in under two years (CNBC)
Asteroid twice the size of the Empire State Building will fly by the Earth at 30 times the speed of sound, NASA says (Daily Mail)
One-fifth of reptiles worldwide face risk of extinction (AP)
Critically endangered monkey born in Colombian zoo (BBC)
Canada’s attempt to phase out open-pen salmon farms faces setback (Guardian)
Investors at top US banks refuse to back climate proposals (Financial Times)
India is getting too hot too early, raising the risk of fires, Prime Minister Narendra Modi warned, as New Delhi sweltered in extreme heat and a burning landfill on the outskirts of the capital spewed toxic smoke into the air. (Reuters)
Palestinian farmer finds 4,500-year-old goddess statue while working his land (CNN)
Major Japan railway now powered only by renewable energy (AP)
Reports of the fax machine’s death are greatly exaggerated (Politico)
In Australia, slot machines are everywhere. So is gambling addiction. (WP)
A 1.5-mile stretch of JFK Drive in Golden Gate Park will become permanently car-free as San Francisco supervisors vote to keep vehicles away. (SFC)
Ideas on mute? Study: Remote meetings dampen brainstorming (AP)
Autocorrect Explained: Why Your iPhone Adds Annoying Typos While Fixing Others7 min read (WSJ)
Florida Bans Schools From Teaching Anything Besides Misadventures Of Best Friends George Washington And Jesus Christ (The Onion)
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