Make Every Day Earth Day: Stuart, can you share with us your thoughts on global warming?
Stuart Scott: First, global warming is just the tip of the iceberg – figuratively and literally speaking! The greater issue is sustainability, but global warming presents the clearest and most imminent crisis we are facing. My sense of immediacy and use of the word “crisis” stems from the scientific consensus that the Earth is warming, that the glaciers and ice sheets of the planet are melting, and that human activity is the key culprit.
MEDED: Rising sea levels must pose a major threat to our island home. How high are they expected to rise, and in what time period?
SS: That’s hard to predict with certainty, due to the complexity of ‘climate.’ Rates can change unexpectedly and trends shift erratically. Hence we see record snow storms even while the overall trend of global temperature is up. Recent conservative scientific estimates put the expected rise at 1½ to 4½ feet by the end of this century at present rates. I regard this as an underestimate in both time and extent. The worst case scenario is that sea levels would eventually rise by around 200 feet. Scientists say we have only about a 10-year window for action before a critical tipping point may be reached, leading to irreversible changes.
MEDED: So what will the Hawaiian Islands look like in the future?
SS: That depends entirely on our personal and collective response to the crisis. If mankind’s use of fossil fuel does not change quickly, and our habits of material consumption are not curbed, greenhouse gas generation will, in my judgment, render all of the coastal lowlands of the Hawaiian Islands uninhabitable before the end of the century.
MEDED: A future in jeopardy! What can we do to avoid this scenario?
SS: If we each deeply commit to making personal changes in our lives and accepting responsibility for taking action and involving others, we can bring about a “softer landing.” The more people with this commitment, the better are our chances of avoiding the worst scenarios. I’m giving free slide presentations, and have created the Climate Corps (www.climatecorps.org), a website that will embody an action plan for individuals. Though it’s still under development, I encourage readers to visit, join, participate, and learn more about what they can do to help.
MEDED: Stuart, thanks for your own deep commitment to informing us on this issue.
Stuart Scott is available to give free presentations on global warming.
He can be reached in Honolulu at (808) 732-0380.
Top of page
|
