GEOL 2207 Lecture Notes - Tonne, 2Degrees, Ecosystem Services
Document Summary
Our economic system does not effectively put a price on water, air, ecosystem services: we pay collectively for the use of these free resources by individuals, regulation/pricing applies to individuals, but benefits are collective. We think of climate issues as environmental rather than economic, health, national security issues, etc. The latter often top the list of political concerns around election time. Life on earth has always adapted to climate change sometimes by extinction. Sufficient political will for mitigation seems to be lacking, so adaptation will be important: support businesses and politicians who act to reduce gfg and energy use. Climate change (specifically global warming) is occurring at a challenging pace. Recent observed changes in climate cannot be explained by natural variability alone. Our dependence on fossil fuels is primarily responsible for our contribution to global warming. Co2 is the most important ghg to regulate.
