Climate change, resource depletion trigger dramatic global change

By Park Eung-kyuk

One of the biggest challenges facing mankind and governments across the globe is tackling the dire consequences of climate change, pollution and the destruction of the ecosystem, and natural resource depletion due to the mindless activities of human beings. The effects of these changes are not only lethal to men, but also to a vast majority of other species. By and large, the overall effects of these changes have produced some natural disasters that have claimed a significant number of lives and properties all over the world. Nevertheless, the impact of these changes have been felt by the attendant increase in temperatures, sea level rises, economic upheaval, shifting landscapes and extinction of wildlife, to

mention just a few. This impact has shocked the world like nothing before and, if left unchecked, could account for a susceptible biotic existence. Therefore, it is high time that the entire world begins to realize the significance of these challenges, which have created several imbalances in Earth’s life by adjusting the form and abundance of land, sea and air, the three most indispensable elements that we need to survive on the planet.

Climate change is real

A number of Earth’s inhabitants have complained bitterly about a surging increase in temperatures during summers. Some have recounted stories of a “hot” winter, while many others are being faced with freezing land masses. Climate change has unleashed untold havoc on our ecosystem and the entire world is feeling its adverse effects already. From the mammoth hurricanes in the United States to massive floods in Korea, the whole world is being fazed by the unflinching phenomena of natural disasters, resulting from unprecedented climatic change which has been largely attributed to the activities of the human population in general.

This abnormal change in climate has given rise to a sporadic increase in the occurrence and magnitude of natural disasters around the world, with an expected likelihood of continuity in the trend. Considering the evident rise in temperatures and sea levels, and unpredictable seasons, we do not need further signs to know that the effects of climate change are already wreaking havoc on our present world. Former President of the United States Bill Clinton noted that “the incidence of economically devastating natural disasters will accelerate around the world with the changing of the climate,” which is hitting the nail on the head.

Apparently, the looming saga expected to arise from the demise of Mother Earth is more or less a myth to many of its dwellers. Some have argued blindly that this is not possible, while others have concocted some support to debunk the news. Fortunately, we have passed the initial stage of disagreement, evasion and escapism about the grave effects of climate change. Scientists across the globe agree that global warming is the result of the maddening pace of industrialization and anthropogenic greenhouse gases it emits into the atmosphere. Global warming is what results when gases (such as methane, nitrous oxide, carbon dioxide and water vapor) in the atmosphere retain the heat that the Earth is suppose to be radiating back to space. Meanwhile, the quantity of these gases present in the atmosphere has been on the increase, owing to a number of human activities including the burning of fuels and industrialization among others.

A higher number of the inhabitants of this planet also have embraced the discovery and have made it an obligation to pursue a way out of the precarious situation. Research conducted at sea, on land and in the air indicates that there has been unprecedented rise in temperatures over the last century and the Earth is experiencing all-time highs. According to IPCC (Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change), “Warming of the climate system is unequivocal, as is now evident from observations of increases in global average air and ocean temperatures, widespread melting of snow and ice and rising global average sea.”

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Global warming, global change

The magnitude of changes that are effectuated as a result of global warming and climate change are far greater than what is generally perceived. We have now reached the stage of “global change,” which means that the intensity of global warming spreads far beyond changes in weather and carbon emissions and includes every sphere of human life such as agriculture, natural resources including water, and fertility, thereby introducing demographic changes, changes in ecosystems, endangering certain species, migration, and international business.

Climate change happens at global level, but its effects are realized at local level in all regions of the world. It is now understood that there exists a close inter-relation between global changes and their effect on the local environment. The incidence of high magnitude hurricanes and flash floods, and epidemics in flora, fauna and humanity are now more rampant than ever before. Every region is affected to a varying degree — while some regions are hugely affected, making the region unsuitable for habitation, other regions may be marginally affected. In the Northeast Asian region, China, Japan, and Korea are already highly susceptible to floods, droughts and desertification. The result is unprecedented heavy rainfall, deforestation, and the concentration of residential and commercial activities in flood prone areas, thus putting people at a greater risk, while other areas may face drought and a decreased supply of water from upper regions.

