Member pictureContinuing our focus on Rotary and the Environment, last week Dave Stewart shared a presentation – Climate and the 4 Way Test.  Starting with climate science and the carbon cycle, Dave argued that we need to to view climate globally, not locally, and remember that climate is not the same as weather.  For the Zoom link, CLICK HERE.  To see Dave's slides, CLICK HERE.  
Dave reminded us science tells us  the climate is changing as we break  records for the “warmest year” each year.  Carbon dioxide concentrations in the atmosphere have risen annually over the past 50 years resulting in rising ocean heat and sea level.  Temperature increases of 1.5-2 degrees Celsius will have significant tragic effects; we need to get to a net 0 increase by 2050.
 
Bill Gate’s recent book, How to Avoid a Climate Disaster, tells us we need to go from emitting 51 billion tons of CO2 to 0, fully deploying the tools we already have (wind, solar, etc.) as well as finding and implementing new technologies. Compare the idea of a “Prophet” (there is no hope for the future) with that of a “Wizard” (who finds solutions utilizing new technologies).  We have been the “Wizard” before ( eg, it was predicted in the 1970s that we would run out of food but we didn’t thanks to new technologies in agriculture).
 
The world’s population is growing but in the last 50 years we have also experienced a “Great Acceleration”.  For the first time in history the urban population exceeds the number of people in rural settings. The GDP has increased 5.5x the population. These 2 factors help explain the rapidly increasing stress on the world’s climate.
 
Dave shared 2 videos - one illustrating the effects of increased rain leading to road failure in Baltimore and a second video featuring several fire chiefs explaining the new reality of wildfires (all too familiar in Colorado in 2020).
 
OK, if this “global warming” is so bad, why was it just snowing and freezing in Texas?  Global warming refers to an increase in the world’s temperature; climate change is about variability across the planet (eg, cold in TX, hot in AK). This introduces the questions - is climate change real, is it manmade and how can we come to consensus and address the problem?
 
We as Rotarians can start the conversation which has now become one too often based on political ideology. Rotary's 4 Way Test can provide a framework for this conversation:  Is it the truth?  Instead of arguing over “facts” we can build bridges.  Is it fair to all concerned? Will it build goodwill and better friendships?  Focus on the observable effects- eg, the local wildfires while we share our desire to protect our planet for our grandchildren and help those less fortunate around the world (often those most affected by climate change).  Will it be beneficial to all concerned?  What are our shared values? – our children, community, outdoor activities,  our national economy and security. Our faith can guide us as we share our love for our families and be good stewards of creation.
 
Climate change is Rotary’s business, perhaps our “ultimate mission”. Rotarians need to start the conversation and be part of a “Wizard” future.