This summer, I was fortunate enough to attend Elizabeth Kolbert's presentation in Aspen, Colorado. She is an environmental writer for The New Yorker and the Pulitzer-Prize winning author of The Sixth Extinction, a book that uses scientific evidence to show the devastating impact humans have had on the planet and what can be done to turn it around. Her latest book is called Under A White Sky: The Nature of the Future, which warns of proposed solutions to our climate crisis that would actually do more damage than good, such as solar geoengineering, which would turn the sky white.
It is difficult to process her words of warning and brutal honesty about the state of our planet. As frightening as it is, Kolbert said that her reporting actually "errs on the side of the least drama." Governments and major corporations that contribute most to climate change are not making enough of an effort, despite having the knowledge and resources to do so. "There are entrenched interests that are fighting change," Kolbert said. "We need political change on a global scale." She questioned whether humanity has the will to change our consumption habits fast enough.
While the statistics are scary, Kolbert also offered a message of hope. There are innovative technologies being developed that show promise. The Orcas Project from the Icelandic company Climeworks, and the company's newer and larger project, Mammoth, are excellent examples. The Orcas and Mammoth machines they designed act as a vacuum, which captures carbon from the atmosphere and buries it deep in the ground. And these are just two examples. There are other companies reforesting the planet, planting mangroves and kelp farms, and developing systems to help get us to net zero carbon emissions.
Big problems require bigger solutions. When faced with a global crisis, human beings have always come together to find a solution. We are in a tough position, we have to admit. We need to drastically change our relationship with our planet, and do it fast. But I have faith that we will come together again to make sure that future generations will enjoy a cleaner, greener planet.
Thank you, Elizabeth Kolbert, for your insightful talk and the important work you do.
Kommentarer