Resource depletion

For centuries, men have been in an unending pursuit of convenience and adaptation. They have toiled the Earth to extrude every possible resources in order to give the inhabitants of this planet a new lifestyle, which has been greatly achieved. This resulted in more inventions and ultimately, an easier way of life. However, the overuse of the planet’s resources has reduced the amount of the available endowment and a tougher lifestyle is now confronting the world.

Dating back to an eventful beginning, our planet has been enormously endowed with abundant natural resources. These are materials that are found naturally in the environment. However, due to abnormal overstretch in this age, the continuous existence of some of these resources is under threat. This is regrettably a result of massive exploitation at the hands of humans due to our insatiable desire. This resource depletion has been attributed to the inability to allow for the proper restoration of these materials due to the immense craving for industrialization and economic growth.

To describe the situation, Jerry Marden, an expert with the International Forum on Globalization (IFG), came up with the term “triple crisis” which highlighted the prevailing social and ecological forces that are uniting to threaten the biotic existence of our planet and industrial society. The components of this “triple crisis” include (1) a rapid increase in climate disarray resulting from a vast heating up of the planet caused by the accumulation of greenhouse gases, (2) the peaking of the availability of natural gas, oil and coal, which is ushering in a regime of expensive energy, and (3) the depletion of forests, fresh water, coral reefs, wildlife, biodiversity and other natural resources.

A significant part of resource depletion is the end of cheap and abundant oil. The supply of oil on Earth is limited. After some time, we will have consumed 50 percent of the oil, which means that the remaining 50 percent will become costlier, and it will be less and less available, and finally, there will come a stage when there will be no oil or the amount of money and effort needed to be spent on recovering it would make it unfeasible. The time when we would have consumed 50 percent of the oil is known as “peak oil”. It is said that “peak oil” will be a reality one day, and we must prepare ourselves for it.

The rate of resource consumption has been a major cause of the dangers that have wrapped the Earth. This calls for an urgent need for the world to start educating everyone concerning the need to deal with the issue of consumption. Such awareness is especially important in the developing world that does nothing but ape every move of developed countries. This awareness should be directed towards checking the uncontrolled burden that men have been placing on natural resources which have resulted in various conflicts around the world.

Destruction of the ecosystem

Pollution has also been a major contributor to the ‘sick’ nature of our planet. The pollution and destruction of the ecosystem at any point in time results in the disturbance of the natural balance and affects organisms present in different ways. It is necessary to know the effect that a minute act, such as the introduction of toxic waste or sewage into a river, can have on the species of animals and plants in the region.

At last, the entire population of the world is now realizing the devastating effects of pollution on the ecosystem. This is a system comprising of a population of organisms, including humans, located in their physical environments. In other words, an ecosystem is composed of plants, animals, and the different environmental conditions interacting as one in a given area. There are several ecosystems on this planet acting together with overlapping functions and dependence. Over the years, it has been stated that the continuous viability and existence of the different ecosystems depends on the strict maintenance of the very delicate balance in its formation and composition.

In the meantime, the rate of the destruction of the ecosystem by the introduction of pollutants is alarming and needs to be addressed. Pollutants such as lead, detergent, nitrogen from fertilizer, and oil are capable of having a destructive impact on the stability of the ecosystem. For example, pollution can unleash devastating effects on the ecological balance of a lake by enhancing the growth of plants while causing the death of numerous fish as a result of suffocation from oxygen deficiency. In this case, the pollution stops the oxygen cycle, which will render the polluted water useless for animals that depend on the lake as a source of life and water.

Indeed, the awareness over the destruction of our ecosystem is a duty for all. The far-reaching impact of polluted water is known to be severe due to its continuous travel across many lands. This makes us understand that the destruction of an ecosystem ultimately affects other ecosystems within the environment. The overall effect of the incessant destruction of ecosystems on the planet through pollution will in turn reduce our quality of lives and endanger the possibility of passing the baton of existence to future generations.

Entropy: A new world view

With all these problems facing the world, the impending catastrophe must be averted by all means. In his famous book, “Entropy: A New World View,” Jeremy Rifkin submitted that the principle of entropy explains to us that our present world has begun to wind down, which is now seen as an irrefutable result of the long-term colossal exploitation of natural ecosystems.

