Will We Sacrifice Enough Today?

Last September, the Los Angeles Times published a special 24-page supplement to its 9/15/24 Sunday edition: Earth in Peril – Our Climate Change Challenges. Knowing how the number of readers of the LAT print edition has dwindled, I may have the only copy on the west side. Nevertheless, it is packed with ideas and articles from climate specialists, etc. It opens with this question: Will we sacrifice enough today to ensure future generations can survive? Thus far, during the past twenty years of national concern about the changing climate, my answer would be a resounding NO!

In my view, nothing is more important to the survival of humanity and all other species than learning how to manage the changing climate.

It is not that people don’t care, it’s more likely that most people don’t know where to start doing something truly important. There are many, very many, small groups clamoring for action, but no concerted national effort seems to be forthcoming. One person I have followed for years and reacted with is Bill McKibben, whose organization, 350.org, is the place to go for climate change resources. The LA Times also has a running series, written by Sammy Roth, called The Boiling Point. Yet, we must keep in mind that there are a great many who do not believe we are experiencing a rapidly changing climate – especially in our federal government and in industries which are faced with expensive alterations to practices or even extinction. Yet, this is most unfortunate, for the feds have the money needed to efficiently adapt big time to the changes. The US is far behind many of the developed country signatories to the Paris Accord on Climate Change. The current administration has signaled that science-based solutions are not on its agenda. California is more advanced than most other states in its approach to the matter, and grass-roots activities in many cities – my.wehoclimateaction.org – prove that an increase in awareness of the need for action does exist.

It is not easily apparent to most city dwellers that change is afoot. Most seem not to care at all, as a busy life can dull some instincts. For those of us who have space for a garden, Spring has sprung much earlier this year, as a number of flowering plants have put on their best shows in advance of the calendar. Recent conversations with friends in Colorado, Massachusetts, Florida, and Georgia all were concerned about the early Spring and the unusually heavy rains or extremely dry land, more other unusual climate conditions. As I write this, an 8,500-acre wildfire is raging in New Jersey, threatening thousands of residents who had never thought such an event could take place there. The memory of our own recent fire disasters is still too distinct to push aside. Climate scientists have yet to understand the potential effects of long-range climate patterns. We have to be ready for whatever comes. West Hollywood has a special website, my.wehoclimateaction.org, with many suggested actions for Earth Month. These may seem to be small actions, but this is where we individuals must start.

Carl Cronin