Trees in
the Amazon are the world's sweat glands – and 10 other essential climate facts
I
interviewed 31 climate experts and found that talking about the climate crisis
can have a powerful impact
Ariel Conn
Wed 27 Nov
2019 12.00 GMTLast modified on Wed 27 Nov 2019 17.38 GMT
Rio Manu,
home to arguably the highest concentration of biodiversity on Earth, in
southeastern Peru. Taken November 4, 1971.
BNX547 Rio Manu, home to arguably the highest concentration of biodiversity on Earth, in southeastern Peru. Taken November 4, 1971.
BNX547 Rio Manu, home to arguably the highest concentration of biodiversity on Earth, in southeastern Peru. Taken November 4, 1971.
‘The Amazon rainforest is not the world’s
lungs; it’s our sweat glands.’ Photograph: Stock Connection Blue / Alamy/Alamy
You will
not be surprised to learn that the climate crisis is a big and complicated
problem. But when I started Not Cool, a Climate Podcast, I honestly hoped that
if I could just talk with a few climate experts, we could clarify the facts and
outline straightforward solutions. Thirty-one experts and 26 interviews later,
I realize how mistaken I was, with more questions now than when I started. But
I’ve also learned some amazing facts about how nature works, how humans work,
and how to start addressing this crisis.
1) Zoning
laws save lives
Zoning laws
might seem inconsequential, but they can also save lives. The deadly fire in
Paradise, California, and the flooding from Hurricane Harvey were as much about
lax zoning laws as they were about extreme events caused by climate breakdown.
Regardless of how quickly we bring down our emissions, we have some warming
already locked in, which means there will be more fires, hurricanes and rising
sea levels. Zoning laws help people stay safe in more extreme and frequent
disasters.
2) Cement
is killing the planet
Integral to
our zoning laws are the building materials we use. Cement, for example,
accounts for approximately 8-10% of all global carbon emissions. Roughly half
of those emissions come from the carbon removed during the process of making
cement, while the other half result from the energy required to make cement.
Steel poses similar problems. Ironically, these carbon-emitting materials are
often used in climate change adaptation solutions like sea walls.
3) We need
more mangroves
Fortunately,
nature provides incredible tools for addressing and adapting to climate change.
Mangroves – essentially forests that grow along coastlines – are near magical
solutions that came up in multiple interviews. They help prevent erosion and
protect coastal regions from waves and rising sea levels. The trees are a haven
for biodiversity, which could be partly why coral reefs seem to thrive in their
presence. And mangroves also sequester a lot of carbon, which can help address
both global heating and ocean acidification – an effect of the increased carbon
in the oceans.
4) Healthy
oceans absorb carbon
Our oceans
take in a shocking amount of carbon – about 25% to 30% of all emissions. We can
thank our oceans for ensuring that climate breakdown isn’t worse, but that also
means that ocean acidification is a huge problem, especially in polar regions
where the colder water absorbs more gas. Though some people hope technical
solutions like geoengineering could help address global heating, these won’t
help ocean acidification.
5) Forget
geoengineering – we have forests
There are
two types of geoengineering, more accurately known as climate engineering. One
highly contentious method involves injecting particulates, such as sulfur
aerosols, into the sky to minimize solar radiation and decrease temperatures.
The problem with this approach is that if countries disagree about optimal
global temperatures, we can’t just suddenly stop the geoengineering systems, as
this would cause global temperatures to rise quickly and dramatically. But if
left unaddressed, serious international disagreement could lead to war. The
other – far less contentious – geoengineering option involves pulling carbon
out of the atmosphere. Though technologies for this exist, they’re not yet
affordable or scaleable. But nature could again help here, as more forests
could absorb more carbon, cooling the Earth.
6) The
trees in the Amazon are the world’s … sweat glands?
The Amazon
rainforest is not the world’s lungs; it’s our sweat glands. Most of the oxygen
we breathe actually comes from marine organisms like phytoplankton (another
reason to be grateful for oceans). Instead, forests are useful because they
pull moisture from the soil and expel it through their leaves, cooling the
Earth just as sweat cools our bodies. So not only are forests vitally important
for reabsorbing the carbon we emit, they also decrease temperatures.
Unfortunately, many forests – especially the Amazon – face deforestation. Some
researchers fear that if even 25% to 30% of the Amazon rainforest is cut down,
the loss of moisture could change its basic makeup, transforming it from a
rainforest to a savanna. This threat remains speculative, but is it possible
we’ve already passed other critical tipping points?
7) Humans
might be reaching a climate tipping point … and that’s a good thing
Climate
systems like to be in equilibrium. If we push them out of equilibrium, past
their tipping points, we could trigger feedback loops and exacerbate global
warming. For the most part, these are considered future threats, so it was
disconcerting to learn that we may have already tipped the West Antarctic Ice
Sheet into a state of irreversible melting. If that’s the case, we can expect
ocean levels to rise even more than predicted with current warming levels. On
the other hand, many of the experts I spoke with also hope we may be on the
verge of a human tipping point. As many pointed out, past cultural shifts
happened slowly, then suddenly. If climate crisis awareness and concern
increase at their current pace, we may yet be able to make the changes
necessary to ward off the worst climate threats.
8) The
scientific consensus around climate change matters
Perhaps one
sign that we’re nearing a human tipping point is the incredible scientific
consensus surrounding climate change. I didn’t formerly care that 97% of
climate scientists agree about climate change. I cared about the actual
scientific studies that clearly show the Earth is warming. But consensus is more
relevant than I realized. First, this level of scientific consensus doesn’t
occur unless the science is really robust. Second, most people don’t have time
to read all of the science. They have to put their trust in experts, and when
97% of experts say something is true, the public typically listens. The problem
is that many people don’t realize how strong climate consensus is.
Perhaps the most important thing to know about
the climate crisis is that solutions exist. It’s political will we lack
9) Talking
about climate change is powerful
Talking
about the climate crisis can have a powerful impact. Just talking more can help
address confusion about climate facts and help us all realize that public
consensus regarding climate change is quite broad. This doesn’t mean quoting
climate science to your conservative uncle at a holiday dinner. You could have
a conversation about the money you saved by getting an electric car or bike, or
that you want solar panels because they make you more self-sufficient and will save
you money in the long run.
10)
Switching your bank could be the most green thing you ever do
Looking for
another easy way to address the climate emergency? Talk to your bank. Many
banks help fund the fossil fuel industry, and if yours is doing so, you can
switch to a bank or credit union that doesn’t. As an individual, you can and
should vote – but while we wait for better climate policies, moving your money
could be one of the most impactful actions you can take to de-fund the fossil
fuel industry. Fun statistic: people are more likely to leave their spouse than
their banks.
Perhaps the
most important thing to know about the climate crisis is that solutions exist.
It is political will we lack. Many people worry about convincing climate
deniers that climate breakdown is real, but deniers make up a very small
percentage of the population. Our real focus should be on convincing those in
power that the majority of us want to see strong political action. That happens
when we talk to each other, when we talk to our representatives, and when we
talk to our financial institutions. Individual climate action is critical, but
this is ultimately a societal problem, and the solution must be societal as
well.
Ariel Conn
is the host of Not Cool, a Climate Podcast, the former director of
communications and outreach for the Future of Life Institute, and the founder
of Mag10 Media, an organization dedicated to improving science communication
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