Is Global Warming's Terrifying New Math By Bill Mckibben

McKibben, Bill. 2012 July, Global Warming’s Terrifying New Math.

In “Global Warming’s Terrifying New Math”, Bill McKibben argues that fossil fuel companies are the real enemy when it comes to the three simple numbers. These three simple numbers consist of: 2℃, 565 gigatons, and 2,795 gigatons. The benchmark global temperature that should not nearly reach or passed is 2℃. In order to remain under 2℃, global emissions must decrease, but when this article was written in 2012, there had been an increase of nearly 0.8℃. This increase was causing significant global damage which is cause for concern given that 2℃ may cause an even more devastating amount of damage that humans are simply not prepared for. To remain under the 2℃ increase, the acceptable

Even if the 565 gigaton limit is not exceeded, global warming will persist due to existing carbon dioxide warming the atmosphere. However, it is predicted that carbon emissions will grow 3% every year surpassing the carbon budget and eventually surpassing 2℃ to perhaps 6℃, according to IEA’s chief economist Fatih Birol. This prediction is extremely frightening, yet very likely due to the fact that fossil fuel companies plan on burning about 2,795 gigatons. The solution that McKibben provides is that 80% of the reserves are kept underground, but of course for investors economic profit outweighs global impact (3). The lack of policies surrounding regulation for the fossil fuel industry is a result of greed and power. Two countries that contribute global carbon emissions is the U.S. and China, yet neither can compromise to create a change in their policies. Despite all the scientific data and climate trends, political leaders have not done enough, and oil

McKibben takes a more mathematical approach to make sense of how much trouble the planet and humans as a whole are in if nothing is done about it. Newell takes a more societal perspective by highlighting how people with intersecting identities are mostly impacted and how agrarian change will provide a much larger struggle. These two readings relate to material covered in lecture about adaptability. Due to the current rate of climate change and political inaction by discounting the future, humans are left with no choice but to adapt to the temperature changes. Professor Clemencon has stated that with high temperatures, more people will become sick or forced to migrate, but ultimately, the poor are the most disadvantaged by the wealthy who are causing the worsening of climate change, and in result, the worsening of social inequalities. In connection, McKibben emphasizes the dire need to enact political, global policies to prevent surpassing the 2℃ marker by staying within the 565 gigaton and 2,795 gigaton limit. Newell, on the other hand, stresses the importance of understanding climate justice and agrarian struggles as a problem caused by big oil companies and politicians that prioritize the economy over the environment and human life. In conclusion, social inequalities and climate change are intertwined and