“It’ll be a miracle if it grows,” I muttered. With house painters coming on Friday, one of the dozen or so hollyhocks lining the southeast side of our house would have to go so painters could reach the siding. Instead of cutting down this about-to-bloom 5 ft. flower, Karen suggested I transplant it. While grumbling about the unlikely success of transplanting a flower in this stage of growth during the heat of the summer, I obligingly found a new home for the gangly growth. Sure enough, by Friday evening the flower’s half-dozen stalks were still erect, but the leaves were completely wilted.
Throughout history, we humans have presented Mother Nature with many challenges like this transplant attempt. She’s often proven herself to be quite resilient. For example, this spring as world commerce and transportation slowed, pollutant levels dropped dramatically. Fine particulate matter in cities that imposed Covid-19 shutdowns enjoyed reductions of 25–60 per cent compared to the same period last year. And the skies cleared! What’s more, it’s estimated that global emissions of the heat trapping gas, CO2, may drop by up to 7% this year as compared to last. If so, it will be the biggest emissions drop since World War II.
Thank goodness, because the blanket of CO2 and other greenhouses gases is now so dense that above the Arctic Circle the residents of Verhoyansk, Siberia recently reported a temperature of 100 degrees F. That’s not so surprising because the current global CO2 level is 417 parts-per-million. That’s almost 50% higher than the typical levels since humankind first walked this Earth.
In a perverse sort of way, Covid-19 has given us a jump-start on addressing climate disruption by causing an almost miraculous drop in emissions. Now it’s up to us to continue and even increase the pace of these reductions and do so in ways that promote equitable economic prosperity.
Another unexpected miracle revealed itself early Sunday morning – 6 fresh blossoms opened on the transplanted hollyhock. During the following week a dozen more blossoms have opened in a celebration of survival and floral beauty. Miracles ARE possible!
We’re on the cusp of a clean energy revolution. With 21st century technology available to us, it’s time WE become the miracle-makers in building a clean, equitable future. After all, this bountiful flower garden is the only one we’ll ever inhabit. It’s where we’re all forever…Earthbound.
Throughout history, we humans have presented Mother Nature with many challenges like this transplant attempt. She’s often proven herself to be quite resilient. For example, this spring as world commerce and transportation slowed, pollutant levels dropped dramatically. Fine particulate matter in cities that imposed Covid-19 shutdowns enjoyed reductions of 25–60 per cent compared to the same period last year. And the skies cleared! What’s more, it’s estimated that global emissions of the heat trapping gas, CO2, may drop by up to 7% this year as compared to last. If so, it will be the biggest emissions drop since World War II.
Thank goodness, because the blanket of CO2 and other greenhouses gases is now so dense that above the Arctic Circle the residents of Verhoyansk, Siberia recently reported a temperature of 100 degrees F. That’s not so surprising because the current global CO2 level is 417 parts-per-million. That’s almost 50% higher than the typical levels since humankind first walked this Earth.
In a perverse sort of way, Covid-19 has given us a jump-start on addressing climate disruption by causing an almost miraculous drop in emissions. Now it’s up to us to continue and even increase the pace of these reductions and do so in ways that promote equitable economic prosperity.
Another unexpected miracle revealed itself early Sunday morning – 6 fresh blossoms opened on the transplanted hollyhock. During the following week a dozen more blossoms have opened in a celebration of survival and floral beauty. Miracles ARE possible!
We’re on the cusp of a clean energy revolution. With 21st century technology available to us, it’s time WE become the miracle-makers in building a clean, equitable future. After all, this bountiful flower garden is the only one we’ll ever inhabit. It’s where we’re all forever…Earthbound.
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