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How soon forgotten

March 2, 2023   ·   0 Comments

By Doug Skeates

An expression commonly encountered in past generations, ‘Too soon we grow old; too late wise’ describes today’s attitudes of at least a significant proportion of many in the now generation.  Those still living who experienced Hurricane Hazel, have not forgotten a time when Toronto was almost completely isolated from the rest of the world due to environmental conditions resulting from environmental destruction of such unforeseen climatic events.  A disaster for which society was unprepared.  The high-level bridge over the Don River was the only means of getting in or out of the city.  But what has been learned?  Certainly decision-makers of that era saw the need to implement policies to minimize the severity of such serious conditions and loss of life.

Today society is facing a recurrence of similar events but of a much greater magnitude.  The news of recent years has centred on storm conditions of one hurricane after another. Thousands will not forget Hurricane Katrina in the southern U.S. or Sandy in the north-east attributed at least in part to global-warming affecting weather patterns.  Extreme drought conditions and massive wildfires have resulted in the destruction of several communities world-wide including some here in British Columbia.  Today’s news of flooding in California due to more than five inches in a single day being reported in one community after another.  The occurrence of such unusual weather conditions is dominating the media on a regular basis.    A publication, ‘The Future is now’ (Bob McDonald, 2022) is an apt title considering what the world is facing. 

For half a century, scientists have been warning about the dangers resulting from rising world temperature and the need for society to take measures to address them.  Finally, this has become common knowledge and world leaders are pledging to combat the situation.   A major question now being asked is whether it is too little, too late.  Photographs reveal rapid melting of glaciers and arctic ice fields containing a significant proportion of the world’s supply of fresh water.  Many scientists have noted that the water crisis is of greater concern to human life than the current emphasis on fossil fuels.  Inadequate water supply is a serious problem in many parts of the world.

In addition to meeting human needs directly, supply of water is necessary for agricultural production. Irrigation is essential for plant growth and many farm communities depend on the supply of water from lakes and rivers to meet their needs.   Much of North Americans’ food production depends on aquifers, water stored over many eons far below ground.  Farmers are pumping water from greater depths every year.   Supply of food is essential for an ever- increasing world population and starvation is already a common feature in many regions around the globe.

Change is inevitable and luckily there are signs that are encouraging.  In addition to pledges from world leaders, society is indicating greater interest in grassroots implementation.  Cost of renewable energy is becoming more affordable while that of developing new sources of fossil fuels is increasing.  Many homeowners are implementing a switch to more self-sufficient energy sources.  The recent covit-19 pandemic has opened up the possibility of working from home reducing the cost and time devoted to driving to and from work centres, an alternative to burning fossil fuels and reducing production of carbon in the atmosphere.  On a commercial basis the greatest shift has been in transportation philosophy.  Manufacture of electric powered cars and trucks is becoming more common, it has been estimated that by 2035 they will be the only ones produced and marketed by the automotive industry.

The prominence of Nature in our lives has tended to be overlooked. It is the most notable resource working for society.  Every year trees add an extra ring to trunks as well as a few inches of roots and new foliage at no cost to the world’s economy.  Forest ecosystems help promote the accumulation of aquifers which in turn ensure adequate ground moisture to support ecosystems and supply of food.  Nature works quietly on our behalf, largely unnoticed hence underestimated.  The answers to many of life’s problems lie unrecognized right before our eyes. Time to grow wiser sooner!!!

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