{"id":21871,"date":"2022-09-19T12:00:36","date_gmt":"2022-09-19T19:00:36","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/mlml.sjsu.edu\/student-life\/?p=21871"},"modified":"2022-09-19T17:51:50","modified_gmt":"2022-09-20T00:51:50","slug":"mlml-climate-collective-mcc-addressing-the-climate-crisis-with-collective-action","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/mlml.sjsu.edu\/student-life\/2022\/09\/19\/mlml-climate-collective-mcc-addressing-the-climate-crisis-with-collective-action\/","title":{"rendered":"MLML Climate Collective (MCC): Addressing the climate crisis with collective action"},"content":{"rendered":"
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by Taylor Azizeh and Basil Darby, MLML Vertebrate Ecology Lab<\/a> and MLML Physical Oceanography Lab<\/a><\/strong><\/h3>\n

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These days, \u201cclimate change\u201d seems like a buzzword in many settings. However, the rapid and devastating effects of an anthropogenica<\/span>lly-shifting climate are at the forefront of scientists\u2019\u00a0minds at Moss Landing Marine Labor<\/span>atories (MLML). Underneath the brilliant science happening in our small community and amidst administrative bureaucracy, there is a stormy, ominous cloud hanging over\u00a0<\/span>our heads, echoing the same collective thought: <\/span>What are <\/span><\/i>we<\/span><\/i> going to do about climate change?<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n

As we write this in early September 2022, California is experiencing one of the <\/span>most extreme heat waves<\/span><\/a> ever recorded in the western United States at this time of year. On the other side of the world, after months of endless monsoons which have resulted in <\/span>ten times the average rainfall<\/span><\/a>, over one-third of Pakistan is underwater, with massive floods displacing millions of people. Pakistan contributes <\/span>only 0.6% of global CO<\/span>2<\/span><\/a>\u00a0but is facing devastating repercussions. This is becoming an all-too-familiar story for most of the <\/span>global south<\/span><\/a>.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

It\u2019s undeniable that excess carbon dioxide produced by humans through industry, energy production, transportation, and more is affecting the entire planet in innumerable ways, including via <\/span>heat waves<\/span><\/a>. To quote the United Nations (UN) Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC):<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cIt is unequivocal that human influence has warmed the atmosphere, ocean and land. Widespread and rapid changes in the atmosphere, ocean, cryosphere and biosphere have occurred.\u201d [<\/b>1]<\/b><\/p>\n

The world\u2019s oceans, which cover 70% of the Earth, have acted as a massive carbon sink by absorbing 90% of the excess heat produced by increased carbon emissions [<\/span>1]<\/span>. Studying the ocean\u2019s role in global systems is an overarching objective of researchers at MLML. We are a consortium institution that was founded in a spirit of collaboration across CSU campuses and disciplines, with the goal of <\/span>\u201cadvancing marine science, serving society, and transforming public discourse and policy towards sustainable human interaction with the world.\u201d<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n

As such, researchers here cover an incredibly wide range of topics. For the most part, we are acutely interested in how climate change affects marine systems, ranging from mammals to invertebrates to large-scale oceanographic processes (for examples of this, see Table 1).<\/span><\/p>\n

Table 1.<\/b> Examples in the literature of how climate change can affect the eight main faculty research groups at MLML.<\/span><\/h6>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
Lab<\/b><\/td>\nSources<\/b><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Biological Oceanography<\/span><\/a><\/td>\nGradinger (1996), Thompson <\/span>et al.<\/span><\/i> (2015)<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Chemical Oceanography<\/span><\/a><\/td>\nAltieri & Gedan (2014), Hoegh-Guldberg <\/span>et al.<\/span><\/i>(2007)<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Geological Oceanography<\/span><\/a><\/td>\nHunt <\/span>et al.<\/span><\/i> (2013),<\/span> Trenhaile <\/span>et al.<\/span><\/i> (2010)<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Ichthyology Lab<\/span><\/a><\/td>\nGenner <\/span>et al.<\/span><\/i> (2010),<\/span> P\u00f6rtner <\/span>et al.<\/span><\/i> (2007)<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Invertebrate Ecology<\/span><\/a><\/td>\nByrne <\/span>et al.<\/span><\/i> (2020), Reddin <\/span>et al.<\/span><\/i> (2020)<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Phycology Lab<\/span><\/a><\/td>\nAssis <\/span>et al.<\/span><\/i> (2018), Krumhansel <\/span>et al.<\/span><\/i> (2013)<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Physical Oceanography<\/span><\/a><\/td>\nBakun <\/span>et al.<\/span><\/i> (1990), <\/span>van Leeuwen <\/span>et al.<\/span><\/i> (2022),\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Vertebrate Ecology<\/span><\/a><\/td>\nKovacs & Lydersen (2008), Forcada & Trathan (2009)<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n
It\u2019s happening now\u2026 and it\u2019s serious<\/b><\/h5>\n

