A Climate Scientist Takes His Computer Model Seriously
by Donella Meadows
— June 17, 1999 —
At the University of Wisconsin’s program on Climate, People and Environment Dr. Jonathan Foley makes computer models to study what might happen if the human economy continues to emit greenhouse gases. Like hundreds of other climate scientists, he is deeply worried about global warming. Unlike most scientists I know, he carries that worry into [...]
The Hottest Year Yet
by Donella Meadows
— January 28, 1999 —
OK, all you movers and shakers and impeachers in Washington, here’s a hypothetical scenario that I hope might shift your attention to something important.
Suppose the stock market starts to sink, slowly, subtly, with ups and downs, but the dominant direction is down. Suppose over an extended, agonizing time the Dow-Jones drops by 30 percent. [...]
Expert Statements Worth Paying Attention To
By Donella Meadows
–July 10, 1997–
Lay the world’s economists end to end, goes an old joke, and they’ll still point in every direction. Ask the world’s scientists about the environment, goes a modern myth, and they’ll disagree.
But surprisingly large numbers of scientists and even economists have been agreeing lately and issuing stunning public statements — stunning because of the extent of [...]
As Individuals We Learn, As Organizations We Resist
By Donella Meadows
–March 20, 1997–
Though we humans grandly call ourselves Homo sapiens, “man the wise,” we also carry on a constant debate about how smart we really are. The argument goes on, because the answer isn’t obvious. There’s plenty of evidence of our brilliance and of our enduring foolishness.
The ultimate intelligence test is coming from the environment. Are we smart [...]
Breaking The Ice
By Donella Meadows
–Summer 1995–
Stunning news from Antarctica arrived last month just before the world’s nations gathered in Berlin to discuss global climate change. It was as if the South Pole had reared its hoary head again, as it did 10 years ago, to galvanize an international agreement.
What happened 10 years ago was the discovery of the enormous ozone hole. That [...]
