Scientists, Time Management, and the Global Environmental Crisis

Abstract

The 21st century environmental crisis is vastly different from any other in human history. All the major components of the crisis are caused by humankind. With the largest human population ever on finite Earth, global warming and other aspects of climate change (e.g., altered rainfall patterns) threaten an already precarious food supply. The biospheric life support system is being damaged to a degree unprecedented in human history. Many agricultural systems are highly mechanized and will be adversely affecte by decreased availability of oil. Scientists have a major role to play in this crisis, but doing so will require skillful time management and a major reordering of priorities.