Local Action to Combat a World Problem
The second Pugwash Conference on Climate Change says spontaneous, local action is required for mankind to survive the catastrophic weather we will face in the next number of years.
One of Canada’s leading climatologists opened the weekend Pugwash Thinkers’ Conference with a dire warning. Adam Fenech says the crisis in climate change is no longer in the future, it is now.
The UPEI professor, who was a key part of last year’s climate conference, offered a one year update with his signature four point snapshot, “We’re screwed, it is our fault, it’s going to get worse, and there’s nothing we can do about.”
Fenech admits his current presentation sounds all doom and gloom, but he added, “All I do is present the facts.”
He says the last few months speak for themselves, with massive wildfires, hurricanes and storms described as “once in a lifetime” that are now common and repeating, while large populations are suffering drought.
Fenech says the facts speak for themselves and it is only going to get worse.
A dozen “thinkers” spent Saturday looking for solutions, despite Fenech’s warning. One conference participant said it was reassuring there are so many people in the world who are taking on the challenge and who are “not willing to go down without a fight.”
Much hope is placed on a rapidly growing movement called “Drawdown”, inspired by a book of the same name. Drawdown not only wants to cut carbon dioxide emissions, they actually want to draw carbon from the atmosphere and bring it down to earth.
The new movement, now with cells and national organizations throughout the world, says changes in forestry, local farming, and ocean practices can make a difference.
Project Drawdown calls on individuals and communities to change the way we live. Individual, local change can make a difference. Participants in the weekend conference, from New York, California, and other Canadian Provinces, asked, “Will there be a Drawdown Pugwash?” The two local participants looked at each other and said, “We need to talk.”