Are We Toast

The global population is rapidly increasing, and will continue to do so until disease, starvation and other sustainability limits are reached. As population limits are directly related to climate change, do we have a moral responsibility to encourage population limits.

Economic growth requires energy with coal often being the fuel of choice in developing nations. Developing nations, with their burgeoning populations, are predicted to be the major source of growth in greenhouse emissions. What role, and moral authority, do the developed nations have in the growth of world economies?

Food and water shortages, disease, poverty economic depression and other impacts of climate change upon populations may result in migrations within, or between countries; while extreme events such as floods, hurricanes and cyclones may result in the large-scale displacement of populations, such as the recent displacement in the U.S. resulting from hurricane Katrina. Are we prepared, or even willing, to accommodate climatic migrants. Do we have the infrastructure to permit the displacement of people fleeing an extreme climatic event?

Climate change will result in the redistribution of disease vectors and hosts,introducing exotic diseases into new locations , while climatic refugees will also have the potential to spread disease. Does our public health infrastructure have the capability to address these challenges?

Wide-spread habitat change, such as deforestation and desertification, and other Climate Change impacts may result in economic depression and wide-spread poverty. Do we have the social infrastructures (safety nets), and the moral will, to provide for those subjected to poverty?

Climate changed induced shortages of food and fresh water are currently causing local hostilities. Hostilities are likely to become more wide-spread as Climate Change causes increasing shortages of essential resources. Do we have the resources, and the will, to prevent wide-spread wars?