by Daniel Brouse
June 10, 2024
In the United States, the largest threat to freedom -- life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness -- is the continued use of fossil fuels. Pollution from fossil fuels is already the leading cause of death worldwide, contributing to a myriad of health issues including respiratory and cardiovascular diseases. The ongoing reliance on fossil fuels is exacerbating climate change, which in turn is rendering much of the world increasingly uninhabitable. Rising temperatures, extreme weather events, and sea level rise are displacing communities, destroying ecosystems, and threatening food and water security. Without significant changes in energy production and consumption, future generations will face even greater challenges in maintaining a livable environment. It is imperative to transition to renewable energy sources to safeguard our planet and ensure a sustainable future for all.
Politicians in conservative, rural parts of the USA have often hindered progress in the fight against climate change due to several reasons:
Many conservative politicians in rural areas deny the existence or severity of climate change, dismissing it as a hoax or exaggerated. This denial stems from skepticism about scientific consensus and the influence of fossil fuel industries.
Conservative lawmakers have taken legislative actions that block or roll back environmental regulations. This includes efforts to:
Many conservative politicians support the fossil fuel industry, which is a significant contributor to climate change. This support manifests in various ways:
In many rural areas, fossil fuel industries are major employers and economic contributors. Politicians in these regions often prioritize short-term economic gains over long-term environmental benefits.
Public opinion in many conservative, rural areas tends to be less supportive of climate change policies compared to urban or liberal areas. Politicians often reflect the views of their constituents.
The combination of climate change denial, legislative actions that favor fossil fuels, cultural and economic priorities, and public opinion in conservative, rural areas of the USA has significantly hindered progress in the fight against climate change. Addressing these challenges requires a multifaceted approach, including education, economic transition plans for affected communities, and bipartisan cooperation to develop sustainable solutions.
Previous climate models have inadequately incorporated “social-ecological systems” as human involvement was not a significant factor in past climate changes. Regrettably, the United States ranks among the least prepared countries globally, with the highest percentage of climate deniers. The Republican party dismisses it as a manufactured crisis and plans to increase fossil fuel production, exacerbating the situation. Political extremists asserting that the climate crisis is manufactured employ an ironic term, considering that human manufacturing activities are the primary driver of climate change. Under President Biden, the United States has continued to be the world's largest producer of oil, including crude oil, natural gas liquids, and other petroleum products. Both political parties have concurred to allocate unlimited emergency funding for climate disasters instead of proactively preventing them. Last year, the US witnessed a record number of over a billion-dollar climate disasters, totaling 28 separate weather and climate-related events. It is due to this arrogance and ignorance that “worst-case scenarios” are now “best-case scenarios” for the acceleration of climate change. These factors have altered our climate model, shifting the projected maximum temperature rise from 4 degrees Celsius over the next millennium to a probable increase of 9 degrees Celsius this century.
Human-induced climate change is a dynamic component of an intricate and unordered system, as per chaos theory. This implies that global warming is accelerating exponentially in a complex manner. Over the period from 1992 to 2023, we have presented compelling evidence, proposed remedies to mitigate climate change, and amassed valuable information through the engagement of millions with this climate model. Your participation has been invaluable. The incontrovertible data underscores that human-induced climate change is rapidly deteriorating our habitat.
Our climate model / experiment employs chaos theory to comprehensively consider human impacts and projects a potential global average temperature increase of 9 ° above pre-industrial levels. Global warming is a consequence of elevated thermal energy in the climate system, which comprises various subsystems. Chaos theory underscores the intricate and nonlinear nature of dynamic systems. Human well-being is compromised above a 1.5-degree temperature rise, rendering much of the Earth uninhabitable. A 9-degree Celsius increase would bring the Earth close to a wet-bulb temperature incapable of sustaining human life.
What Can I Do?
There exist numerous actions individuals can take to contribute to saving the planet. Each person bears the responsibility to minimize pollution, discontinue the use of fossil fuels, reduce consumption, and foster a culture of love and care. The Butterfly Effect illustrates that a small change in one area can lead to significant alterations in conditions anywhere on the globe. Hence, the frequently heard statement that a fluttering butterfly in China can cause a hurricane in the Atlantic. Be a butterfly and influence the world.
Educate
The Age of Loss and Damage Brouse (2023)
How is All Real Estate at Risk From Climate Change? Brouse and Mukherjee (2024)
Toppled Tipping Points: The Domino Effect Brouse and Mukherjee (2023)
Tipping Cascades, Social-Ecological Systems, and the Hottest Year in History Brouse (2024)