In this second of three parts on climate change denial let’s look at what is at risk for humanity and other life on Earth.

Part of the denial syndrome is our belief that our ingenuity will save humanity from the worst impacts of climate change. But there is a problem with that way of thinking.

What if we discover too late that in fact we are not clever enough to protect ourselves? At that point it is too late to stop the spiraling effects of climate change, and billions of people will perish.

Business-as-usual is simply not sustainable. It is estimated that once the rest of the non-western world has obtained the resources to have what North Americans take for granted it will be necessary to have four planet Earths to sustain our “essentials of life”.

Peter Singer, professor of bioethics at Princeton University  says “…it is the rich who are using most of the energy that leads to the emissions that cause climate change, while it is the poor who will bear most of the costs.”

The costs, I may add, will be the poor nations’ displacement from their lands.

In fact, in 2006, the 10,000 people of the island of Lohachara in the Bay of Bengal became the first people to have their land submerged by rising water levels. They will not be the last. Huge portions of every coastal nation in the world will be lost to the rising waters.

Modern climate change has underscored humanity’s lack of understanding that we are dependent on the natural world for our survival. With the damage to our biosphere caused by global warming, there will be mass extinctions of species upon which we depend.

For example, take away the insects and agriculture would collapse.  The creatures that live on the coral reefs are dying from the rising ocean temperatures.

Coral reefs are an essential part of the ecosystem that supports the fisheries that feed humans.

In preventing climate change we will conserve the planet’s natural heritage.

A fascinating book to read is Jared Diamond, Collapse.

In it he explains that many past societies have failed, in part, as a result of ignoring the environmental integrity of their land. Easter Island is a famous example.

A sixth mass extinction is beginning to take place.  It is for all of us to be committed to making sure our governments, at all levels, enact legislation to save the planet.  

Being aware that climate change and the extinction of species are related points us in the right direction.

Even U.S. President Bush has committed his government to saving the polar bear population by asking that it be put on the United States endangered species' list. There is much we can do in Canada as well to protect our indigenous species.

Finally, deniers of a climate crisis might ask themselves this question: what will our legacy be for our grandchildren if the science is right?

Douglas Nadler is an environmental activist and Beaver Valley resident. Your comments are welcome at connection@simcoe.com.