This is for the beginning of Chapter 5 to the subtitle Waiting for the Apocalypse (pages 125 to 131)
The title to this Chapter (What If It’s Too Late?) captures the contents well. A serious question that there is still ongoing discussion as to the answer.
Much of the challenges we face had their genesis in the last Century or so. They coincide with the Industrial Revolution and the rapid population growth of our species. Like David states, during my lifetime the human population has grown from around 2.5 billion to 7.9 billion. The population is estimated to have been around 980 million in 1800. For the first 300,000 years of humans presence the population grew slowly. In this Chapter several examples were presented about population growth and resource limitations. Easter Island was discused for our species and how resources limited that expansion and another example for Reindeer on St. Matthew Island in the Bering Sea.
Once again in this Chapter we are reminded that climate change has occurred in the past and that rapid climate change led to the extinction of many species. The climate change we are looking at today was predicted over a hundred years ago as scientists hypothesized about the impacts of increased carbon dioxide resulting from Industrial Revolution. Often when I discuss climate change with others, they point out that the climate has always changed. My response is yes but there was not an Earth full of so many people which creates a very different future.
I want to share a story from my life in conservation that I was reminded of when reading this section. When I began my education in the ecological sciences in the late 1960s there was much concern about our environment and the future of our species and the rest of biodiversity. Some of my classmates felt despair, hopelessness, and chose to live a life that assumed the worst. A few decided to pursue different careers separate from conservation. Years later I was questioned by a few as to why I continued my work…it wouldn’t matter they suggested. My only response was if we don’t try, we will surely fail. So even today I want to believe it is not too late. We can make a difference.
Your thoughts?
Doshin
The title to this Chapter (What If It’s Too Late?) captures the contents well. A serious question that there is still ongoing discussion as to the answer.
Much of the challenges we face had their genesis in the last Century or so. They coincide with the Industrial Revolution and the rapid population growth of our species. Like David states, during my lifetime the human population has grown from around 2.5 billion to 7.9 billion. The population is estimated to have been around 980 million in 1800. For the first 300,000 years of humans presence the population grew slowly. In this Chapter several examples were presented about population growth and resource limitations. Easter Island was discused for our species and how resources limited that expansion and another example for Reindeer on St. Matthew Island in the Bering Sea.
Once again in this Chapter we are reminded that climate change has occurred in the past and that rapid climate change led to the extinction of many species. The climate change we are looking at today was predicted over a hundred years ago as scientists hypothesized about the impacts of increased carbon dioxide resulting from Industrial Revolution. Often when I discuss climate change with others, they point out that the climate has always changed. My response is yes but there was not an Earth full of so many people which creates a very different future.
I want to share a story from my life in conservation that I was reminded of when reading this section. When I began my education in the ecological sciences in the late 1960s there was much concern about our environment and the future of our species and the rest of biodiversity. Some of my classmates felt despair, hopelessness, and chose to live a life that assumed the worst. A few decided to pursue different careers separate from conservation. Years later I was questioned by a few as to why I continued my work…it wouldn’t matter they suggested. My only response was if we don’t try, we will surely fail. So even today I want to believe it is not too late. We can make a difference.
Your thoughts?
Doshin
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