Humans are not destroying the Earth The idea that the human race could destroy this rocky planet we

Humans are not destroying the EarthThe idea that the human race could destroy this rocky planet we call home is laughable. Not because ‘climate change doesn’t exist’ and not because we live our lives in an environmentally friendly manner (we don’t) but because our existence does not govern the life or death of a planet.It is proof of our species incredible false sense of self importance that we believe we could have so much control over a lump of rock that has been sailing through the universe for 4.5 billion years. The idea that we are stewards of this planet despite existing for only 2.5ma (a mere 0.05% of Earth’s existence) shows a lot about the human psyche.Climate change is a problem, but it is not a threat to the continuation of life; only to life as we know it. Arguments suggesting everything will be ok because it has been far hotter/colder in the past or CO2 has risen faster/higher than current rates are valid when it comes to the survival of life on Earth. If we are considering our own survival and the survival of the species we see around us today, then those arguments fall flat on their faces.The rate of climate change exceeds the rates at which some species (including ourselves) can adapt to the changing conditions, signalling a somewhat grim outlook for our collective futures.Our demise would not be a swift and painless affair, but more a slow and remorseless battle against the changing climate. There would be mass migrations due to flooding (the Netherlands would be a tad underwater), tropical storms would get stronger claiming more deaths and dealing more damage than ever before. Crops would fail and aquifers would become poisoned by the encroachment of saline waters. But don’t worry guys Britain will be able to make decent wine so its all ok.However, none of this bothers shrimp living at thermal vents on the sea floor where they casually navigate water being spewed out at 750 F (399°C) and feast on hydrogen sulphide (a chemical that can kill a human in minutes). They will continue to thrive long after we are gone in conditions we would never have thought hospitable.This false belief that only conditions under which we thrive and the animals around us exist can explain this notion of destroying Earth. Life will continue, just not in a manner that we are used but that is hardly surprising. Mass extinctions on Earth are not uncommon, but life always bounces back with creations as complex and wonderful as those before them because that’s what life does.It was only the extinction of the dinosaurs that allowed mammals to thrive, and only the extinction of the life that preceded dinosaurs that ever gave them a chance at becoming dominant.The reason we are so worried about climate change is not purely an act of conscience at the suffering we are inducing on the life forms around us, it is also a function of self-preservation. If we continue in the manner we are it is not the Earth that will suffer it is us. We are the ones that will become extinct, possibly the first species ever to engineer its own demise.An impressive feat, but don’t expect anything to care because life will continue in its weird and wonderful manner as if we were merely a blip on the radar.The only way we could “destroy” Earth would be if large natural sources released green house gases into the atmosphere at the same time as us and at such a rate as to outstrip the Earth’s negative feedback conditions that traditionally reeled it back from such extremes. The Earth easily contains enough carbon for this, but for it all to be released at the same time is extremely unlikely.If this did occur there would be a chance that the Earth could be put on a path with the end game resembling something like Venus. Then again who’s to say with all certainty that there aren’t some shrimp merrily chomping on some poisonous substance oblivious to our existence on Venus? Definitely not me.WatsonRefernces: http://ti.me/1ySC01DFurther Reading: http://bbc.in/1JGPxPpImage Credit: NASA -- source link

More pics about