Can Science save the planet

Should Science Save the Planet?

We have a choice about saving the planet with Science. When we talk about Science, it is not devoid of human opinion and error. Science is an entity that we created to interpret the behavior of our world. Are we taking on superhuman powers when we attempt to correct our mistakes?

In this year of 2007 we are more aware of a change in the climate of the earth than ever. We do not know if the changes in temperature or weather are a short term or longer term phenomenon or part of the natural climate cycle of the earth. Should this be happening? The abnormal patterns raise a red flag. What should we do about it? Do we (a) sit by and let nature take its course, realizing that our messing with the global climate may either fix the problems or tip the balance the wrong way even more. Or do we (b) take action to correct the global climate? Climatologists call this climate forcing, an appropriate term. Let's examine the two options.

Letting Nature Take its Course
We have a choice to do nothing. We can use computer models to try to predict the future but it is hard to say exactly what may happen. The media tends to over dramatize the climate outcome, but it is hard not to buy in to what is happening after watching a show like "Planet in Peril," which aired on CNN in late October 2007. In this special report three reporters traveled the globe to report on climate change. They visited 14 countries around the earth, making the story very convincing. A few of the stories were a sinking, disappearing island in New Guinea, a lake that was drying up in Africa and polar bear problems. These animals are swimming more and more due to more water and less ice, drowning and cannibalizing themselves due to lack of food. Polar bears are shrinking in size. In order to survive, they may need to adapt and evolve to a smaller size

If we leave things alone we will probably have a world that changes from one extreme to another or is the opposite of what we expect. In general, it seems it will be hotter, more humid, with more water in the oceans and less ice. Ice will melt more quickly in the arctic. Some freshwater lakes may decrease. We may have trouble growing crops due to drought or poorer growing conditions. Deforestation of the rain forest will continue by slash and burn methods. The biodiversity of animals will decrease. In addition to all the climate problems, we will have a larger population of humans. And if we don't solve the energy issues we will have