RECENTLY, WHILST standing in the queue for ‘Queen of Hearts’, a lad turned to his friend and said “I don’t give a damn, climate change can kiss my ass”. If this was not bad enough, it was swiftly followed up with an embarrassingly loud, over rehearsed high-five. Unfortunately, this deluded attitude is not uncommon and seems to have spread, with more and more people believing that the scientific community are lying to them. Now I’m no eco-warrior but I am, suffice to say, concerned about the future and the way in which it is looking decisively more orange than green.
Climate change has been proven. People who pick holes are in denial because the truth means they might have to get up and actually do something about it. Humans are causing this shift. No ifs, buts or maybes. Without a doubt, we are to blame (a view emphasised by David Attenborough, of whom I would trust if I were you. He’s as close to God as you get).
Even if you remain sceptical, isn’t the threat of a global ‘meltdown’ enough to kick-start you into action? There’s nothing more terrifying than an irreversible, fatal change that seems so much greater than us. Human beings aren’t indestructible. If anything we are increasingly looking to be at our most vulnerable. Yes, we can adapt; yes, we can mitigate, but nothing ultimately changes the fact that the earth is heating up at a terrifying rate and Mother Nature is about to throw a catastrophic hissy fit. Oh well, at least we’ll have a perma-tan right?
If you believe that scientists have some vested interest in over-exaggerating the effects of climate change, you are talking out of your arse (supposedly the arse you would like kissed). No one likes to be the bringer of bad news, especially when it is news that we are accelerating the future extinction of human beings – an unfortunate inevitability that seems to be fast approaching.
A meagre handful of scientists have suggested that it may not be as bad as previously claimed, yet the majority refute this and not one has denied that it’s happening. If anything, it is in the government’s best interest to dull down future devastation. Heaven forbid they should actually have to respond to a real global threat – wasn’t the spectacular war on terror enough?
Once again, the developed world seems to get off lightly. Climate change affects the world disproportionately. Our climate will become warmer; we can bid a fond farewell to sheets of icy rain and welcome prospective brighter days making wine in our back yard. Yet, what about the already struggling south? Climate change will drag them deeper into the depths of despair as climatic extremes will result in an inability to grow the crops they need and create an unbearable living environment. So here comes the moral argument. Is this just, or even fair? Not in the slightest. It is yet another example of human selfishness and let the rest, not the West, go to ruin. Our ‘so long as we’re OK’ is something future generations will be ashamed of.
Ultimately, what we need is a ‘Hollywood moment’, where the whole earth bands together and fights the meteor/aliens/climate change that threatens us with the novelty British ‘lap dogs’ and the heroic Americans leading the way. Unfortunately this is looking highly unlikely as America is currently bringing up the rear.
We need to think what we can do as students this green week. Taking your phone charger out of the socket, joining one of the many environmental campaign groups, and writing to your MP are just a few ideas. Too much effort? Tough. We’ve made our bed…need I continue? Oh, and writing into Student Direct thrashing your unwanted ‘we’ll be dead anyway’ opinion is not the most productive way of saving the earth, just in case you were wondering.
Whether you believe the extent of the threat of climate change or not you cannot deny that it is happening and just the thought of such a catastrophic change and pervasive damage should be enough to turn the heating off at night. Climate change is unfair, unjust and undeniable; so isn’t it about time people put their arses away and gave a bloody damn?
WHAT YOU THINK ABOUT...
CLIMATE CHAOS: Who is to blame?
We are essentially all to blame, yet the Western world should shoulder a lot more of the responsibility. Although, today we may claim to be more environmentally aware, we have caused irreversible damage in previous years, and now need to face the consequences. However, globally speaking, we all need to take responsibility.
Owen, 1st Year Geography
I don’t think that humankind alone can be held responsible. How can we be sure that climate change is not a purely natural phenomenon? In the grand scheme of things, humans have not been around for very long and meteorological modifications are essentially unpredictable.
Claire, 3rd Year Chemistry
"Humans are causing this shift. No ifs, buts or maybes". It is clear to me after reading Grace Chapman's article that she has simple jumped on the climate change bandwagon and has not stopped to do any research before writing her article.
I agree that the worlds climate is changing, but the worlds climate has gone through oscillations of temperature since the beginning of time (once such climate change, some argue lead to the extinction of the dinosaurs), indeed it is a lot cooler now than for much of the earths history. Ms Chapman claims it is all the work of human beings, but again if she had done any research she would know that many to scientists have argued that this climate change is natural and the effect of humans is little or any.
This kind of article is just the kind of spew i expect from an undergraduate who is all too eager to put their point of view forward whether they know any of the facts surrounding the subject or not.