The existential threath of climate change


Chomsky on the climate change threat

Chomsky sees climate change as a threat to the 200K years long experiment of being human. Anthropocene is the current, newly named geological era and the naming signifies the trans-formative (destructive) impact our species are inflicting on planet earth. Both Anthropocene and the Nuclear age coincide and are perpetuated by human civilization. Anthropocene is also the geological era that the sixth global extinction is occurring, driven by humans ( we are indeed aggressive species!)

Here are few key statements that Chomsky makes to articulate the threat of climate change:

  • CO2 levels had surpassed 400ppm, a point considered a critical point .
  • Stability of antarctic ice sheet is in danger at those CO2 levels.
  • Droughts, new temperature records, floods, severe weather are all the predicted effects of climate warming.
  • Hundreds of millions of people life is threatened by the climate change . Some 31.5 million people are displaced every year by weather related disasters.
  • Melting of the Himalayan glaciers may affect the water supply of billions of people in south Asia.
  • Sea levels rise in Bangladesh will cause the flee of millions of people.
  • The climate change refugees crisis is just starting now, it will impact the western nations and it will surpass all current and past refugees crises.

 

Chomsky notes that leading climate scientists of Bangladesh argue that climate migrants should be allowed to emigrate to rich western countries that contributed greatly to green house gases.

To avoid major climate change calamity, we need to launch a global collaborative effort to counter the twin threat. So far the International efforts through treaties and agreements are at this time 2021 non binding. The 2016 Paris negotiations resulted in a weak, non binding agreement. Apparently a stronger statement could not be agreed upon because of Trump administration.

Yet it is possible to reach agreements. Chomsky reminds us of an agreement that was reached to abolish the use of HFC, (hydro-fluoro-carbons used in air conditioning) a harmful green house gas. The agreement exempts India and Pakistan and recognizes that these countries have a greater need for air conditioning and fewer means to replace HFCs. Agreement can be reached and richer countries are taking a bigger responsibilities to achieve a global goal.

 

Chomsky adds that the threat of extinction should not mean that we give up our other struggles. People are not expected to surrender their immediate needs or long developing historical claims. Instead we should include those goals in our present struggle against extinction.

 

Chomsky pauses and ponders. The republican party is perhaps the biggest political organization in the most powerful nation in the world history. This party , by denying climate change, has become a major destructive organization, dedicated to the destruction of life on our planet. Chomsky concludes: there was never a more dangerous political organization in human history as today's Republican party!

 

Chomsky closes by comparing us, the citizens of this planet as lemmings led by our leaders, marching to the precipice. We are (knowingly?) ignoring the sixth life extinction on this planet of which we humans are the perpetrators.


Main points

  • Refugee crisis driven by climate change is already happening. Some 31.5 million people are displaced every year by weather related disasters. This crisis will impact our economies our culture , the way we living and our health.
  • We need to WAKE UP and act globally and collaboratively NOW.
  • We, citizens of our planet, have done it before and reached a global agreement to limit the use of Hydrofluorocarbons. We can do that again and avoid climate driven global calamity.