In view of the potential disaster facing our planet (from global warming) in fifty years time -?

Question

- what will our planet be like?
- what can we do, if anything, to improve matters?
- are, as I suspect, those of us who will be dead by then, do to help!
Am I depressed or realistic?

Answer 1

Ask yourself if you are depressed, only you can tell that. Some may see it as a depressing subject and choose to ignore it, but that's because they fall under the ignorance is bliss category. You are being realistic though. It's fact, and it's happening, embrace it, but dont let it control your mind and make you depressed - there is a fine line.
It will be very different no doubt. More hostile and less habitable in certain regions of the world, and other regions that are now hostile may become more dosile e.g. high latitude polar regions. However, many climate models predict drastic changes in global weather patterns and temperature distributions, and it is likely, with the continuous deforestation, urban sprawl etc., that the carrying capacity of the earth will decrease - meaning it will not be able to support as many people, especially with nations like India and China with massive populations becoming more wasteful and westernised.
There will also be friction (political/environmental) over water, not oil. Water distributions will change and many countries existing now will experienc more drought. America is already in a dire situation with regards to fresh water.
We can all change our lifestyles and consume less - use less resources and pollute less. We must implement clean power technology, and get used to not having certain luxuries e.g. a mango in winter until we have 99.9% clean energy.
We bluntly, at face value, have to have less children and persuade developing countries where popualtion rise is significant to have less children - exponential population growth = exponential footprint and strain on carrying capacity.
If you want to help, try to persuade others to live more efficient lifestyles. Use a car little, turn electric appliances off when not in use, buy locally produced goods etc. there are lists on the web, but these are all menial tasks to make us feel better about ourselves, if we really wanted to make a difference, we would get rid of the Corporate hold over the American government, as well as most other developed countries run by economic incentives rather than enironmental/social incentives, and elect leaders who will rid of our dependence on fossil fuels and educate the people.
I am ranting on haha, i will stop.

Answer 2

Well, seeing as the price of oil is sitting at $93 a barrel at the moment and got there over the past year from $65 I think this will be a bigger player in 50 years time more than global warming.

Here's what I see of the future - peak oil will happen, or at least oil will become 'too expensive' for transportation. Everyone will convert to rape seed oil and bio fuels destroying woodland, rainforest etc and taking up valuable farming space. With a rapidly growing population this will lead to food shortages. With the burning of bio fuels we'll release nitrates into the atmosphere making a more toxic environment. No doubt energy wars will be thrown into the equation somewhere.

Either way, we as humans don't seem to know what's best. We've got all our handy technological aids like, cars, heating, masses of electricity and we want to keep it all and the only way to do this is by destroying the natural environment and making our world unihabitable for humans!?

In the future I believe the human population will decrease and we'll be forced to revert back to a less energy intensive life. Life will be on a more localised scale, we'll recycle more and won't throw out the TV because it's an old model or it's 'broken', it will have to be repaired, we won't be able to afford to replace everything - prices for white goods and such will increase. The price of food will probably increase slightly as well.

As for global warming, I don't think anyone knows what will happen - don't worry about it, all you can do is go along with life and if you feel compelled to build a straw house or a cob cottage go ahead!

You may want to look at Gaia theory, I don't really believe in all of it, but its an interesting idea!

Answer 3

You are probably realistic - the planet is warming up - mostly from increased energy from the Sun and other possible sources that are causing the entire Solar System to warm up.

I would predict increased evaporation from the oceans that will cause more rainfall, more violent storms. Melting of the poles and glaciers will cause rising of ocean levels - probably around 20 to 30 feet. Much of Florida will be submerged, as will small islands and coastal plains around the world. The only thing we can realistically do is to take steps to relocate people away from the low-lying coastal regions and to research weather control to mitigate against hurricanes, tornadoes etc.
Anything we can do to move away from burning fossil fuels may help a little, but will not be sufficient to reverse the warming effect, because it is not primarily caused by anything mankind has done.

Answer 4

It will not be a global disaster. Sea level will be up a little, but not much. Weather may be worse in some cases, but I suspect it will be better in other cases. All in all, it will not be as damaging to human civilization as giving up 90% of our coal and oil energy would be. You choose, 6 inches higher sea level or 90% less cars, airplanes, and electricity in the world.

Answer 5

That depends entirely on what we do in the next 50 years.

If we significantly reduce our greenhouse gas emissions, we can avoid the worst effects of climate change. There's still time, but it's running out fast.

If we miss this opportunity, many feedbacks may occur in 50 years (methane released from permafrost, oceans emitting CO2, etc.) which will cause global warming to accelerate even faster. We'll see increased droughts, heat waves, stronger hurricanes, more floods, rising sea levels, etc.

It's hard to predict when these things will happen, especially not knowing if or how much we'll reduce our greenhouse gas emissions. The prospects look grim, but it's not going to kill you. Our lives may revolve around coping with climate change, but we'll survive.

Answer 6

You nmay be pessimistic but it is a valid point. How fast can society change? This is partly why I am not keen on those who go and live in eco communities, I think they could be more effective amongst broader society.

Personally I'm more interested in equiping future generations to live with dignity than 'saving the planet' If you agree then you may be interested in 'permaculture'.

Don't be depressed, accept future possibilities, relize that the human race has come through dark times before (WW1, WW2, dictators, dark ages and barbarism), find your 'bag' and boogy on down!

(Unless you like your eggs crispy, you need a comma.)

Answer 7

The future looks good for Canada and other northern countries. Check this link out. http://www.cbc.ca/national/blog/video/environmentscience/thriving_on_global_warming.html

Answer 8

u r being realistic.
u no on google earth the land is green, i bet when u look on google earth in 50 years the land will be brown. we can recycle more, drop no litter etc..
if we don't do this we WILL be dead.

Answer 9

You need to relax. The won't see any change because the earth will probably be cooling at that point. Live your life.

Answer 10

it is all in the mind this global warming