'Deforestation of the tropical rainforests is progressing unstoppably.'
Accelerated forest fragmentation, at a higher rate than expected, is leading to a critical increase in tropical forest edge area with large amounts of carbon released at those edges. ufz.de/index.php?en=3…
We're now heading for an atmospheric CO2 concentration of 430 ppm (corresponding, according to the IPCC, to dire 1.5°C) by 2026, and 450 ppm (horrific 2°C) by 2034.
However, 400 ppm actually leads to 3.5°C eventually according to James Hansen.
1. unsurvivable deforestation 2. >1.7°C global warming hell 3. chemical pollution threatening mammal fertility 4. extinction of 25%-75% of species
Media: more growth!
Governments: more growth!
IPCC: more growth!
UN: more growth!
6 million species:
1. There is an alternative: a postgrowth global economy which respects species and ecosystems that secures decolonization and decarbonization with immediate emergency degrowth action in rich countries for the benefit (and survival) of the many not the few.
2. Deforestation must end in the next few years for any hope of a chance of avoiding the near-term collapse of rainforests. This would be possible with international cooperation, but won't happen with the current economic system.
"If we continue business as usual and we see the same rates of biodiversity loss we've seen over the past 100 to 500 years, we will see the magnitude of loss that was characteristic of the dinosaurs dying out - in a couple of centuries, maybe sooner."bbc.com/news/science-e…
For decades scientists have been saying a vast degradation of habitat and extinction of species is happening on a catastrophically short timescale and effects will fundamentally reset the future evolution of Earth's biota.
'Once-common species will be extinct, or exist only in human-made environments like zoos or private breeding colonies..such as the lemur sanctuary in the Caribbean that Virgin boss Richard Branson proposed last year'
How might we avoid a global extinction tsunami at horrific 1.5°C - 2°C from 2029? 🧵
1. 'Prominent economists' have explained the need for a "post-growth" plan which necessarily opposes capitalism's pursuit of endless growth, the root cause of today's 'obscene inequality, impending ecological collapse, and climate breakdown.' salon.com/2021/10/09/sol…
2. 40%-60% of primate, tree, amphibian, and invertebrate pollinator species already face annihilation today due to the ever-expanding destructive activities of the global growth economy. It's not just about abrupt climate change.
Are we all aware 50% of Earth's wondrous species necessary for human survival are in the shadow of mass extinction within 25 years as the endless growth of toxic industrial capitalism thrusts us towards a contaminated 1.5°C Earth by 2027 or is the propaganda too slick for us? 🧵
1. Immediate emergency postgrowth action to radically and totally transform the global economy away from pollution and habitat destruction & fragmentation into a post-capitalist endeavour could yet slow us down and push back 1.5°C by decades or even theoretically maybe avoid it.
2. Scientists say we're in a profound climate-extinction crisis.
Postgrowth action for economic system change is achievable. Positive quirks of fate are a real possibility.
1.5°C-2°C horror in the 2030s may be avoided, IF we warn of the danger.