Environmental Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
ernments aren't rapidly developing renewable energy and public transport infrastructure; instead,
they're spending their money on building more roads. The financial system is not being downs-
ized and regulated; it's being propped up and inflated. Fossil fuel use is not being discouraged with
meaningful carbon taxes (except in a very few countries); instead, oil and gas industries are subsid-
ized.
The folks in charge will probably continue to buy as much time as they can, for as long as they
can, even if doing so makes the situation worse in the long run. Nature is less predictable: humans
cannot control the duration of the global warming “pause.”
The phrase “living on borrowed time” inevitably comes to mind, with its implication of impend-
ing doom. Yet we simply don't know how serious the impacts of these delayed crises will be within
a humanly meaningful timeframe—say, the next ten or twenty years. Doom is possible, but nature,
central banks, and crafty drillers may yet conspire to maintain the appearance of normalcy in the
eyes of at least some of the population even as the waters rise around our ankles. No collapse here,
folks; just keep shopping.
It's hard to know what attitude to adopt with regard to these things. Given that delays will likely
make matters worse when the dam does break, and that fundamental repairs aren't being under-
taken, should we therefore say, “Bring on the crisis, let's get it over with?” If that
is
our stance, then
what might be done to accelerate events? Our oil-supply situation could be hastened slightly toward
crisis if, for example, the federal government stopped expanding pipelines (like the Keystone XL)
meant to service tar sands mining in Alberta, or state governments enacted tighter restrictions on
hydraulic fracturing (“fracking”) for tight oil (there's no “bring-on-the-crisis” upside to decisions
in favor
of pipelines or fracking—these will worsen the climate dilemma without doing anything
to end the global warming “pause”). Maybe causing a US government default would usher in the
next chapter of global financial Armageddon: that's entirely within the capabilities of at least a few
people, and they seemed to do a very good job of marching us toward the brink back in 2012-13,
when Congress very nearly caused a default on Federal debt obligations.
Or shall we simply enjoy our remaining days of “normal” life? Spend time at the beach. Learn
to play a musical instrument. See friends and family. Those are perfectly understandable and legit-
imate ways of whiling away borrowed time.
Here's a thought: How about using whatever interval we have—whether it turns out to be
weeks or decades—to build community resilience? Get to know your neighbors. Plan next season's
garden. Join efforts to create a community-run renewable energy utility company. Buy from local
farmers. Put your savings in the local credit union. Take a Transition Launch! training course.
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If we do these things now, then when fingers can no longer plug leaks the ensuing mess may be
far less daunting. And in the meantime we may enjoy substantial social and psychological benefits
from living in a way that's more localized and communitarian.
If that's your choice, you'd better get going. There's no telling how much time we have.
— OCTOBER 2013
