Jun 26, 2008 -
Horizon Ahoy!
Climate change is a controversial topic with few agreed upon conclusions. While I'm not convinced humanity is affecting climatic changes through the increase of 'greenhouse gases', I am convinced we are doing a great deal of damage. Many of these changes are certainly apparent. The best listing I've found is buy Jared Diamond in his book Collapse detailing the major effects we've had on our planet.
1. Destruction of natural environments
We've eliminated over 1/2 of all forests with another 1/4 expected to go by 2050. Coral reefs, wetlands, and other sensitive environments are suffering a similar fate. Rainforests suffer a great deal more.
2. Overharvesting
The tragedy of commons has allowed businesses to overexploit resources in just about every location imaginable.
3. Extinction
Many resources are being overharvested to the brink of elimination. While many of these species do not have a direct impact on us (like earth worms), they do have an indirect impact. The ecological cycle is very fragile and the elimination of any species can have dire consequences.
4. Erosion
Land used for farmland (or nothing at all) erodes over time. As land is deforested, the roots holding soil in place are removed, leaving nothing to keep the wind and water from carrying it away. In Iowa, Mr. Diamond visited a church that was 10 ft higher than the surrounding farmland. When asked why they built a church on a hill, the farmer replied that the church was actually built on level ground.
5. Energy is only getting harder to attain
The Earth has almost boundless energy, but the means of attaining it become harder (and thus pricier).
6. Depletion of fresh water
Currently water resources are heavily overutilized. Aquifers are drying up, lakes and rivers are drying up, and desalinization is expensive.
7. Photosynthesis ceiling
There is only so much sunlight that hits the Earth. As of 1986, it was estimated humans use roughly 1/2 of all the energy derived from the Sun. That is, if we developed a photovoltaic cell capable of achieving the efficiency of plant photosynthesis, we would still have to cover half the planet with them to achieve the energy needs of today.
8. Chemical pollution
Whether chemical wastes are affecting our environment or not, they are certain affecting us. At least 130,000 Americans die each year from pollution-related illness.
9. Alien species
While certainly not new, we continue to introduce new species around the world. Just like the diseases brought to the New World or the rabbit infestation of Australia, we decimate local populations by bringing along predators they are unadapted to.
10. Greenhouse gases
This one is arguable, but the potential that we are producing vast surpluses of methane and CO2 is unquestionable.
11. Population growth
Humans are hugely successful. We stretch across the entire globe in places no other plant or animal can survive. The problem is as we continue to perpetuate, our resources continue to dwindle. At some point, we will hit a breaking point.
12. Lifestyle
More important than the number of folks is the standard of living they enjoy. A First World inhabitant consumers 32 times as many resources as a Third World inhabitant does. The trouble is that many countries are striving for 1st world living. If China alone reached 1st world status, we would reach the limits of our resources and they would deplete rapidly.
Auto Industry
So how does this affect the industry? Well, raw materials will only get more expensive. Oil prices will only go up (despite the controversy of a short term drop in gas prices). So the obvious is that we must find alternatives. The problem is, every 'alternative' costs resources. Solar power has a great deal of initial resource consumption (silicon, plastic, various metals, etc), not to speak of the cost. Wind power has substantial initial costs as well. Nuclear power offers many benefits, but comes with a strong social disapproval. Hydroelectricity also offers moderately cheap energy, but destroys aquatic environments. So do we simply continue to produce oil-consuming vehicles? I would say yes. But the key is to make them as fuel efficient as possible. There are many questions concerning whether we can continue to live as First World societies. If suchh societies are doomed, the personal automobile may be doomed with it.
