Is Our Planet at the Point of No Return?

Overwhelmed by all the disastrous forecasts? You’re not alone. To help break down this multifaceted issue that intersects with politics and enormously complex science, Katie recently sought help from an excerpt. She spoke to Daniel Swain, Ph.D., a climate scientist with UCLA and the National Center for Atmospheric Research. Since he studies extreme weather events and how they change in our warming climate, he answered all her burning questions about why this summer has unfolded so disastrously and what it would take to change this trend.

[Notalloldpeople]

This kind of interview which, whilst informative, ends with a section designed to ‘not depress and scare the pants off of viewers’ is part of the problem. Pretending we can solve this problem with soft actions and without recognising the dire consequences of our actions isn’t helping. People need to be very worried - if not for themselves, then for their children’s future.

[AKrn]

This isn't a solvable problem, it's a predicament to be faced. Someone who's worried we might not do something for decades doesn't understand the situation. We don't have decades, not even one. Everything we know is going away within the life time of most people alive today. Enjoy what you have today.

[gertrudewest]

10, 000 baby emporer penguins died this year in a massive nesting failure. They drowned because the ice pack the penguins nested on for years, rapidly melted. This affects all animals in the food chain.

None of the baby raptors survived the heat in the area I monitor. Birds are roasting and starving to death everywhere. It’s catastrophic.

[jmarie]

Unfortunately, it's not "fixable" if those in government, particularly the GOP in the US, refuse to acknowledge that climate change is something that needs to be addressed immediately. We as individuals can only do our part but when lobbyists who represents the oil industry are lining the pockets of those in Congress we are at a stand still. The solution is to vote out those who refuse to consider the future of our planet. I find it appalling that individuals in Congress who may have children and grandchildren are not concerned about protecting our planet for their families, knowing full well that fossil fuels are one of the factors contributing to this situation. It's all about money and greed and it's truly dispicable 🤑

[ksairman]

We really need to get all of our representatives to get off the weird Trump media cycle and get moving on solutions for climate change..

[maureenobrien]

We.are​ doomed anyway.​ The​ idea.of infinite growth on​ a​ finite planet is​ the​ stuff​ of​ nonsense

[susanavilez]

I took science classes in HS in the 70's and the oceanography texts and teachers laid it out exactly, as it is playing out, only far faster. People need to listen and act now.

[cclark]

Do you remember how much better the skies and the air got when covid was around and people weren't driving their cars. I was amazed and I think it proves that we could do this quickly if we would just do it

[Atheistbatman]

Yes it is too late. I’m a Horticulturist. My vegetable crops stopped growing and producing after only 1-2 nights warmer than days. Happened past 3 yrs in Rome, Ga. Days were 75 but a few nights got to 80 and every vegetable stopped growing. Also, No earthworms no fly larvae in trash cans for 3 years. Happened in town, counties not as bad but eventually it will happen everywhere

[coleorum]

If we are seeing extremes of weather now then it is far too late to stop it getting worse. It has taken 200 years to get this juggernaut rolling and we still have our foot hard on the throttle.

[steven]

"over the course of a human lifetime"

The population of the world has doubled TWICE since my grandmother was a baby....we're on the upper scary part of the exponential curve and things continue to proceed 'business as usual'

it's insane and surreal to think about what it was like then and what it is like now and how divorced many people are from the reality of the situation...

[stewartmeyers]

Daniel Swain: I worked in the timber industry for 30 years as a computer consultant and application designer, and worked with many timber managers. I was told that much of the problem with fires is the nature of the forests. Years ago, old growth was 60-80 trees per acre and the old growth trees had thick bark that was fire resistant; consequently, fires did help the forests by burning much of the low level plants and perhpas 10-15 % of the trees.. However, after millions of acres clear cut and replanted with 600 trees per acre of even age management, has yielded more trees with more low limbs, thin bark, and more brush, consquently fires do NOT help the forests, and the trees burn hotter and the fires destroy 80-85% of the trees. Could you please comment on this! Thanks...

[sentientflower]

Point of No Return is a meaningful idea when you are attempting to stop but given that Humankind is accelerating there is no such thing as a meaningful Point of No Return but rather we must worry about the Point of Compelled Stopping.

[sandybayes]

Always appreciate the reality of climate change brought to the forefront. Unfortunately the media is still mainly ignoring this critical issue except to sensationalize the tragedies caused by climate change instead of focusing on educating the public There are still too many climate deniers. Thank you for your diligence!

[stevenwilgus]

1:53 "... it's us, which means that we can fix the problem..." But, we won't.

[drawyrral]

We don't even have our foot off the accelerator. We are not going to fix anything because it is already too late.

[fredherfst]

Good interview. Can't help but hear George Carlin “planet will be fine, we're effed”. Words to that effect.

[suncoolbreeze]

It’s my opinion that we have passed the tipping point. Just look at all the things going on around the world 🌎 right now. It’s more active then I ever remember growing up in Southern California.

[helendillard]

Katie, you have the BEST guests and you interview them so well. Thanks for all you do to get the word out on these important issues.

[LordOfLight]

I've given up on mankind, personally. It's not that the deniers disagree, it's that they disagree for any silly reason that comes to mind. It's quite plain they're, well, in denial.

I'm just hoping that I die before the screaming starts.