Greta Thunberg
United Nations Climate Action Summit 2019
September 23rd
In this speech Greta scolds us and implores the use of science to address climate crisis now!
As part of the earth we are obligated to live sustainably on our only home. Systems thinking is necessary and science is essential.
At 100 yrs old his 2019 book Novacine examines artificial intelligence and more. The 2009 book "The Vanishing Face of Gaia: A final Warning" is perhaps more apropos. The systems approach and scientific basis of Lovelock's work is critically important to consider.
Controversy and disagreement in the scientific community exists. Reductionist disciplines will have their implicit and explicit biases and may never agree. As Lovelock describes, models are incomplete and underestimate what observations demonstrate; consensus (IPCC) is politics, not science.
Waiting to act until we have every last evidential question answered may leave us with little to live on. Perfection is not necessary and may never be possible, a systems approach is essential. We cannot wait any longer to act.
Our travel choices externalize impacts. Carbon fiber requires considerable heating and processing and composite materials cannot be easily recycled. When we travel by land, air, or sea we generate externalities which traditional (neo-classical) economic models ignore.
When we fail to consider the external costs we impact others and the planet. When we examine total cost of ownership (TCO) and other neo-classical analysis we fail. The fundamental theories are based on supposition not scientific observation. TCO and such implicitly externalizing methods
of neo-classical economic analysis will continue to exacerbate climate
crisis.
Doubt this? The works of Dr. Charles A. S. Hall and others broaden the social science of neo-classical economics to include the externalized costs and consider the physics and biology of the planet. In biophysical economics external costs and impacts are considered, not ignored.
The 2018 textbook by Hall and Klitgaard "Energy and the Wealth of Nations: An Introduction to Biophysical Economics" explains the science as well as the limits of classical economics. Energy Return on Investment (EROI) and Life Cycle Analysis (LCA) are two important tools.
Living organisms suffer cancer when eternal growth of cells occurs. The "fairy tale of eternal economic growth" may well be the cancer which extinguishes our species.
Gretta's activism are a call to action, to motivate youth as well as us. She reminds us what we already know, the analysis must be scientific. Wishes, fairy tales and platitudes have no place here. We must act.
We will not be forgiven for inaction. A liveable planet and our own extinction are at risk.
Educate yourself and plan with others. Start Today, consider what you and others can do, refine your actions and keep acting. Our youth are watching.
As part of the earth we are obligated to live sustainably on our only home. Systems thinking is necessary and science is essential.
Gaia - living earth
Dr. James Lovelock an independent scientist has been studying and publishing on Gaia hypothesis which suggests our planet is a living organism.At 100 yrs old his 2019 book Novacine examines artificial intelligence and more. The 2009 book "The Vanishing Face of Gaia: A final Warning" is perhaps more apropos. The systems approach and scientific basis of Lovelock's work is critically important to consider.
Controversy and disagreement in the scientific community exists. Reductionist disciplines will have their implicit and explicit biases and may never agree. As Lovelock describes, models are incomplete and underestimate what observations demonstrate; consensus (IPCC) is politics, not science.
Waiting to act until we have every last evidential question answered may leave us with little to live on. Perfection is not necessary and may never be possible, a systems approach is essential. We cannot wait any longer to act.
Economic fairy tale
Gretta Thunberg and her activism is important as was her scolding at the Climate Action Summit. Her travel to the UN by carbon fiber, solar powered sailboat instead of flying helped announce her activism.Our travel choices externalize impacts. Carbon fiber requires considerable heating and processing and composite materials cannot be easily recycled. When we travel by land, air, or sea we generate externalities which traditional (neo-classical) economic models ignore.
When we fail to consider the external costs we impact others and the planet. When we examine total cost of ownership (TCO) and other neo-classical analysis we fail. The fundamental theories are based on supposition not scientific observation. TCO and such implicitly externalizing methods
of neo-classical economic analysis will continue to exacerbate climate
crisis. Doubt this? The works of Dr. Charles A. S. Hall and others broaden the social science of neo-classical economics to include the externalized costs and consider the physics and biology of the planet. In biophysical economics external costs and impacts are considered, not ignored.
The 2018 textbook by Hall and Klitgaard "Energy and the Wealth of Nations: An Introduction to Biophysical Economics" explains the science as well as the limits of classical economics. Energy Return on Investment (EROI) and Life Cycle Analysis (LCA) are two important tools.
Living organisms suffer cancer when eternal growth of cells occurs. The "fairy tale of eternal economic growth" may well be the cancer which extinguishes our species.
Gretta's activism are a call to action, to motivate youth as well as us. She reminds us what we already know, the analysis must be scientific. Wishes, fairy tales and platitudes have no place here. We must act.
Action
Let us not be distracted by unsettled scientific differences, insufficient economic analysis and politics. We need action plans, solutions and legislation that can move us forward based on the science we do know. Consider the work of Thunberg, Lovelock, Hall and others in your efforts.We will not be forgiven for inaction. A liveable planet and our own extinction are at risk.
Educate yourself and plan with others. Start Today, consider what you and others can do, refine your actions and keep acting. Our youth are watching.
The disarming case to act right now on climate change - Greta Thunberg
TEDxStockholm November, 2018
"...the sustainability crisis, where everyone keeps saying climate change is an existential threat and the most important issue of all, and yet they just carry on like before." (at 2:37)