Growth Isn't so Greaat: Eaarth Chapter 2

Change is a good thing, at least that is what we've been told.  What we've been told has made it easier to accept the uncertainty and question that accompany it. Change brings about new ways, and most importantly, change brings about growth. Because of this you'd probably agree that change is a good thing, right? I'd agree too, except when it's not it's not so much of a good thing anymore, when it's no longer accompanied by some fluff reminding you of the good that is to come because of it. And that uncomfortable, big scary change is the type that we are facing as we become more and more aware of the changes associated with our changing climate.

Change is what has brought growth. It is what has progressed us as a society, and for this reason we have welcomed change. Naturally we want to be bigger, we want to be better, we want more, and we've got it, quickly too. Take the Industrial Revolution. We grew and it was great. We've progressed despite natural disasters and economic downfalls. Despite facing some crappy situations, we've found a way to grow. This type of growth is great. It keeps on coming and there doesn't seem to be an end to it. It's exponential and explosive, or so we think. In chapter 2 of Bill Mckibben's Eaarth.

We've said that we can change our ways when the time comes that we need to. We will learn to adapt and just as necessary. We will figure things out. The scary thing is that time isn't tomorrow and it wasn't yesterday either, it was 50 years ago. As Mckibben says "The waves are already breaking over the levee; the methane is already seeping out of the permafrost; the oil wells are already coming up dry. It's going to be a little late." And he's right. Many people of the world aren't able to deal with the changes that global warming is bringing about now, they aren't ready to stop growing, to stop expanding.

The Eaarth is ready for us to stop growing. Now is it's turn for change. The future of it is that we are no longer going to be fighting to grow, rather we are going to be fighting to survive. Third and even first world countries are already experiencing this first hand. Climate change is causing droughts at this very moment. These droughts are causing food shortages and famine, and in turn political unrest and war (what else will they bring?). According to recent studies, the political conflict in Syria is due to this changing climate. 

The worrisome truth is that Syria is a single place. There are more places experiencing events relating to climate change, and as Mckibben points out, we not going to be able to continue to adapt. The troubles that we face as a result of climate change are only going to become more severe as time goes on. There will become a point when we will be unable to grow, there will become a point that we start to decline. My question is when will that decline be and what will it look like?