By Nick Clark
Thank you to our guest columnist, David Gray, pictured below of Gray Energy Economics and Aim Energy Pros. I understand their concern. Humans, as a species, have had more of an effect on the planet than any other, with the possible exception of some wide spread species of bacteria.
Because we have empathy as a consequence of our very social nature, we feel the pain of our own destructive effects on other living beings, on the beauty of virgin mother nature, and the deep cuts we make in the earth herself.
From that empathetic response comes a visceral reaction to want to put nature before humanity. However, I cannot agree to that.
How much do we know about the bio-chemistry of Earth?
As the only species on the Earth that can reason at our advanced level...that can foresee so far into the future... and that can affect the planet in such a dramatic way, we have a special position as stewards of the planet.
For example, only we can (theoretically) save other species from meteor impacts. (I really hope we can do better than Bruce Willis since I know there are a lot more skilled drillers out there.) Only we can change our collective behaviour to alter the atmosphere, as we did by banning CFCs to protect the ozone layer. Only we can even consider having an effect on climate change.
I am not a "climate skeptic". I think the evidence is pretty clear that human CO2 production is creating a greenhouse effect that is increasing the atmosphere's temperature. What I am saying is that we have a responsibility to control that and all other controllable aspects of our planet.
Where I live was under 2,000 metres of ice 10,000 years ago. Geologically speaking, that was yesterday. It was more recent than domesticated dogs. If you've ever experienced a truly COLD Canadian winter, you might understand my preoccupation with ice ages.
In point of fact, while the evidence that humans are causing climate change is overwhelming, no one can convince me that we know everything about the climate of our planet. We don't know much about:
- Thermal convection from the planet core;
- Thermal circulation through the oceans;
- Solar variations;
- Interplay of the chemistry and bio-chemistry of Earth.
I cannot accept that nature is perfect, when it so often tries to kill us and all other life. We have been gifted with the intelligence, the foresight and the ingenuity to affect and create a world that is best for us and all other species of the Earth.
We are considering the colonization of other planets by "terraforming" them, changing their atmosphere, surface topography or ecology to benefit us and be like us.
Let's Terraform Earth
I am of the view that we need to be to be prepared to terraform Earth. Whether it is because Earth becomes too hot or Earth becomes too cold to support us, we need to be prepared to act.
We are the stewards of Earth. We should not be afraid to research, analyze and work to mitigate any threats to the viability of our planet.
We may need to increase CO2 production at some point in the future to stave off an ice age. We may need to seed the upper atmosphere with materials to block cosmic rays, if the planet's magnetic field stops protecting us. We may need to alter the trajectory of an asteroid to keep it from killing us all.
My point here is not to denigrate the people who want to do the right thing with regards to carbon and climate change for an altruistic love of nature and the planet. I think that is admirable and a first-rate example of being a caring and empathetic being on this planet.
What I am saying is that we do not have to suffer the vagaries of nature. Our fate is not to accede to whatever rocks, ice ages, floods or catastrophes that "nature" wants to throw at us.
We can and should be motivated by our unique and awesome capability to keep Earth hospitable and safe, for both humanity and nature's sake.