Blue ocean absorbs 93% of the heat from the sun, whereas the white ice only absorbs 15%. Hence, with less ice, the water heats up faster, which melts more ice and so on. This is what scientists call a self-reinforcing feedback loop. And, in this case, it is not a good thing.
What does all of this mean? It means that we are rapidly approaching a time when the Arctic Ocean will be ice-free for part of the year. Scientists cannot pinpoint the date when that event will first happen, but it could be as early as September of 2021.
Once it goes ice free for part of one year, the scientists predict that it will be ice-free for a longer time in the years that follow -- until it becomes a permanently ice-free ocean. As this process continues, the rate of climate change will be accelerated -- a phenomenon that will lead to extreme disruption of weather, habitats for all species of life and our own ability to grow food.
The time to act is NOW! As Dr. Wadhams stated above, the ice is melting rapidly, that "canary in the coal mine" is dead and we are now living on borrowed time. As noted in the earlier slide with his picture, he has also concluded that we must begin urgently removing CO2 from the atmosphere -- a process that is technically feasible but will cost trillions of dollars. Why has it not started?
That urgently-needed CO2 removal process has not started at scale because the world's most powerful nations prefer to spend their trillions on idiotic projects like more nuclear weapons. That way, we can destroy all life on Earth quicker than Mother Nature can.
On a brighter note, I am pleased to report that Dr. Wadhams told me last year that our AGRA idea (American Green Region Authority) as described in Outcry is the best idea that he has heard regarding the possibility of our long-term survival as a species. We envision that the GBN, overseen by AGRA will be a very special place where only green lifestyle options exist.
The Bottom Line. With the ice melting quickly in the Arctic and the West coast literally on fire, we should be urgently using whatever time we have remaining to design, build and populate a successor civilization -- one that treats Mother Nature with the dignity and respect that she deserves and, in fact, requires.
But no world leaders are even talking about it.
That is the story that we tell in Outcry. And it's not all bad news. Aimed at helping to spark a global conversation on this most serious of all topics, we step back and take a look at the many wonderful things that are possible when we get really serious about re-designing and replacing our grossly unsustainable way of life on planet Earth.
Please join me in helping to spark the most important conversation in the history of humanity.
|