Paradise Lost?

I'm a pretty chilled out, mellow person. Few things really get to me and get me worked up. Those who know me well, know this does (hopefully I'm not starting to sound like a broken record, but this is overwhelmingly important to me):

I've been hearing many climate scientists say they are worried, concerned for the future of our planet. Climate models are beginning to paint a grim picture of our future. We are beginning to see the effects of climate change manifest in drought, record temperatures and record arctic ice melt. Climate change is beginning to impact those who live on remote islands. It saddens me, it frustrates me. The communities that live on these islands are the first to experience the negative effects of our changing planet.

Our country can spend trillions on war (http://costofwar.com/), but when it comes to the preservation of our own planet, we aren't willing to spend. Why have our presidential candidates mostly ignored the issue of climate change (http://climatesilence.org/)? Why can't we, as a nation, be leaders in addressing and acting upon what we already know is happening? I know that people like to argue that climate change is a natural process, many people are skeptical. It is true that the climate naturally changes over time. Over long periods of time, it changes drastically. However, I don't know how people can deny the fact that we are significantly altering earth cycles, most notably, the carbon cycle. As a result, our actions are accelerating the pace of climate change and altering the way in which climate change would occur naturally. How can we deny the fact that extracting carbon from within the earth and transferring it into the atmosphere by burning fossil fuels (32 billion tons per year) is having a negative impact on our environment? (http://www.epa.gov/climatechange/ghgemissions/gases/co2.html).

I understand the argument that we are living creatures that have a right to consume and advance our civilizations, which means using the earth's resources. However, we are an amazingly intelligent species with high potential. We are capable of moving away from a carbon-based economy, maybe not completely, but we can sure do a lot better than we currently are. One of the main obstacles for clean renewable energy is money.

It is painful to see that corporations are already lining up to access the natural resources and oil that is soon going to be exposed as ice melts over the arctic. They want to access more of the thing that has caused the melting in the first place. Scientists have been warning us that we are reaching a point of no return in regards to the damage that is going to be caused to the planet, and essentially ourselves (http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/06/07/earth-tipping-point-study_n_1577835.html).

Instead of trying to prevent damage and drastic changes, our governments are simply beginning to think about how to handle the stresses that will be caused by changes in climate. Why are we not being more proactive? Yes, it will cost money to change now, but if we don't start to change, the cost will be even more in the future. There will be a high psychological and emotional cost as well. Oh, and the cost of lost life, too...But our mighty dollar and present needs are more important.

I feel bad about what is happening now on some of the islands across the planet. We are beginning to see the effects there. We go on living our lives as if nothing is happening. We can't continue this way. Eventually it will effect every part of the earth and every ecosystem, this includes us, we are not separate, we are not immune. I suppose eventually, when governments and corporations realize that they are being negatively effected by climate change, things will begin to change, but will that happen before excessive amounts of damage and suffering takes place?

I simply don't understand why so many people are in denial about the reality of what is happening around us. Why don't we (government and corporate America included) want to work harder to make our world a better place for future generations and to ensure that the planet and thus the people who inhabit it have a healthy environment to live in? Even if all of the climate models are wrong, all you need to do is look at the smog and breathe in the dirty air in a big city. It can't be healthy, why are we okay with it? I understand we must consume and "destroy" certain aspects of the planet in order for us to live and thrive. I just wish we were more mindful of our impact and more respectful to the planet that has fostered life as we know it. We live on a wondrous and amazing planet. She deserves so much better from us...and we are capable of it.

Please take the time to educate yourself about what is going on around the world. Knowledge is power. By combining our knowledge with compassion, we CAN make this world a better place for ourselves and future generations. A good site for frequently asked climate change questions: http://www2.ucar.edu/climate/faq