East Pierians Wilford Welch and Terri Thomas presented a climate change symposium at the Sausalito Library in February.
Wilford acknowledged the challenges of getting people to focus on these issues and move from concern about the climate crisis, to actions that individuals can take to solve it.
He stressed that CO2 emissions by human activities have been rising to very dangerous levels since 1960 and are beginning to cause numerous irreversible tipping points in many of our natural systems. For example, global warming is rapidly melting the peat moss in Siberia that has been frozen and stored there for millennia. It is releasing deadly methane into the atmosphere, which is causing ever more global warming. The earth’s temperature is expected to rise between 2-3 degrees Fahrenheit by 2050 and by 7 degrees Fahrenheit by 2100, leading to sea level rise throughout the world. He used as examples of this a map of three sections of highway 101, and the business district of San Rafael, that are all likely to be underwater by 2050, a mere 26 years from now.
Wilford’s experience indicates that just showing data does not usually cause audiences to take the actions needed to stop runaway global warming. He went on to note that since 80% of people’s decision making is based on emotions rather than data, asking audiences whether they are concerned about their grandchildren would be far more effective approach to stimulate individuals to take action.
His final comments focused on tapping into such emotions as love and hope to lay the foundation blocks for taking action. He noted that ever since the industrial revolution and the rise of market capitalism, the human race has been exploiting all of natures’ resources to satisfy our drive to maximize near term profitability and the consumption not only to satisfy our needs but also all the wants we have come to expect. And, since we only tend to protect those things we love, we all need to fall in love and steward the natural world rather than continue to exploit it. That is the mind shift needed if we are to have the hope called for to take the actions needed.
Terri detailed ways to get involved or find out how to act on climate change:
First she recommended attending a Marin Conservation League committee meeting that may pique your interest in something. You can join the meetings without being a member. The League was founded in 1934 by the four trailblazing women who shaped Marin: Carolyn Seeley Livermore, Sepha Evers, Portia Forbes, and Helen Van Pelt. The Golden Gate Bridge was being built, and they worried about the increased automobile traffic and privatization of public land. MCL’s mission is to preserve, protect and enhance the natural assets of Marin in a changing environment.
MCL serves as both watchdog and advocate through committees that monitor a broad range of climate change, planning and land use issues county-wide to ensure Marin’s values are maintained and restored. They influence decision makers to ensure that actions are consistent with a healthy environment.
COMMITTEES:
Climate Action Working Group
- Serves as a forum for regional clean energy groups
- Currently are actively advocating for electrifying buildings
Land Use Transportation and Water
- Land Use is currently completing MCL’s Sustainable Housing Policy
- Transportation has been focusing on advocating for a Highway 37 alternative that reduces traffic, allows for sea level rise and includes wetlands restoration.
- Water has been focusing as a Marin Water District Watchdog and on rate increases.
Parks and Open Space
- Recreation planning, trails and electric bikes
- Open space management
- Vegetation management for fire risk reduction