Global warming— a “Stop sign” we are ignoring

By Joy Le Page Smith, MA, BCC                                                             

Some of us may feel our throats tighten while reading the results from a meteorological study on heat waves caused by climate change. Izidine Pinto, researcher and study coauthor at the Royal Netherlands Meteorological Institute reported to USA Today on a study of heat waves transpiring in the Southwest U.S., Mexico, and countries in Central America caused. He related great concern, stating, “The results of our study should be taken as another warning that our climate is heating to dangerous levels.”

Yet, the heat waves are not only confined to the Americas. Last month (May) is now confirmed as the hottest May on record globally. According to the World Weather Attribution group heat waves happen when an area has been underneath a large and lingering region of high pressure known as a heat dome which occurs when hot air is being trapped close to the ground and further heated under skies of sunshine.

“Unsurprisingly heat waves are getting deadlier,” Friederike Otto of Imperial College London.  One of the study co-author said due to North and Central America becoming 1.4 degrees hotter, “millions more people are being exposed to dangerous heat. It is human nature to slip into denial when we cannot bear to look at something.

Many of us have experienced real trouble in life because we refuse to look at a truth that faced us. But, if wise, we humans can change our course of direction in order to avoid a calamity.

Stephen Hawking, famous physicist and cosmologist predicted before his death that “Humanity is at a “tipping point.” Saying in a video that “The Earth will turn into a giant fireball.”

Unfortunately, it seems the whole earth and its inhabitants’ are at that exact point right now. We absolutely must do something to preserve our planet.  But, who feels enabled to take on global warming? When we put solar panels on the roof of our home in Arizona, cutting our use of fossil fuels, the carbon footprint for this household lessened considerably.

Fossil fuels from coal, natural gas, and petroleum products are generated by the Earth’s fossilization process.  Although using these fuels has helped the world develop into what it now is—we now face a “stop sign” through resulting global warming.

What lies ahead is an indisputable threat to us. The future could hold a collision with nature so large that we humans have no resources available to thwart it.

Yet, those who hold the power to form policies to adequately address this matter are split in their reactions—causing lack of action.

Some among our governing individuals, and others who are seeking election say, “It’s not truly a problem,” in so many words. Some claim climate changes come and go through the history of the earth acting as if “This, too, shall pass.” Yet, some are listening to the scientists who are pointing to the truth that calamity is ahead unless we move swiftly so changes can be made.

Some cosmologists and astronomers are mightily concerned—enough to leave their original careers in order focus their expertise in math and programming to confront global warming. Dr. Anna Cabre, an oceanographer, left cosmology to study the effect global warming is having on marine animals and the ocean’s circulation patterns. She intends to design an interactive map to assist with international climate negations.

Bernadette Rodgers, former head of science operations at NOIR-Lab’s Gemini South, uses techniques to map plastics and other pollutants on Earth. She said, “The physical world doesn’t listen to politicians. It follows its own laws.” In speaking of human-caused emissions disrupting Earth’s carbon cycle, she says, “It is established science.”

Continued efforts are made to look for other places in the cosmos where humans could live—when needing to escape the mess we have made of the earth. Travis Rector, an astronomer at the University of Alaska Anchorage and a founder of Astronomers for Planet Earth who edited “Climate Change for Astronomers,” said “people are often surprised to learn that astronomers are engaged in climate change work. But there’s a very strong overlap between the science of astrophysics and the science of climate change. We understand, more than anyone else, that Earth is our only home.”

On a matter as important to all who inhabit the earth, why would our policy makers not want to listen to the voices of the experts whose life work involves studying events that are now seen as holding threatening catastrophe to the globe we live on? The people who have “the facts” have involved themselves with decades of studies. Would it not be best to heed their advice over the voices of others who stand on slippery agendas?

This is difficult because the matter of climate control is truly threatening. Looking straight at a truth that we feel inadequate to change brings feelings of helplessness–and is something we generally turn our backs on. The truth is that every American, during this year of election, can do their homework. We can know precisely what each political candidate plans on doing going forward, if elected, about what they will do, or not do, about greenhouse gases are trapping heat in the earth’s atmosphere and contributing to climate change.

Would it not be wise to look solidly at this matter to save our planet? If so, backing down from such a high point as we are at with the use of fossil fuels is of inherent importance.—even the most important of all issues on which to make sure our policymakers take action—now.

What is behind a politician’s agenda who does not take this matter seriously?

If we care about this wonderful home allowing for life as it orbits the sun, we must hear what people like Raissa Estrela an astrophysicist at NASA Jet Propulsion Labs has to say, “We have this beautiful diversity of life that took us more than 2.5 billion years to reach; now, over just a few hundred years, humans have altered Earth’s hard-won atmosphere and endangered its unique biodiversity.” Maybe if we act fast, we can stop this maleficence so our children and grandchildren will have a chance to breathe easily—or breathe at all.

We all know stop signs are intended to help people stay safe. Yet, how safe will humanity be if we run this stop sign? Scientists know the answer to that. Why on earth would we want to avoid backing off from majorly depending on fossil fuels?

Every one of us has a stake in this. Read the Fact Sheet prepared by the Environmental and Energy Study Institute. You have enough time before the election to discover the intentions of candidates as regards the matter of what they will or will not be doing about this imminently threatening matter of continuing to use fossil fuels at the same rate that currently places us in front of the largest and deadliest threat with which humans have  

In 1988 Environmental and Energy Study Institute, declared that “addressing climate change is a moral imperative, which has since guided our work toward our vision: a sustainable, resilient, and equitable world.” Their fact sheet is available at: FactSheet_Fuel_Externalities_2021.pdf

We the people have the power right now. We can study the election candidates asking to know what their intentions are regarding the matter of global warming. Not one of us can afford to be ignorant on this.

The Earth is a gift. Our role is to treasure the gift of the Earth and take care of it.

For information as to how to reach a candidate’s headquarters this link offers help–https://healing-with-joy.com/testing-candidates/

Author information: Joy Le Page Smith is a Board certified clinical chaplain, mental health counselor, author of four books, available at Healing-with-Joy.com and at Amazon.com.