Following the dismal results of the latest UN climate conference in Durban, South Africa, this Canadian science writer looks at the future that we most likely can expect. It is not a pretty picture. It is clear that the system of capitalism that is driving us to extinction must be replaced by a sustainable system. If social-economic justice is not enough to cause most people to become active, then surely the survival of their children, grandchildren, etc. is.
From what we can glean from the geologic record, the Arctic tundra rarely experienced fires 100,000 years ago. But for the past century fires have sparked with increasing regularity and severity. The Anaktuvuk River fire in 2007 burned more than 1,000 square kilometres of tundra, in one flush doubling the amount of Alaskan tundra that has burned since 1950.
This could be just a prelude to things to come....