Burner Trouble- global warming and climate change from a personal perspective

Americans are some of the lowest consumers of rice but for most of the rest of the world it is the staple crop that keeps poorer consumers alive. The doubling of rice prices, coupled with rising prices for virtually all grains, is a major concern. While the US is an exporter of rice, many countries are now restricting exports to try to control prices. In a global economy this won’t work because you cannot have a commodity priced differently in two or more places- sellers in the cheaper country will find a way to sell in the more expensive one (one exception to this is the price of sugar in the US, held artificially high and protected from cheaper exports to the benefit of a few wealthy US sugar producers- a rant for another place!).

Rice, as a crop, is exceptionally sensitive to climate changes. Even a slight warming trend will kill off a crop and this is happening in traditional rice-growing areas worldwide. Because of the unique growing conditions needed for rice (water paddies) you cannot simply replant at a more suitable location. Combined with exploding energy and fuel costs, this forces prices up. It is not a small matter- people will starve.

The climate is a closed system. Changes have wide-reaching and sometimes unpredictable affects. Starvation will be one of them and it could change geo-politics very rapidly as hungry people are angry people.

Bamboo is the hot new ’sustainable’ material because it grows ultra-fast (it’s a grass) and it can be used for everything from building materials to fabrics. And it’s very attractive, durable and cost-efficient. So what’s not to like? Nothing unless this stuff is traveling thousands of miles to reach an end-user. This is a major dilemma of the carbon economy.

I don’t buy a lot of organic products in spite of a commitment to cutting the use of chemical fertilizers and pesticides. Why? Because the last quart of organic milk I bought traveled all the way across the US before it got to me. There is a balance to be determined between environmentally beneficial labels like ‘organic’ and ‘fair trade’ and the carbon cost of some of these products above and beyond their other benefits.

I’ve had basic discussions with the optimistic 21st century hippie types who run my local holistic food store and it’s not a comfortable conversation. If you imply that organic milk may actually be bad for the environment if it comes from Oregon and you live in NY, you’re treading in religious belief territory for many folks who’ve been fighting the good fight for a long time.

Unfortunately, carbon cost is now another factor in making buying decisions if you are a responsible consumer. And BTW, buying used and local is a great way to limit carbon costs if you need stuff.