Indonesia and Palm Oil

Forest Conversion from WWF

Home to the Sumatran Tiger, Orangutan, Rhino and Elephant, plus a plethora of others species, Indonesia ranks as one of the most biologically diverse areas on the planet alongside Brazil and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Aside from being home to these species, the Indonesian tropical forests provide a substantial service to the world’s climate by absorbing carbon dioxide and creating oxygen. 

            This ecosystem service however, is under tremendous stress. Rise in world demand for palm oil have resulted in very high rates of deforestation, leaving many of its species in danger of poachers and displacement as a result of ensuing industrialization and destruction on their habitat. With Indonesia’s economy now running primarily on palm oil, efforts to decrease their rate of deforestation have been difficult as corruption is also rampant. 

            The high rate of deforestation must also dramatically decrease if climate scientists and the world has any chance of lowering greenhouse levels in maintaining global temperature within 2° C. It is very important for people throughout the world to understand what is happening in Southeast Asia. Learn what you can about Indonesia, and get the facts. Industry is currently winning there, but at the expense of the health of our planet and our future. 

            The Guardian recently posted ‘Indonesia’s deforestation is a disaster for the planet’ – audio slideshow. In this slideshow, you can see Paul Hilton’s account of what is occurring in the country. Take a moment from your day to watch this 6 min video, and understand what is occurring there to the animals and to our planet. The link to the audio slideshow is found below. 

http://www.theguardian.com/environment/audioslideshow/2014/apr/24/indonesia-deforestation-wildlife-paul-hilton-audio-slideshow?CMP=EMCENVEML1631

Who are Progressive Environmentalists?

Who are Progressive Environmentalists?

The traditional environmental movement has basic core principles, and one of them, is that there are limits to growth. This idea is embodied in several books, particularly one first published in 1972. The Limits to Growth was written by Donnella Meadows and others. Among environmentalists and policymakers, this book is highly regarded as one of its kind in the field. It used computer scenarios to predict population and economic growth in the twenty-first century, and what impact it would have on the planet. As the title states, the planet only has a finite amount of resources from which humans can utilize, and as you can imagine it, we are very near that limit according to Meadows et al. 

This notion of realistic limits to growth has been a fundamental component of environmentalists today and it is one in which many outside the field have come into realization today. However, there are individuals now dubbed Progressive Environmentalists who argue that there is no limit to growth, and if there is, we are very far from reaching it anytime soon. Among these Progressive Environmentalists are Ted Nordhaus and Michael Shellenberger who founded the Breakthrough Institute, which is dedicated to modernizing “liberal-progressive-green-politics.” 

While Nordhaus and Shellenberger are true environmentalists – since they do not reject climate change as environmental skeptics do – they have a different approach to solving today’s environmental problems. Their main argument is that capitalism at its finest – continued growth off the planet’s resources – is better than slowing growth for the purposes of alleviating the environment of its stresses. Bill Blackwater of the Monthly Review website states in summary of Nordhaus and Shellenberger’s point of view that “while energy efficiency fails to be good for the environment because it leads to economic growth, we should still pursue it because…it leads to economic growth, and this is good because it will make us richer.”  

What the Progressive Environmentalists fail to realize is that continued economic growth to the rest of the world to the point that they are at the same consumerist level of the United States will mean tremendous increases in carbon emissions, more natural disasters costing more money, and decreases in food productivity. The Limits to Growth displays our limits to all aspects of our planet, and not just a few that we can ignore in favor of continued and unsustainable economic growth as championed by the Breakthrough Institute and its members.

AAAS publishes What We Know

            The American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) recently published tier sought-after report titled, What We Know, detailing a summary report on what is currently known by climate scientists on the issue of climate change, and its impacts on our planet. Available for free on their website, the report quickly states that their main goal is not to “explain why [the] disconnect between scientific knowledge and public perception has occurred.” Instead, their main focus lies on presenting information on the consequences of climate change.

            The impact of climate change has even had a shift in American’s perception of the issue. For example, due to recent extreme weather events in the United States in the last few years, “two out of three Americans said weather in the U.S. has been worse over the past several years.” According to AAAS, this is up over 10 percent since early 2012. Besides the general knowledge that climate change is making rainy regions wetter, and dry regions even dryer, this report also focus on other aspects of the issue. 

            For example, they state that the ocean’s current rate of acidification is “the fastest in 300 million years,” with marine animals moving out of their usual location. In regards to melting Artic summer ice, the report says that in late 2012, ice melted at “nearly twice the size of Alaska.” While it is known that sea level rise impacts low-lying communities around the world, it is less well-known their impact on coastal fresh water wells. 

            The report notes that in South Florida, as a result of rising sea levels, salt water has made its way into some coastal wells. Besides the increasing costs of insurance, coastal communities must now protect their local water supplies for their long-term use. Another aspect to consider are more frequent storms and floods. With these becoming stronger, not only can they destroy homes and other infrastructure, but also accelerate the rate of asthma from flooded buildings not properly fixed after a flood. 

            When considering the impact of climate change on the military, the CNA Military Advisory Board recently said that “changes in climate are considered as potential threat multiplier or instability accelerants.” Discussion has now begun by other high-ranking DOD officials on how the American military and its infrastructure will be impacted.  

            Lastly, these scientists warn of the potential dangers frozen methane has if melted in the Arctic Ocean. As methane is the strongest of the three major greenhouse gases (CO2, Nitrogen, and Methane), scientists are not sure of the degree of high-impact they could have on our planet. Hopefully this report makes its intended impact on policymakers and, unfortunately, the last few deniers out there. Consider their points, and get to know the scientists of the report. Get informed.