The 2001 report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) is telling us “Projected climate change will have beneficial and adverse effects on both environmental and socio-economic systems, but the larger the changes and rate of change in climate, the more the adverse effects predominate”. In order to move to the best situation as possible, this report demonstrates that our society must give priority to the preservation of the environment and the harmonization of the development in the world. On the contrary, if we continue to give the top priority to the economic growth and a country or regional based development, then the environmental situation and its socio-economic consequences will be more and more disastrous in the coming decennium : drier summers and more rainy winters in Europe; submerged islands and coastal areas in Nederland, Egypt, Bangladesh and in other countries; more devastating storms and hurricanes; more infectious sicknesses in the southern countries; more migration pressure and so on … ( these consequences are described in numerous scientific magazines ). It must be noticed that the evolution of the climate is linked to the other aspects of our environment: water, air and ground preservation, biodiversity, energy resources … We must also have in mind that the more concerned people are the young and future generations.
Well, in order to simplify, I would say that we have to choose between :
- UTOPIA : a world society where most of the citizens give to each action ( everyday acts, purchasing, votes, way of life, … ) the top priority to the preservation of the environment and the harmonization of the relationships between people. Click here for some ideas.
- and DISASTER : a society where personal and group interests, power, money and material well-being are the top priorities. See other articles of this page.
We have no other responsibly choice than to make this utopia attainable.
Didier – World citizen
Picture from www.digitas.harvard.edu.