"Did We Do That?" - Friedman 10/28/07

Today, Friedman penned a column on global warming and climate change that focuses on the question as to if certain cataclysmic events that are occuring (e.g. Southern California fires) are directly the fault of mankind. The idea that a specific event is atrributable to global warming is a stretch, to say it is specifically attributable to human action is even more difficult. It is, however, important in my mind that these types of anecdotal connnections be made in the general imagination of the populace. The thing that I find resonates most for people is when they think about the things they or their loved ones have seemingly noticed changing over time -- Be it the later freeze or the earlier thaw of farmers or the ability to golf in November in the suburbs of Chicago. These discreet events are what powers our imagination, which can lead to a collective consciousness that realizes there is a cost to our actions.

There is no completely conclusive evidence that a catastrophic and tumultuous weather period lies in wait, but as Friedman and his interviewees point out -- Weather change is occuring and if these disastourous events do continue to come in higher than expected frequencies, we are severely lacking in our infrastructure to handle these issues:

"Getting society focused on meeting these new infrastructure needs is huge. Our creaky power grid or leaky water pipes really matter in prolonged, record-shattering droughts like the one Georgia is now experiencing. “Some scientists have suggested giving droughts names, like we do hurricanes,” Ms. Cullen noted. “If we did, this Southeast drought would be called Katrina, and it would be about to hit Atlanta."

The failure of the world (with the likely exception of the Dutch-- they've been ready for years) to address how we will handle a 3 inch rise in ocean levels and the inablility to recongize the critical importance of having a water distrubution system that can handle and accommodate a severe drought are two (there are many) examples of how we are not preparing for what may not be certain but is becoming more and more likely.... and you just don't build flood walls overnight (just ask the Dutch)!