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“DWELL-ON-IT” All rights reserved
The Paris Climate Accord: Why we should “DWELL-ON-IT”
After all, “We’ll always have Paris” – or will we?
- Dr. Paul J. Croft
The Paris Climate Accord is described in detail in 29 carefully crafted Articles. While political debate
continues, with treatments of climate change ranging from unproven, unimportant, or simply not a
priority compared with reports of dire consequences due to inaction and recommendations to “go back
to nature” and reduction of the global population; evidence based upon global data records and
scientific analyses of our Global Climate System indicate that changes are real, have been in-progress,
and continue to occur in our midst.
Depending upon which online reports you may have accessed at the time of the Accord it was either
clearly useless – such as U.S. GOP Presidential Candidate John Kaisch’s comment that “They have a
climate conference over in Paris, they should have been talking about destroying ISIS.” – or a critical
step forward by the global community as per U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry who believes that “…a
lot of members of Congress are on the wrong side of history”. Yet the World Economic Forum’s annual
survey (as reported by Fortune) indicated that for the first time Climate Change (and the environment) is
the number one global concern of CEOs and leaders around the world.
It’s all about the risks and costs, the vulnerabilities. It’s about volatility and uncertainties in the Global
Climate System. In spite of continued political wrangling on the cause of global climate change there has
been rather emphatic agreement within major national and global scientific communities (AAAS, AMS,
NWA, WMO) for quite some time that climate change is real and occurring. The communication of this
information is critical, particularly to the public, for response (e.g., see the Yale Project on Climate
Change Communication at http://environment.yale.edu/climate-communication/article/scientific-and-
public-perspectives-on-climate-change or work by George Mason University; or Pearce et al. 2015). In
the United States faith and morality can be part of this process (e.g., Roser-Renouf et al 2016.).
Climate Science
Just like a battery of tests at the hospital, or following a visit to another doctor or specialist for a second
or third opinion; the weight of evidence used in the diagnosis of global warming suggests that action is
necessary and urgent. Following diagnosis the remedies or actions necessary for a patient to survive and
thrive would incorporate a multitude of therapies to achieve care, comfort, reduction of symptoms, and
healing of a patient. The Paris Climate Accord provides therapeutic pathways to try to heal the patient. It
is not intended to merely treat the symptoms, make us feel better, or offer only temporary relief.

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“DWELL-ON-IT” All rights reserved
When faced with an infection, virus, illness, “condition”, or disease a doctor provides instructions and
medicines to provide relief and healing to “fight” or mitigate the malady. But it is difficult for us to
fathom the malady within the Global Climate System – it takes time to “sink-in” and accept. Climate is
something we tend to ignore until it becomes a nuisance, problematic, or hazardous to us or our way of
life. Just as we might twist an ankle at 40 and realize it takes three times longer to heal than at 20; age
and climate sneak up on us and force us to abruptly change our lifestyle – sometimes completely and
dramatically. We may attempt to “limp along” but soon find it to be an ineffective coping mechanism
and one that may cause further harm when left untreated.
The Global Climate System is no different – it impacts the entire set of atmospheric, land and water
systems locally and globally and is quite complex. Not only is the whole connected along many
pathways, but the behaviors and reactions of the System change in ways that can multiply impacts and
create more, including within living systems and societies. Treating only the symptoms does not
ultimately improve the health of the patient. That twisted ankle costs money to repair, time for recovery
and physical therapy to regain a percentage of its viability and operational capabilities. It is also possible
the ankle may never heal correctly, show lasting injury or scars, and may not be as resilient, effective, or
flexible as it was in the past.
Our Patient Earth
So where does that leave our Patient Earth and its environment with all of its inhabitants? Can it wait?
What does it mean with regard to the therapies or cures to be implemented? Is it possible that the cure
or medicine could be worse than the disease itself? Does it suggest that taking action would be harmful,
misguided, or deleterious to the inhabitants of the Earth and the expectations of society and current
and future era socio-economics? Should we do nothing and hope it improves? Wouldn’t we want to
improve our quality of life and reduce the damage or injury and impacts over time – and quickly?
The answers depend primarily upon our depth of understanding of the Global Climate System and our
ability to respond in a meaningful and measurable way. Rather than fearing treatment of the Global
Climate System as daunting with potential complications as say for a Craniotomy; we should consider
the purpose and goals of intervention and the skills and technology available to treat Our Patient Earth.
We are not using a hand-held magnifying glass to see what we are doing, nor are we using stone knives
in surgery; we are using state-of-the-art technology to observe and monitor the Global Climate System
on a regular basis. The depth and wealth of measurements provides us the pulse of planet to evaluate
its interconnected systems and understand its interactions with life and society.
Rather than viewing the Global Climate System as if it were mysterious, we should be confident when
examining Our Patient Earth knowing we have sufficient evidence to render intervention strategies. The
strategies would improve Patient Earth, reduce overall impacts, provide healing, carry limited risks, and
be cost-effective. We would want that intervention for
ourselves, our children, our families, and our friends if
diagnosed with cancer or a serious illness or disease.
Indeed, when faced with a major illness we would
welcome help from our support community and
network. Even if that support only shared time with us
for a cup of tea, coffee, or perhaps a Café au lait we
would find comfort and healing – and common ground.

