Lou Laux, emeritus professor of biology at Wittenberg University, wrote this commentary for the Dot Earth blog on greenhouse-driven climate change from an ecological perspective. More independent voices on Dot Earth here: http://j.mp/YourDot

1. A commentary written for the Dot Earth blog by Lou Laux, emeritus professor of biology, Wittenberg University
The Ecological Perspective of Fossil Fuels and Global Climate Change
Understanding climate change must include the fact that there are an estimated 8.7 million different species of
organisms, approximately half of which are microscopic, primarily bacteria, algae, and fungi. Every individual within
every species, a number probably in the trillions upon trillions of individuals (7 billion of us alone), must metabolize
the element carbon, the basic element of life. That means carbon is being cycled continuously through the 8.7
million species that make up the biosphere, mostly as the molecule, carbon dioxide, using the air, water, and soil as
the primary transportation routes. The ecological shorthand for the above is the carbon biogeochemical cycle.
Since every species has its ups and downs in numbers, the system is not in “equilibrium”, but it does operate within
limits of availability of the carbon – a “balanced” system. Built into the system are two “safety valves”, technically
called “sinks” – the atmosphere and the hydrosphere. Both can accept carbon dioxide, and it is these spheres that
help regulate the limits within the carbon cycle. However, there is a downside to the “safety valves”. The carbon
dioxide in the atmosphere is one of the principle reasons Earth is able to support life, meaning it is the primary
“greenhouse” gas. Carbon dioxide in the hydrosphere regulates the pH of the water. But just what does the above
have to do with fossil fuels and climate change?
Fossil fuels are almost all carbon. Does that mean they were probably once alive? Yes, they are the fossilized
remains of once living plants and animals, highly compressed and dehydrated (Remember, living organisms are
mostly water.). They were the carbon cycle of their day, but all that remains now is primarily the carbon. Fossil
fuels are the interrupted remains of ancient carbon cycles. All of these fossilized plants and animals date back to
470-90 million years ago, i.e. very ancient carbon. In other words over a period of 380 million years an estimated 2-
3 trillion tons of carbon was sequestered. However, if in the very unlikely event this carbon were to surface and
burn, fossil fuel carbon will reenter the living carbon cycle.
For at least the last 60 million years, the Earth moved on, evolving a very brainy species, us. By 50,000 years ago
we “conquered the world” and a favorable climate made agriculture possible about 10,000 years ago.
Flashing forward, about 200 years ago this brainiest of species discovered that fossilized carbon is the mother lode
of energy. The Industrial Revolution was born. The blessings of fossil fuel energy became fossil fuel addiction,
reinforced by the knowledge that there are mega tons of this stuff buried in the Earth. What was not appreciated is
that this very ancient carbon, once cycling through the carbon cycle of ancient times, is in essence alien carbon
invading today’s carbon cycle, disturbing the balance, i.e. overloading the sinks. Since about a third of the
sequestered carbon has already been burned in a mere 200 years of the Industrial Revolution, why are we surprised
by the consequences of overloading the sinks/safety valves – an excessively warming atmosphere, and a more acid
hydrosphere. The changes to the biosphere that supports us have already proved unimaginable. Yes, it is a
Faustian bargain; however, it is not a myth!
The time to phase out fossil fuel energy is NOW? The technology and economics for a solar economy are sufficient
to move ahead NOW. Are not the fossil fuel industries trying to convince you otherwise, or haven’t you noticed the
megabucks being spent trying to convince you that global climate change is a myth. The time for rhetoric is over;
the time for action is NOW!
Lou Laux, Emeritus Biology Professor, Wittenberg University September 2012