John Chuckman
COMMENT POSTED TO AN ARTICLE BY NICOLE MORTILLARO IN CBC NEWS
“New IPCC report highlights climate change effects on oceans and ice, and the Arctic is front and centre”
"What an ice-free Arctic really means, and why it matters so much"
First, I think it is a considerable exaggeration to speak of an "ice-free" Arctic.
"Ice-reduced" would be more accurate.
It will simply be one more revolutionary change in earth's history.
There have been many.
We will have to adapt.
Truly, what choice do we have? When we had the Ice Age, about ten thousand years ago, animals and people either adapted or perished.
Nature is a harsh, ferocious place, not a friendly, kindly one.
The Russians are making tremendous efforts to benefit from coming events in the North. We should be too.
Their preparations include a large fleet of giant ice-breakers so I guess they aren't banking on "ice-free."
The idea that we as a society can stop such momentous changes is illusory and dangerous. Almost childish, much like believing in Santa Claus.
