When Peace with the Earth is shattered
Six of nine boundaries breeched
Earlier in September, with the quiet stoicism typical of the scientific community, the Copenhagen Globe Institute announced that their updated research reveals that of the nine boundaries, six are now exceeded.
The boundaries framework, first presented in 2009, gives a guideline for humanity in terms of defining, on a planetary scale, a safe space for the impact of our activities (roughly 90% of which are from private companies, and 10% from government and municipal agencies) on natural systems.
Says lead author Katherine Richardson:
Crossing six boundaries in itself does not necessarily imply a disaster will ensue but it is a clear warning signal.
Indeed. It is a warning that we need to take a new look at how human culture has developed and find ways to put it back on track. To Peace. When Peace with the Earth is broken, it is harder to retain Peace with each other, and even the future.
Earlier in 2023, synthesis report from the IPCC landed on people’s screens on 20 March with a 36-page summary for policy makers and a shorter set of main headlines.
It suggests that given the warming already locked in, as well as the lack of measures in place, municipalities should prepare for weather pattern instability as well as to be ready for fast changes in political will.
Three major conclusions from the report should inform strategy. (The relevant statements in the AR6 headlines are included in brackets.)
The current measures in place will not take us below 1.5° of warming, the outer limit of safety for weather pattern destabilisation, rather unless there are new measures in place this warming will happen.(A:3,A:4)
Fossil fuels are the main source of the extra carbon in the atmosphere and they are close to warming the planet to an extent that the relatively stable weather patterns we have experienced for the last 10,000 years plus are at risk.(B:5)
Food production is a major risk. Even if weather patterns in one country have improved food production, the food system is global and shortage in one area will affect the food system as a whole as well as causing inflation from rising costs.(B:2,C:1)
In other words, we are in for a rough ride. But maybe that is what being human has always been about, it has never been easy. However, our core, the Peace we carry in ourselves, has always been there. Our ancestors wrote on the temple of Delphi in the 3rd century BC:
"Know thyself"
"Nothing in excess"
We may have a modern society today, but we can never leave Peace as our core, and exceed boundaries. The Ancient Greeks knew this, let us carry this wisdom with us.