Are We Experiencing a Mass Extinction

As if we didn't have enough to wonder or worry about, the news about complete loss of organisms is another. It is thought we are experiencing more loss of diversity than ever in the earth's history. This does not mean automatically humans are going to be extinct. There is not a way to predict who or what will survive. One conclusion is this exodus and decline in diversity is due to loss of habitat. This is where humans come in.

As one species after another becomes extinct, and new ones are not appearing, it suggests a trend or direction toward nothing is left. Certainly it is not a trend line toward expanding the health of welfare of living things, including humans.

There have been many doom's day predictions involving our environment. Because doom's days did not arrive on schedule all such prognostications are scoffed at by some. There were scoffers about climate change. It is here. 

Having followed the economics of the environment for decades I'm well aware of the pitfalls of doom's day predictions. But some evidence continues to point toward doom's days and no one, not even scoffers, have come up with a way to avoid it. 

The weather characteristics of climate change we known at least a couple of decades ago. These are long drought/heat periods followed by extraordinary rainfall periods. These patterns did not show up at first. But there can be no doubt they have arrived. 

The drought/heat means there is a limit to how many people can live in vulnerable locations. There is a limit to how much air conditioning can be maintained. Water must be rationed to a degree not experienced in modern society. Food production and therefore diets must accommodate to what can be produced under extreme conditions. Ultimately, migration away from the driest areas will be required.

Anyone following the news knows the other half of the climate change experience knows the consequences of the huge rainfall events, i.e, floods. These events make living near water all but impossible. This, like the drought/heat means people must retreat from living near water. 

Migration of humans and food production to adjust to drought/heat and huge rainfall event means crowding into available land. Human population is projected to grow substantially before it later levels off and falls. The logical result will be competition, maybe violence, is in store. 

There needs to be more realism about the inevitable results of climate change.