climate and comms

Capitalism is under pressure as an economic system because of the inequalities it has produced and the environmental damage it has wrought.   We need to redesign the system into something that is as powerful but more humane and equitable.  The vast majority of humanity survive on a few dollars a day.    The economic boom of the last fifty years has benefited a relatively small elite. The fossil fuel driven economy has devastated the planet. Capitalism is the most efficient creator of wealth but it has been d erailed and it has led to inequality and environmental degradation on a global scale. Global warming and capitalism’s favourite progeny – globalisation – has triggered social movements,   political discontent and massive migration.    There are more economic and political migrants seeking greener pastures than at any time in history. Increased Government participation in the economy both directly and through regulation is required to temper the excesses of laisse

   The oceans have acted as ‘airbags’ in the slow motion car crash that is climate change.    They have absorbed much of the impact and protected us humans from immediate danger - apart from a 'little' whiplash i.e.  heatwaves, floods, droughts and storms. About 30% of CO2 emissions since the beginning of the industrial revolution have been absorbed by the oceans.   So, humans on land have been spared the worst of the impact of atmospheric heating (caused by increased CO2 and other GHG concentrations) that would have otherwise taken place did we not have the oceans.     But this has come at a huge cost : (1)      increased acidification of the ocean (pH has gone from 8.3 to 8.2) it's logarithmic - so actually a 30% increase in acidity ,   and : (2)    Increased temperature of the oceans – especially in the top layer ( up to 700m depth ) – since the 1970’s the oceans have trapped up to 90% of all excess heat energy trapped by GHG’s.     This is about 0.6 degrees C.