What responsibility do we have towards the Earth System science? An interview with Joeri Reinders
More and more people are facing climate change. How can we ensure that we act climate-proof and climate-neutral? We asked climate and earth scientist and lecturer at the Climate Change course Joeri Reinders. Joeri: ‘when it comes to climate change, humans place themselves outside the Earth System.’
The Earth System is a concept from earth science. It implies that all parts of the Earth together form one big dynamic system, with the parts interacting with each other. As humans, we are part of this system, but humans put pressure on the Earth; this affects the ecosystems that live there.
How is climate change viewed?
'When we talk about climate change, we often see it as a threat on us as humanity or as a society. That way of thinking puts us outside the Earth System. We look for a quick fix, a quick fix, but we can't. We think too little about sustainable solutions for that system: after all, we are part of it. We deplete resources, they are becoming increasingly scarce, but we live as if that doesn't happen. The question is: what responsibility do we have towards the Earth System? If we look at what we are contributing now, we can also see what can be done differently. In your own living environment, and how you relate to it, you can already make a lot of changes.'
Can you give an example of such a sustainable solution?
'The sea level does rise, but you don't see that when you are on the beach. On a stormy day, you see dune erosion; the sand beats off the dunes. To combat dune erosion and in order to protect people, there are several things that can be done. Look at the Sand Motor in The Hague, where technology and nature come together. It uses sea currents and the natural process of moving sand. We can learn a lot from natural systems: they are intelligent and complex.'
What is happening to ecosystems due to climate change?
'Ecosystems are organic networks, a collaboration of plants, animals and humans in an environment. Those complex systems are resilient, but dependent on each other and that specific natural environment. Changes cause an ecosystem to be shaken up, then food chains become unbalanced. If the average temperature rises 1.5 degrees, you will see more extreme weather phenomena with warmer and drier, and wetter periods. Resulting in an effect on animal migration (the moving of animals over a specific period in time) which can lead to a wider spread like exotic mosquitoes, which in turn can affect humans. When they settle here and the weather conditions are more appealing and the chance of survival is higher; there may be an infestation which can cause a spread of dangerous diseases.'
Can a professional, with political or administrative role, do something with this?
'As a professional, you have a responsibility towards citizens: to deploy a broader change on a broader problem. Getting a story right is important. But also to have the conversation with citizens, taking into account people's complex social system. If people have lived somewhere for many generations, they often know a lot about the existing ecosystems and the cooperation and balance with nature. For engagement and willingness to settle for less, in addition to telling a good story, you have to make their voice count.'
What can we prepare for in the Netherlands?
'There is an energy transition coming up where people have to be more content with less. People will get something valuable in return: a liveable earth. Your own adjustments are not directly tangible, which is why stories are so important. My research also deals with sand, mud and insects. These are not ‘sexy’ topics to talk about. But when you learn more about them and see the complexity, the tendency arises to want to protect that beauty. From your organisation, you can also consciously look at what the world will look like in the future and ‘do your bit’.
What are we already doing well as a country?
‘I research the floods of the past, such as the 1953 flood disaster; you get to know the earth better by studying the earth's strata and it's history. With that, you map patterns and you can assess risks, so you are protected if something happens. For that assessment, you weigh factors such as drought, floods and wind currents. How you can tell that story well from science in a coherent way is something we also want to convey in the climage change (in Dutch) course.'
Text: Margo Klein