Environmental Concerns
Global warming shits me. In particular the theory that global warming is caused by carbon emissions really shits me. I’m currently in the ‘global warming denial’ camp but should the evidence change I’ll adjust my position. I rarely discuss the matter. Sure if people ask me I’ll talk about it, but more often when people talk about global warming I simply reach for the nearest bit of cheese to stuff in my ears. Thus I avoid the usual stupidity banded about by those who have rarely made even a cursory attempt to study the matter.
Previously, I firmly believed that global warming was caused by carbon emissions. I shifted my stance on the issue around 2008. I clearly remember what prompted this. I was putting together submissions to Parliament about climate change for my employer. There were well over a hundred encompassing both sides of the debate. As was my habit, I skimmed a few. Then I read a few. Over the next few days I checked the research on what I had read. Things became clearer.
I’m not going to enter into the specifics of the debate in this piece. I would however direct you towards an article by Doctor David Evans. Evans was a consultant to the Australian Greenhouse Office from 1999 to 2005. (1)
There are two things in particular which really upset me about the Global warming debate. The first of these is that whilst everyone is talking about global warming and the evil coal industry there are other very important environmental issues which are not being discussed.
An example of one of these in Australia is the quality of our soil and in particular the increase in the salinity of our soil. A fact sheet produced by the CSIRO in 2008 describes the current situation quite nicely. (2)
Now ask yourself, when was the last time the mainstream media reported on this issue? Yet the ‘white death’ is a major concern for the Australian farming community. No one argues about the science surrounding it. All agree that it is a huge problem that is escalating over time.
What about a global issue, for example global fishing stocks. Fifty three percent of the world’s fisheries are fully exploited, and thirty two percent are overexploited, depleted, or recovering from depletion. If you were wondering why fish has become so expensive – that’s why. If the situation remains unchanged the numbers of all species currently fished for food are predicted to collapse somewhere between 2040 and 2060. That would be disastrous not just to the worlds environment but to world food supply also. A 2010 report by the FAO is alarming reading, link is provided below. (3)
I could go on and on. There are many pressing environmental concerns where the science is not in dispute and little is being done because all of the ‘air’ in the environmental debate is blown at the coal industry.
Now whilst that upsets me, what really turn’s me from merely annoyed to apoplectic with rage is the actions of people who believe that coal is the source of all our environmental ills. They do – nothing. They continue to switch on the lights, pump up the air conditioning, utilise their mobile devices and all the rest of it. They would be able to do none of this, without the power industry which is driven largely by fossil fuels.
If they felt so passionately that coal is the cause of our problems, are so sure of the science and care so much about the environment then why don’t they just switch of the lights? Turn off the mod cons. I mean seriously who do they think demands the power which requires the use of all this coal? It’s them! It’s that utter hypocrisy that sends me right over the edge.
The people who are seeking an abrupt end to the coal industry are seeking to potentially ruin the livelihood of those people and their families who are currently employed by the coal industry. Yet they, themselves are most often prepared to do nothing to reduce their own power usage, power supplied by burning coal. .
If you believe coal is the great evil then you’re entitled to your view. Surely then the true believers should be off to the commune. They can weave themselves a hemp hammock and can sleep soundly at night firm in the knowledge that they are doing their bit for the environment.
Personally, I’ll be going with the off grid solar but that’s not because coal is the black nuggets of Satan, but rather it’s because in a world where power is increasingly expensive it makes financial sense to do so. Furthermore coal is not a sustainable way to produce power and I’m a firm believer in being sustainable.
I’ll conclude with an observation. I remember back in the naughties when the media reported and the politicians cavorted about global warming it was reported as global warming. Now, it’s referred to as the much less definite climate change. I wonder why that might be……
(1) http://www.theaustralian.com.au/archive/news/no-smoking-hot-spot/story-e6frg73o-1111116945238