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Treatment Principles
The Paris Climate Accord has set in place a support network and community. It outlines the steps,
“medicines”, and observations necessary to treat and monitor Our Patient Earth with consideration of
success, impact, outcomes, complications, and costs. That means it is a matter of applying uniform
principles to specific societal systems and responses in terms of their resiliency in the face of climate
change. These would include (1) securing the natural and human resources available, (2) defining viable
responses to change; and (3) identifying economic systems and infrastructures that can succeed through
support, adaptability, or replacement mechanisms to abandon those that cannot (i.e. no longer viable).
To secure natural and human resources requires more than a “reduce/recycle” approach. We know that
conservation works (e.g., fixing drafty buildings, energy-efficient appliances and machinery, smart traffic
lights). We know that some items can be re-used. But it means more than cutting emissions, retrofits,
and using fewer natural resources. It means applying a mentality that incorporates repurposing and
redirection of efforts to live as a sustainable member and part of a global environment rather than only
as a user.
To secure natural and human resources requires responses with multiple modalities and alternatives
that respond to changes and evolve. It means responses that are flexible and robust, compatible with
society and its needs; and responses that consider us as part of the Global Climate System. This is not
simply about organic foods, windmills, and ecological footprints; it is about turning from a caterpillar
into a butterfly.
The step above (1) requires understanding what we want and why in terms of impacts and costs to Our
Patient Earth. To define viable responses (2) to changes in the Global Climate System requires detailed
information on the malady and the treatments applied. It means considering interactions occurring and
how they change with treatment and our very presence – always. It is about time factors: how quickly
the System responds to treatment, what are the characteristic repercussion timelines, and how long
does it take to overcome the lagged response and life cycles of actions implemented.
The second step is critical as it links the first to the last – (3) Identifying economic systems and
infrastructures that can succeed through support, adaptability, or replacement mechanisms and
abandoning those that cannot. It is extremely difficult and requires acceptance that our presence on the
planet is and has always been one of fundamental change. Whether from the Stone Age to Silver and
Bronze or the Industrial Revolution to the Space Age – we are changing and will continue to do so, and
so will our relationship with the Global Climate System. Once identified, a pathway can be created.
Resolutions
Economic realities and personal choices as well as those according to the culture and traditions of a
society or country make the last step of the process very difficult. How do we change manners of living
in various parts of the world without affecting all corners of the globe? Refugee crises represent a
historical framing of this same principle. How do you ensure and provide sufficient time for transition
and retain competitive advantage? Economic collapse is not a pretty picture and even with alternative
energies available for use, not all are plausible for all situations, economies, or societies around the
globe. Indeed, with so many alternatives an energy provider must face lower demands and reduced or
limited profit margins.

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“DWELL-ON-IT” All rights reserved
Even entertainment providers such as Cable/Internet Television realize that they must offer a spectrum
of choices to subscribers with competitive pricing in order to remain in business. For the Global Climate
System the economic parallel and the uniform treatment principles described above suggest response
must be resilient and compatible with the changing demographics and needs of society which is part of
climate change and the Global Climate System. The current and future allocation of resources must be
vetted according to what will be needed by the changing demographics and societal needs, not strictly
the changing climate or current conditions.
The approach must be responsive to the viability of how treating Our Patient Earth impacts the quality
of life, economic way-of-life, and all demographics’ capacity to change these with time. The approach
must consider complexity and uncertainty. Instead of continued deliberation, disagreement, argument,
or conversation that ends in a stand-off we must work with the constructs of what we have in front of us
rather than watching the house burn down. We must include the transition and interim responses.
Remember, the Paris Climate Accord did not purport to be a panacea of easy answers – it simply posited
an underlying theme that might be voiced as a very personal question to each one of us and to any
global society-at-large: “Do We Expect our Lives to have Limited Outcomes if our Next Illness cannot be
Treated?” Perhaps this is why we should continue to “DWELL-ON-IT” (i.e. the Paris Climate Accord) all
the more.
After all, “We’ll always have Paris” – or will we?
Dr. Paul J. Croft
Atmospheric, Environmental, & Climate Scientist
Education, Policy, and Consulting
For further background and information, see also…
www.linkedin.com/pub/paul-j-croft/12/713/aba/ and
https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Paul_Croft2/
Post-script
The thought expressed behind Virgil’s statement “Aegrescit medendo” (“The disease worsens with the treatment”)
might apply if little were known about the Global Climate System. Yet that would be comparable to suggesting that
chemotherapy, radiation, and other treatments are of no value in treating various forms of cancer with due
consideration of the risks and side-effects. The line from the 1942 film Casablanca – “We’ll always have Paris” is
appropriate for reflection as we would certainly want more than simply to remember precious memories and
happier days on Our Patient Earth if they, or opportunities to create more of the same, ceased to exist.
Additional Post-script
It would be remiss in this essay not to express continued and deep condolences to the victims of the horrific “Paris
Bombing” – both deceased and living – that occurred Friday, November 13, 2015. The heartbreak and the senseless
loss are and will always be very raw. Yet in the midst of such dastardly, despicable, and heinous crimes against
humanity we see the light that shines in all of us when faced with evil. It reminds us that we are the children,
family, and friends who create and sustain our personal support communities and networks that ultimately prevail.
[Written/Posted: January 2016]
Disclaimer: Views and opinions expressed are those of the author and intended for educational use. All rights reserved.