Global warming and the Revenge of Gaia

Global Warming and “The Revenge of Gaia”




We may truly be in grave danger... few of the present inhabitants of the earth are likely to survive beyond the 21st Century
James Lovelock


The words are not an aberration but quotations from one of the most enlightening, but controversial scientific journal “The Revenge of Gaia” . The Gaia hypothesis developed and proposed by Dr James Lovelock, an independent scientist, author , researcher and environmentalist , changes our view on Earth from a barren rock covered with thin coating of life to a self organizing system that in many ways resembles a single organism . A staunch supporter of nuclear science, Lovelock believes that nuclear energy is the only alternative to fossil fuels that has the capacity to fulfill large scale energy needs of mankind thereby reducing greenhouse gases and halting global warming.
Global warming is the observed increase in the average temperature of the Earths atmosphere and oceans in recent decades. The prevailing scientific option on climate change is that most of the warming observed over the last 50 years is attributable to human activities. The increased amount of carbon Di oxide and other greenhouse gases released by the burning of fossil fuels and other related activities lead to an increase in the greenhouse effect thereby being the primary causes of human induced component of warming. An increase in the global temperatures can in turn cause other changes, including a rising sea level and changes in the amount of pattern and precipitation. These changes may increase the frequency and intensify of extreme weather events such as floods, heat waves and hurricanes etc. Other consequences also include glacier retreat, extinction of species, lower agricultural yields and increase in the range of disease vectors. The rise in sea level is also major concern and one of the aftermaths of global warming. According to a survey if the sea level were to rise in excess 14 meters almost every coastal city in the world would be affected, with the potential for major impacts on world trade and economy. An example is the island nation of Tuvalu. Tuvalu, an island located near to New Zealand is a naturally gifted location but it has an average elevation of approximately one meter above sea level. As a result, Tuvalu had already an agreement with New Zealand to allow phased relocation as many inhabitants have already started leaving the island. According to the reports there, it is far from clear that the rising sea levels as a result of global warming are a substantial factor, with the sea level rising 1-2 millimeters per year.
Dr. James Lovelock’s “The Revenge of Gaia” is a wake up call to the entire human race. He mentions on the global warming scenario as real and deadly. He also believes that nuclear power remains the only short term way to provide enough energy without causing climatic harm. The Gaia theory takes its name from the goddess of Earth .or the earth mother according to Greek mythology. The concept formulates that the segment of earth from the bottom of its crust to the top of its atmosphere acts self regulating being , keeping conditions suitable for life .He also cites the chemically unstable composition of the atmosphere maintained by life as evidence that Gaia-the world organism – is self regulating for the benefit of life. His argument that if this atmospheric balance was not maintained life would die out, therefore Gaia must have life’s best interests at heart and work for the benefit and propagation of life. Lovelock also discusses on the history of life on earth and the impact that all living creatures, from micro-organisms to humans had on this ever changing planet, the ability of the Earth to maintain relatively constant conditions in temperature, atmosphere, salinity and pH of the oceans and reduction in pollutants defining the concept of organism. He also draws attention to one aspect of warming threat in particular , which is that the expected temperature rise is currently being held back by artificially by a global aerosol ( a layer of dust in the atmosphere right around the planets northern hemisphere ) which is the product of the world’s industry. This shields us from some of the sun’s radiation in a phenomenon which is global dimming and is thought to be holding the temperature down by several degrees. But with a severe industrial downturn the aerosol could fall out of the atmosphere in a very short time and the global temperature could take a sudden leap upwards.
“The Revenge of Gaia” has been nicknamed by many as the Book of Revelation. Lovelock’s vision of the planet’s revenge does not evaluate a spiteful attack against the homo sapiens as such but comprehensible collapse of the system that have kept earth habitable for billions of years. If Gaia means the interdependence of all organisms on earth, then the system collapse implicates to all the organisms, though he focuses it exclusively as our fault. His linking of forests and oceanic algae to the formation of clouds and thus attaining the capability to counter the earth’s warming from man made carbon dioxide. But he firmly believes that as a result of the relentless creeping of global temperature higher and climatic disasters will proliferate thereby the human race has moved beyond a point of recovery. He believes that at the current rate the global temperature will rise by nearly three degrees in the next 50 years. Then the rainforests begins to die and thereby the content of carbon dioxide increases. Algae fail in the ocean and stop generating cooling clouds and absorbing carbon. This results in glacier melting flooding some of the most commercial and economy propellant cities thereby paving way for human migrations, crop failures and emergence of warlords.
Lovelock also proposes a solution for all these impending dilapidation. He advocates the idea of rapid expansion of nuclear fuel to cut fossil fuel emissions, Giant reflectors in space, the solidification and burying of smoke emissions, availability of synthetic foods to give the planet a chance to recover. He dismisses wind power and bio-fuels as inefficient and has not mentioned much about solar power. He also proposes the utilization of higher levels of technology to reduce humanity’s impact on the environment.
Lovelock’s campaign against human abuse of the environment can be justified but certain presumptions of the Gaia hypothesis lacks credibility. In making such a statement, far gloomier than yet made by any other scientist of such international standing, he has sidelined the orthodox Darwinian concept. He can be acknowledged as the man who conceived the first wholly new way of looking life since Charles Darwin. The idea of a self regulatory planet to keep itself fit for life and being synonymous to an organism cannot be digested which is crystal clear when the research scientists virtually ignored his theory. Orthodox Darwinism did not consider that evolving organisms are part of each other’s environment and that diminishing the habitability reduce their chances of survival thereby Gaia being the sum of mutually dependent network. But his visualization of the imminent danger is a pre emptive admonition to the entire human race.
Lovelock is fierce in his insistence on the need to embrace nuclear energy: “Renewable energy sounds good, but so far it is inefficient and expensive. It has a future, but we have no time now to experiment with visionary energy sources: civilization is in imminent danger and has to use nuclear energy now, or suffer the pain soon to be inflicted by our outraged planet”. But nuclear fuel still remains a major bone of contention in the international arena and how safe will the human race be when there is a scuttle to obtain this energy.


Shereen Vijayan Kottikkal