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| Scientists predict that climate change will lead to more wars. We must create a happier, safer future for all. |
In my history classes when we studied the Second World War I remember looking at pictures of all the devastated cities. War destroys everything it touches: lives, cities, wildlife, even the forests. After the First World War northern France was marred by a huge ruined landscape. Whole towns and forests had been wiped off the map. There are places in France today that are still too toxic for people to live in them.
What happened in Europe and Asia during the world wars may only be a glimpse of an apocalyptic future. When the oceans rise high enough people will abandon coastal cities by the millions. Wherever they go they need to be housed, fed, and have access to good sanitation. Can you imagine the nations of the world pulling together to help each other? Not if Donald Trump and other nationalistic leaders have their ways. These "our nation first" leaders are creating a world that will be ripe for war.
Climate change isn't just flooding coastal cities. It's wreaking havoc with the seas. Every year we hear about more fisheries being threatened by warm oceans. We cannot sustain the demand we place on the seas for food. But you don't hear the Japanese government talking about responsible fishing. They continue to harvest thousands of whales every year under the pretext of scientific research. Everyone knows they are not conducting research. And if you ask the Japanese people to give up shark fin soup they'll act like you've committed some social faux pas. So let's just kill all the sharks because we don't want to offend the Japanese culture.
The day of selfishness is upon us. The world will gradually collapse into an irreversible economic disaster because people are losing the courage to stand up for what is right. If you really want to protect your interests and your children's future you'll demand that the governments of the world take action. Yes, there are the Paris Accords. And yet scientists are warning that we're not reducing carbon emissions fast enough. The Paris Accords were a compromise between the selfish interests of many nations. China and the United States aren't doing enough to reduce their own emissions.
Climate change will disrupt every industry. As investors, both large and small, we owe it to ourselves to put our money will it has the best chance for long-term growth. Like it or not, companies that fight global warming have a better long-term survival rate. They may not all be profitable now but demand for their technologies will only grow over time. We have no choice, as consumers, but to do everything we can to preserve the environment and change society from the ground level up. Our leaders are failing in their moral and economic duties.
What Must We Do As Consumers?
My wife and I have begun by replacing our least energy-efficient appliances. We're also going to buy a hybrid for our next vehicle. But that purchase is still a couple of years away.
We've started learning more about which foods have the highest carbon footprint. This is an area of consumer science that is still in development. There's a lot of conflicting information out there.
We're planning to travel less so that we don't burn as much fuel as we used to. We're turning to more natural lighting. And we're also looking into investing in solar technology.
What Must We Do As Investors?
I've begun researching green funds. I still want to minimize my risks. We don't have a large enough portfolio to risk on individual stocks. But I think the energy sector has a few emerging companies that will join the blue chip stocks of the future.
We're also pulling our money out of funds that don't support carbon-smart companies. And we have agreed not to invest in cryptocurrencies.
Not only is Bitcoin too volatile, blockchain technology requires too much energy. The companies running blockchain servers are using more and more electricity every year. This is not a sustainable technology and we won't support it. Nor will we buy products and services from companies that use blockchain.
It doesn't matter if you think it's too late to save the world. If mankind can speed up global warming without knowing what we're doing then we can slow it down through careful planning. It won't happen over night. It took us centuries to screw up the world. We may still be able to salvage it and us in the next 20-50 years.
We have to try. Don't you agree?
