Many of the scenarios involving catastrophic climate change suggest some kind of sudden apocalyptic end for humanity, but that seems unlikely. Far more probable is a slow decline in the livability of the large swaths of the planet, increasing the pressure on the human population to move to higher ground, cooler and wetter environments like Canada.
One of the impending events that unfortunately may begin that process is discussed in today’s lead article, “What will actually happen when the so-called 'Doomsday Glacier' disintegrates?” in Mashable.
The Thwaites Glacier in Antarctica appears to be on the verge of collapse. If and when that happens, the oceans will rise by 25 inches probably over about a six-month timetable. This would quickly have disastrous consequences in southern Louisiana and Mississippi — the same areas devastated by Hurricane Katrina — but few other parts of the U.S.
The population displaced would be in the millions. They would become climate refugees — a term our children will become all too familiar with, I’m afraid.
Many other parts of the globe would also be affected by this one event. The way various countries respond will be revealing of the initial planetary response to the dawn of the era of warming that threatens human existence. My prediction is widespread authoritarianism.
So let’s hope I’m completely wrong about this, but we may now be at the beginning of the end.
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