Friday, June 9, 2017

What-if?

If you have been reading my blog long enough, you know that I believe that climate change is real. I believe that my activities, however small they are, affect the earth negatively.

Lately, I have been reading about the other side of this issue. I understand that quite a few of us believe that climate change is not affected by human activities. And all the climate models worked out by scientists are incorrect. Of course everyone is entitled to have their own opinion, and everyone has their own source of information ascertaining their point of view.

I can understand that if we continue to be skeptical of climate change, we can continue to burn fossil fuels, use coal for our power plants, use fossil fuel based transportation and continue to increase our carbon emissions. Anyway that's what we have all been doing all this while, and that is what has put us on to this path of fast-track progress!

My only concern is - What if?

What-if the climate models turn out to be real?
What-if we are indeed affecting the climate by our activities?
What-if incessant and uncontrolled carbon emissions will cause irreversible increase in earth temperatures that will make this planet inhabitable?

I understand that we can continue to be skeptical, and not believe in the scientific research being published. We can continue to live the way we have lived for the last several decades.

But also, we can now strive to change our habits on a personal level. Try to reduce our carbon footprints in our own small way. Irrespective of our belief in climate change, there is no harm in being frugal in our consumption of the earth's resources, being mindful of carbon emissions, and adopting a less fossil fuel based lifestyle.

It is not because we have to believe in climate change. It is just because we have a shared responsibility to our planet. And we don't want to worry about the what-if?