Although not very often, there are times in which ideas that are brought forward will modify the entire history of humanity. One of such ideas is the Entropy Law. According to this law, energy migrates inevitably from an orderly system to a disordered one and from a stable to an unstable entity. This implies that whenever there is an appearance of a created order at any point on Earth, or the universe, the immediate environment bears the effect of the disorderliness that results. After an age-long debut in the 19th century, the world has recently felt the need to explore the maximum implication of this law.

Rifkin provided the basic re-conceptualization of this law as it applies to everyday life of an individual on this planet. With entropy, he was able to provide answers to why civilization has not been able to achieve larger peace and order through inventions and technology, but in fact has produced the opposite results: pollution, chaos, crisis and decay. For everyone who wonders why nothing seems to work anymore and why the solving of one crisis usually begets another, often larger one, entropy has the right answers for them. It is an important concept that is necessary in the proper shaping of the world in a few decades to come.

Rifkin also noted that humanity is now at the fringe of its most important experiment till date, which is based on remodeling human consciousness, in order to ensure the survival of human beings in the new globalizing society, and to live mutually with one another. Amid these and many other concerns such as waste management, deforestation, water scarcity, energy depletion and so on, the population needs to be aware of the incessant need to live in a way that is more sustainable.

Ways to save our planet

To solve the challenges posed by global changes, we need to understand that they are the result of our actions and inactions. We have collectively failed to shoulder our responsibility towards Mother Earth, and we all need to do our bit to save the planet. We need to rise up to the challenges and work towards saving Mother Nature itself and also the vast numbers of species that form the ecosystems.

So far, mankind has developed tools to tailor environments to suit it, instead of adjusting to the environment. With technological advancements, we tried to better our lives, gain an upper hand over nature and in the process we have interfered and disturbed the evolutionary process of the Earth with our mindless actions. This mad rush to move faster and faster has brought us to the point of no return, as we face severe crises on the social and environmental fronts. The need of the hour is to create a collective effort in the form of government policies that are in tandem with Mother Nature and the ecosystems.

In order to save our planet, a few steps need to be taken by everyone, and the cumulative efforts will give us a more sustained planet to pass on the baton of life. The first place to start is by conserving energy resources available. This can be achieved if everyone turns off the fans, lights, televisions and every other electronic appliance whenever they are not in use. Conducting a regular servicing of household devices is also an essential part to utilize less energy, thereby reducing the menace of global warming. In addition, proper maintenance of cars and other motor devices is one of the most important steps to be taken in order to save this planet. Exhaust from vehicles has been known to be a major contributor to environmental pollution.

Considering the number of problems and challenges plaguing the world, the task of saving the planet is a duty we all have to accept. Think about taking a walk when it is not necessary to take the car. Doing this will be a boost to health, save some gas and ultimately save the planet. There are a whole lot of these small actions that can be taken by every individual. Every inhabitants of the planet should contribute their bit and these will accumulate into all the differences we need to save the planet.

In the meantime, the most significant of all changes is the modification of consciousness, which is important for the purpose of reaching out to fellow human beings. Forming resistance against this change will harm our resolution to tackle the modern challenges surrounding us. Moreover, as the world travels through the magnified forces of globalization, the age-long rational mode of consciousness will soon become a source of danger to all humanity. Without doubt, the future implications that are expected to arise from the surfacing of the empathetic consciousness will be profound and extensive. Therefore, the time to act is now. This is our planet. We have to save the Earth!

Dr. Park Eung-kyuk heads the Korea Institute of Public Administration (KIPA), a state-run think tank under the Office of the Prime Minister, which deals with formulating policies on central and local administration. Park was a professor of public administration at Hanyang University for 28 years before he was appointed to the research institution in November 2009. Public posts he has held includ head of the Presidential Committee of Local Empowerment and chairman of the Innovation Committee for Government Organization. A graduate of Yonsei University and Seoul National University’s Graduate School of Public Administration, Park earned his Ph.D. at the German Graduate School of Administrative Sciences Speyer where he studied public administration. Among books he has authored are “Good Local Autonomy and Governance” and “Federation Path to Korean Unification: Global and Local Prerequisites.”