I want to start by saying the climate is always in a state of change. There is no denying the fact that humans have adversely affected the planet. We have created some of the most significant monument to excess known throughout history. We have mountains of trash from our cities. In both the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans are new continents of plastic waste. So there is no denying we have made a mess of the planet. There is no one panacea to fix the situation we find ourselves. We need to look at a multi-tier approach.
It is not too late to start fixing what we have broken. This problem is very complicated. We need to look at some of the most straightforward answers first. These answers will take time to implement. They are thankfully available with our current technology. We need to identify the entire problem before we can solve the whole mess. Some people say there is too much CO2 in the atmosphere; I do not know if this is true or not. If it is true, then there is a straightforward and easy corrective measure that is fantastic for the planet. Planting trees and bushes will have multiple benefits for the earth by removing excess CO2 from the atmosphere; the roots will stabilize the ground. Trees also affect the surrounding environment by creating a cooler area. This area will cause condensation and give needed respite to smaller animals.
By planting combinations of trees, an area can have renewable resources for both the short term and long term. In our hypothetical region of 10 square Hectares, a combination of Hardwoods deciduous and conifers trees could be interspersed. Start by planting a White Oak and a fast growing pine tree. Next plant a Red oak and a different type of fast growing pine. Continue this for the edge of the area. Several rows of alternating trees will make a substantial border. For the center of the region add in hardwood nut trees and other hardwoods alternating with other fast-growing conifers trees. After about ten tears the conifers will be ready for harvesting for lumber and other wood products. Removing the Conifer trees will give the Hardwood trees room to grow. Clearing the faster-growing trees will also open up the ground for further undergrowth. This area will provide natural habitats for many birds and smaller animals; this will encourage the return of raptors and other predators. This solution is a simple and inexpensive part of correcting the CO2 problem.
The continents of plastic waste in the oceans is another pressing problem. The plastic is breaking down into micro-pellets. These pellets are entering the food chain when fish eat them. Nearly all saltwater fish have micro-pellets in their system. A simple step to remedy this area is to bring in a few larger cargo ships with facilities to sort the plastic and then shred it; then form the new raw plastic into filaments for 3d printers. The advent of 3D printers has made this a viable option. Creating new filaments from old plastic will be a simple and effective way to clean up the large mass of plastic waste. The filaments are the basis for the 3d printers to create new useful items from the waste plastic.
Another issue with many countries is the loss of topsoil. Africa is a prime example of this phenomena. The land is devoid of nutrients. After the US Civil War, the ground in the south was played out due to over farming in Cotton and Tobacco. George Washington Carver researched how to revitalize the land. His discovery of the beneficial effects of Legumes was pivotal in saving agriculture in the Southeast US. By planting combination crops, the local people can rehabilitate the soil and provide healthy nutritious foods for themselves and the surrounding populace.
The aboriginal natives of North America would plant corn peas and squash together. These were called the Three Sisters. The corn provided the stalk for the peas to grow on. The peas are a nitrogen-fixing plant to put needed nitrogen back in the ground and the squash provided ground cover to prevent weeds from starting.
Planting a combination of alfalfa and clover, or oats and peas creates the same rehabilitation of the soil. Using low THC cannabis pulls heavy metals out of the land while fixing nitrogen and other nutrients into the ground. The roots of these plants provide food for worms and other ground-dwelling insects. They, in turn, provide casting and aerate the soil to improve crop yields. All of the plants have an economic value. Hemp is the base product for making a vast number of useful products — everything from renewable plastics to Ropes and building grade concrete. Peas, oats, and alfalfa are excellent foods for both people and animals.
It is clear to anyone that has looked at the problem that correcting the soil is one of the essential steps to repairing Climate Change. Banning Carbon and other gasses is only a minuscule step in the process. If we increase natural carbon usage the carbon problem will correct itself in a few years.
For politicians, this solution has several benefits. First, it will provide a vast number of jobs. Second, it will allow them to honestly state they offered a concrete answer to a significant problem facing everyone. Third, this will create a legacy for themselves and the political party that has the vision and foresight to look at the problem in a holistic method.
Adding a new tax or fee will not hurt the corporations that pollute. These corporations will pass any fees or taxes onto the customer. This increase in retail cost will disproportionately hurt those on the lower rungs of the economic ladder.
For the citizens of almost every country on the planet, it will provide better food and living conditions. It will provide valuable resources for future generations.
Historically, new taxes have caused some companies to shutter their doors by not being able to pass on the cost of the new tax. The closing of any medium to a large company is detrimental to the entire region where the company provided services. In many industries, there is too little of a profit margin to absorb a new tax or fee.
To conclude we have some choices about how to proceed. There is the tax and spend on super high tech projects that may or may not work. There is a low tech option that includes planting trees and bushes, revitalizing the soil in many parts of the world, voluntary reduction of emissions and use of vital resources. And there are options for all of the above. It is combining High Tech with common sense land management and revitalization. I have to end with a cautionary statement; This article is at most a footnote on the whole problem. We need as a species to work together on a global effort to clean up and revitalize the planet.
