October 21, 2017

Rapidly melting glaciers in northwestern China and throughout the world are expected to disappear completely within the next 50 years, a global catastrophe in the making. They are in some cases the principal source of water (the other being groundwater which is also being rapidly depleted) for many cities and vast agricultural concerns worldwide. Simply stated, no water equals desperation, mass migrations and increased competition, even war, over other (already over-stressed) water resources in neighboring regions. If nothing is done, food production will decline steeply just as the world’s population reaches 9 billion. Clearly the world is going to need more food, not less, and nothing is being done anywhere to address the situation.

The magnitude and scope of the problem requires a coordinated global effort to nip this problem in the bud before it reaches an unmanageable point. The United States, though ideally suited geographically, geologically and financially to be a primary contributor to humanity’s common cause, has chosen instead to walk away from COP21. But the rest of the world can and must mass-produce hydrogen from seawater to make fresh water (and generate electricity) to replace the glaciers and actually expand irrigation to even the most inhospitable areas worldwide. This is an unprecedented opportunity on a scale the likes of which has not occurred since Homo Sapiens materialized. If we miss it we’ll get what we deserve.