How can we prevent the world from melting?

We live in a warming world, a fact that becomes more apparent every year. The reason for warming is also clear: human civilization’s addiction to fossil fuels.

Emissions of heat-trapping gases have been studied since the 19th century. The first scientific article on CO2’s ability to trap heat was written in 1856 by American scientist Edith Foote. Scientific studies followed this first article and increased in number, scope and sophistication every year.

And now, in 2024, new science is coming out every day – hundreds of studies every year – confirming global warming and describing its many consequences. The easiest for us to perceive is this. The ice in the Arctic Ocean, Greenland and Antarctica is melting year after year. That wouldn’t happen if our planet weren’t warming year after year.

In 1936, Ernest Hemingway published a story entitled “The Snows of Kilimanjaro,” referring to the glaciers then seen on Africa’s highest mountain. In 2024, there is very little snow and ice left on Kilimanjaro. Scientists also predict that in just a few decades, the ice in the Arctic Ocean will shrink enough that we can take a boat to the North Pole through open water in the summer.

It may seem that open water in the Arctic is not a serious matter, but such an event would likely signal one of the “tipping points” that scientists have been eagerly awaiting. The Arctic is bathed in sunlight in summer, when the sun does not set for months. An Arctic region with open water would allow the sun’s energy to be absorbed all summer long, gradually warming the Arctic ocean and further extending the ice-free season. The Arctic would then enter a new state of positive feedback, in which increased absorption of solar radiation warms the water, reduces ice cover and causes further ocean warming.

What warms the Arctic doesn’t necessarily stay in the Arctic. Nearby Greenland will melt faster than now and global sea levels will rise. Those vulnerable to sea level rise will suffer first. Ultimately, island nations such as the Maldives and Kiribati will disappear beneath the waves and their residents will be forced to seek shelter elsewhere. Coastal areas on larger land masses will be vulnerable to more and stronger storms. Some coastal areas may become so damaged that they are no longer habitable. Our future will include an increasing number of refugees.

The grandchildren of the world are our legacy. The decisions we make today will inherit tomorrow. That is our immortality. We will not be remembered fondly for accumulating money, for being famous, feared and powerful. We will be fondly remembered for making wise decisions that benefit future generations. When we choose to make selfish decisions…poof! We will be nothing but memories that our descendants choose to forget.

How do we prevent this? First, we start with a familiar ethical premise: we should treat others the way we want to be treated. The Golden Rule. In it we have the ethics that have the best chance of widespread acceptance. Now let’s expand the concept and apply the Golden Rule not only to our families, neighbors and co-workers, but also to people we have never met, in countries we have never visited. Let us further apply it to generations not yet born. If we do that, we will have a foundation for the survival of human civilization.

I urge us all to think seriously about the impact of climate change on our professions, our loved ones, our homes and our communities. There is now enough information available to understand and take action. Acceptance, understanding and concern are the first steps to addressing these issues. We at Western Connecticut State University are working to prepare our students and communities for a warming world by teaching courses on climate change across disciplines. We also provide climate education for the public. Come to WCSU to learn more about climate change.

Mitch Wagener is a professor of biology at Western Connecticut State University.