During the Holocene (the geological epoch that started 11,500 years ago with the retreat of the glaciers), human activity grew to become a principle mechanism of change in the natural world on a local scale through for example altering soils; burning; or introduction of new species. Now, however, scientists suggest we have entered the Anthropocene- a new epoch where human activity has grown to such a level that it has significant global effect on the Earth's geophysical processes and ecosystems. There is debate as to when exactly we entered the Anthropocene (suggestions include in 1800 with the onset of Industrialization; the detonation of the first nuclear bomb in 1945; the beginning of the Great Acceleration post-1950; as well as back in the early Holocene when humans caused mass deforestation with suggested global, not just local, impacts) but the point is that the explosion in human population and resource exploitation means that humans now have taken on a central role in the functioning of the Earth's natural systems. More specifically, 97% of climate scientists agree that the Earth is undergoing human-induced global warming due to an increase in greenhouse gases (GHGs- mainly through burning of fossil fuels); as well as pollution; environmental damage; and deforestation.
Most of us are aware at least a little of the dangers of global warming: rising temperatures; melting ice caps; rising sea levels; changes in precipitation, soil moisture, snowcover and sea ice; increases in extreme weather; increases in water stress, heat stress and food insecurity; species extinction; disease etc. yet despite all the scientific evidence and understanding, not enough is being actually done by governments, corporations and the public to reduce GHGs emissions and help the environment. As such, this blog aims to explore how we can get the public to engage more positively with the environment, "rethink" behaviours and relationships to the environment and whether we need to "rethink" how we frame global warming as a whole in order to get people to act.
My interest in this particular subject stems from my Year Abroad in Toronto, Canada where I took a module called "Global Warming". The sense of urgency in the module that global warming was the biggest threat that humanity faces and that we must all do much more than we are doing currently really sparked my interest in the psychology of global warming; the value-action gap, self-evaluation and changing of my own lifestyle choices; and how perhaps I, through framing and speaking about the environment in certain ways can encourage family and friends to behave in more environmentally friendly ways.
A useful framework to think about throughout my blog is the Planetary Boundaries approach. The Planetary Boundaries approach aims to develop a safe space within boundaries where societies can continue to develop but do not compromise the functioning and resilience of the Earth system. As shown in the image below, we need to stay within the green "safe" spaces in all 9 key areas, yet we have already, for example, exceeded the zone of uncertainty in Biosphere Integrity and Biogeochemical Flows. How can we engage the public in order to perhaps bring and keep these 9 variables within the safe(r) boundaries?
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| Source: Steffen et al., 2015 |
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