Since the mid 1990s the slogan for environmentalists has been “stop global warming.” Now that CO2 levels have reached 390 parts per million (PPM) and continue mounting at almost 3 PPM each year, there is no hope in “stopping” it. The best we can expect now is to mitigate the impacts that 390 PPM plus the yearly incremental increases will bring in coming decades, and to work urgently and diligently to lower CO2 levels to at least 350 PPM. Decades have passed with nothing done to cut CO2 emissions, bringing us to the do-or-die decade.
The bottom line is governments backed by wealthy fossil-based industries put short-term profits above climate stability. This short-sightedness will lead us to costs from climate related destruction that will eventually far exceed those profits. Once nations suffer from drastic climate related reductions in their ability to provide basic food and water needs for their citizens wars will break out over control of dwindling resources. Human survival in future decades will be difficult at best.
We’ve been through Kyoto and Copenhagen and see how money trumps science. We know how effective the fossil-based powerbroker’s disinformation campaigns are at stalling action to mitigate climate change.
Powerbrokers control legislators who create laws that protect powerbroker assets. If they lack the moral fortitude to put the wellbeing of future generations of human life above concerns for their short term profits it begs the question; is this a form of generational genocide? It sure looks that way.
Conversely, it stands to reason that younger generations have a moral right and obligation to protect their ability to survive which trumps the powerbrokers laws. If they sit back and do nothing it begs the question; are the younger generations suicidal? Survival mandates rebelling against unjust laws that protect the privileged at the expense of everyone else.
It’s obvious that the scientific and environmental communities have failed to educate people about climate change. The powerbrokers own the media and greatly outspend them in the information wars. This leaves us one conclusion, if humanity is to survive; we need to deal with the amoral powerbrokers with non-violent civil disobedience. This is the only way to achieve the change needed to survive in the coming decades.
Given the failure of past climate negotiations, it’s hard to believe anything effective will come from COP 16. Regardless, it’s too late to “stop climate change.” We can only hope to avert the magnitude of long-term impacts by cutting CO2 below 350 PPM as soon as possible. The longer we stall the worst each decade will get.
Younger generations have a right and a moral obligation to rebel against the powerbrokers in order to maintain an inhabitable planet. Drastic times require drastic measures. It is time to assert non-violent civil disobedience like boycotting fossil-based products, disrupting the flow of fossil energy, disrupting the activities of pro-fossil lobbyist, demanding serious government support for green energy, and demanding major investments in clean energy now! This is the do-or-die decade; time is running out.