Earth’s Own Climate Policy.
As we approach the upcoming COP31 meeting in Turkey, we should reflect on what “climate change” actually is.
An interesting recently discovery is that Antarctica once had a tropical climate and was very green continent, for the vast majority of its existence, it was much like any other parts of the world. It cooled down gradually over many millions of years, due to three factors—factors that could potentially recur again!
1 – The continent drifted southward until it came to rest over the South Pole. It is also well known that the continents continue to shift today, yet politicians do not consider this a topic worth discussing.
2 – Global carbon dioxide levels fell, leading to a general cooling of the planet. The concentration of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere is the single most important driver of Earth’s current climate change. Through the so-called greenhouse effect, carbon dioxide (CO₂) acts like an invisible blanket, trapping heat within Earth’s atmosphere. Without this natural greenhouse effect, Earth would be a frozen, uninhabitable planet. It is now suggested that humans have influenced Earth’s climate by raising CO₂ levels, thereby slowing the onset of a new ice age.
3 – A circumpolar ocean current emerged, isolating Antarctica’s weather systems from the rest of the world. The ocean is magnetic; because seawater contains salt (ions), it functions as an electrical conductor. As millions of tons of saltwater move through Earth’s natural magnetic field, a weak electric current is created, which in turn generates a small, localized magnetic field. Recent intense solar outbursts, accompanied by magnetic storms, may have affected both the Gulf Stream and the El Niño phenomenon. Another theory points to the fact that Earth’s magnetic poles have shifted significantly over the last 50 years—a change that could also influence ocean currents.
Why were temperatures much higher during the Roman era?
The warm period that occurred during the Roman era (often referred to as the Roman Warm Period or the Roman Climatic Optimum, roughly between 250 BC and AD 400) was driven by natural climatic factors—unlike modern-day warming, which is fueled by human-caused greenhouse gas emissions.
Researchers primarily highlight the following causal factors:
- Increased solar activity: The Sun experienced periods of higher radiation intensity and fewer sunspots, which warmed the Earth more than in other centuries.
- A lack of major volcanic eruptions: Large volcanic eruptions disperse sulfur particles and dust into the atmosphere, which reflect sunlight and exert a cooling effect. During the Roman era, there were relatively few major eruptions to disrupt the climate in the way seen during later, colder periods.
- Natural variations in ocean circulation and wind patterns: Shifts in ocean currents (such as those in the North Atlantic and the Mediterranean) and atmospheric patterns redistributed heat, resulting in milder summers—both locally and regionally—and more stable weather conditions across Europe and the Mediterranean region.
So, how does today’s climate differ?- Natural drivers (such as solar cycles and the absence of volcanic activity) can certainly interact to create periods of natural warming in the future. However, the conditions for Earth’s climate are entirely different today—which is why we perceive these changes as occurring more rapidly. But what distinguishes our current way of reckoning time from that of the past?
- We tend to view things through the lens of the human lifespan, perceiving the threat of climate change as a greater problem than it might have been during the Roman era—a time when timekeeping was governed not by GMT, but by lunar and solar cycles.
The risk of rising sea levels due to melting glaciers.
Rising sea levels are perhaps the most immediate consequence. When ice masses that were previously on land melt and flow into the ocean, it directly contributes to a rise in sea levels. Data from the CryoSat mission indicates that this rise is occurring faster than earlier models predicted. This entails an increased risk of flooding in coastal areas and a future in which millions of people could be forced to leave their homes.
Yet, if the risk is as significant as science suggests, why is this not being addressed by curbing coastal development? What is often overlooked is that land uplift—the rising of the Earth’s crust—is also accelerating; consequently, some regions may not be affected to the same extent.
Coastal development is primarily linked to the tourism industry—making it, in essence, an economic factor. Because it generates substantial revenue for national governments, there is little incentive to slow it down.- Development at higher elevations should be encouraged instead, as a proactive measure against future flooding.
Summary.- These are perhaps ideas that should be discussed at COP31, but in all likelihood, we will see the same solutions as before—namely, financial contributions to countries that lack the capacity themselves.
What is difficult to grasp is, why 50,000 to 60,000 people need to fly to these COP meetings, when it would be far more environmentally friendly to hold the entire conference online.
That’s all for now; I will return with the results following COP31.
Thank you for reading my post.
#Windmush / #curtbergsten
