Raymond,
I would agree that at face value, this seems like a very extreme statement.
In my opinion, it is not only possible, but extremely probable that long term, climate change will wreak havoc on our current agriculture and food production activities, through drought, excessive rain seasons, and numerous other unforeseen consequences.
The threat to the human race is not global warming, per say. The threat, as I see it, is to our ability to continue current levels of food production, which is inextricably linked to population.
Now, things get fun when you throw in the effects of peak oil. In the United States, current food production levels are completely dependent on fossil fuel derived fertilizers, pesticides, and herbicides. Food transportation is also completely dependent on fossil fuel energy. The average food item travels 1,500 miles before it reaches your mouth. Without oil, food production will decline to levels that cannot physically sustain our current population. Please read "Eating Fossil Fuels" by Dale Allen Pfeiffer:
fromthewilderness.com
Barring a full scale nuclear war, I am not at all worried about the extinction of the human race. What I can say for certain is that no human can survive without adequate food. If there are 8 Billion people alive and food production declines to levels capable of only feeding 4 Billion, I think we can all imagine what will happen.
A mass-scale transition to permaculture could *conceivably* alleviate the food production crisis. Do you know anyone that's going to volunteer to stop eating for 2-3 years while we make the transition?
As several Peak Oil researchers have noted, we are facing a 'perfect storm' type scenario, where numerous factors converge to drastically compound the gravity of a situation. No one can say sure how it will play out, but I'm certain it's not going to be pretty.
Jesse |