The negative effects of anthropogenic climate change are innumerable and could range from food shortages and an increased risk of disease to all-out wars over water rights and access (see the IPCC report [<\/span>1]<\/span> for a more complete list). It has also <\/span>been shown<\/span><\/a> that human impacts are causing what is known as the <\/span>sixth mass extinction<\/span><\/a> [3]<\/span>. It\u2019s impossible to overstate the implications resulting from this, especially if we continue along the same trajectory of emissions (Figure 1).<\/span><\/p>\n

The U.S. economy is projected to lose between about 1% to 4% of its gross domestic product (GDP) annually by 2100 through shifts in <\/span>mortality<\/span><\/a>, labor, production, agriculture, crime, and coastal storms under a high emissions scenario. The question, therefore, is not \u201cHow can we afford to implement solutions?\u201d, but rather: <\/span>How can we afford not to?<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n

\u201cAccelerated and equitable climate action in mitigating, and adapting to, climate change impacts is critical to sustainable development.\u201d [<\/b>2]<\/b><\/p>\n

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Figure 1. Projections of temperature into the future given different emission scenarios. Source: IPCC (2021), Credit: Jenessa Duncombe<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

One of the first steps in addressing a problem is identifying the root cause. The individual is not to blame. There have been <\/span>many examples<\/span><\/a> of how companies like Exxon Mobil <\/span>influence policy<\/span><\/a> by lobbying politicians, producing disinformation campaigns, and actively preventing solutions. And considering US taxpayers are subsidizing the fossil fuel industry with about <\/span>$20.5 billion per year<\/span><\/a>, one could argue that these companies have been extremely successful.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

A collaborative and collective effort of communities is a powerful tool that we have at our disposal. We must utilize it if we have any chance at addressing these threats to human civilization and our global ecosystem. As daunting as it is to stand up to large corporations, the power really is with the people. Once enough people recognize this, we can start to take steps to enact change.<\/span><\/p>\n

Moss Landing Marine Labs Climate Collective (MCC)<\/b><\/h5>\n

The brunt of climate impacts will be felt locally at first \u2013 which is the most important place we can enact change. Many local governments already have <\/span>action plans<\/span><\/a> which include reductions in CO<\/span>2<\/span> targets and other measures. Many scientists aim to produce objective, accessible science and aren\u2019t always ready to get involved by making political statements. However, the Moss Landing Marine Labs Climate Collective (MCC) believes that it is no longer just a political issue. We believe that politics, social justice, and science are intimately intertwined (Figure 2). Therefore, we seek to facilitate discussions, increase collaborative learning and research, and push for climate solutions and action plans.<\/span><\/p>\n

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Figure 2. An illustration (IPCC 2022) of the interconnection of climate science, environmental impacts, and subsequent human actions<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Combating the climate crisis while doing thesis work, completing coursework, and working potentially 1-3 jobs may seem like an overwhelming or impossible task. Even if you are not a graduate student, working in the job force while slowly seeing the climate crisis unfold can make you feel powerless. But working towards climate action is possible and it must be done. The U.S. is the second-largest producer of greenhouse gas emissions, and this being a global issue means that we are all under an obligation to give what time and energy we can to this.<\/span><\/p>\n

If we share the burden together, the weight on our shoulders will feel so much lighter.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

What does it mean to you to be part of the Moss Landing Marine Labs community when faced with such an existential threat to human civilization?<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n

It means coming together to face these problems head-on. Everything from advocating divestment from fossil fuels to making local initiatives more accessible to the Moss Landing community. Solutions to the climate crisis need to also <\/span>address complex issues<\/span><\/a> like <\/span>race<\/span><\/a>, <\/span>class<\/span><\/a>, <\/span>gender<\/span><\/a>, and <\/span>sexuality<\/span><\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n

MCC Mission Statement:<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWe are a collective of students from the Moss Landing Marine Laboratory CSU consortium that strives to advocate for the implementation of sustainable university and community-wide practices. We believe that politics, social justice, and science are intimately intertwined, and therefore we created the MLML Climate Collective (MCC) which aims to support action towards combating causes of anthropogenically-driven climate change through tangible measures, such as:<\/span><\/p>\n