Global human-made mass exceeds all living biomass

It does not say anything about pollution or global warming, but it illustrates the sheer impact of humanity on planet earth.

Over the last century, we have transformed human labor and natural resources into assets and waste. As a result we have massive pollution and massive imbalance of wealth. 

Source: Nature

Pollution

Pollution affects more than 90% of the worlds population, according to World Bank report. "Air pollution is the leading environmental risk to health, costing the globe an estimated $8.1 trillion in 2019, equivalent to 6.1 percent of global GDP. 95" Source: World Bank

Forms of Pollution

Usually nobody notices all the substances that go airborne as part of industrial operations. In fact there were a lot:

Acrolein, Asbestos, Benzene, Carbon Disulfide, Carbon Monoxide, Creosote, Lead, Nitrogen Oxides, Ozone, Particulate Matter, Petroleum Hydrocarbons, Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs), Sulfur Dioxide, Synthetic Vitreous Fibers...

To make it simpler, we can built on the fact that this pollution correlates strongly with the appearance of CO2. So by reducing CO2, we reduce most pollution.

CO2-Pollution

As with any substance, it is the amount that makes it a poison. In case of CO2 it is super slow in its effect. Both ways. It took decates to accumulate and we just started to see the effects of what we have emitted so far.

Nobody knows when Buckingham Palace will be at the waterfront. But based on all scientific facts we know today, including all measures planned, it eventuelly will become reality.

The Production Gap

The countries that have set net-zero emissions targets and increased their climate goals under the Paris Agreement have not explicitly acknowledged or planned for the rapid reductions in fossil fuel production needed to meet those goals.

Rather, the world's governments plan to produce more than twice the amount of fossil fuels in 2030 than would be consistent with limiting warming to 1.5°C. The production gap has remained largely unchanged since our initial analysis in 2019.

The output gap is the sum of numerous instances where governments, under the influence of the interests of individuals and lobbying organizations, fail to limit for-profit activities.

Source: United Nations Environment Programme and

Stockholm Environment Institute

enlarge the production gap 

We are used to pay retail prices. But paying retail prices, we ignore the negative externalities, like pollution, overfishing and nuclear waste.

So we have been shopping at an unjustified discount all our lives. We need to factor that in, and we start with CO2 as this correlates highly with all pollution and can easily be measured.

 see also: trueprice.org

The Global Risks Report 2021 16th Edition 

From an economic perspective, the situation looks consistent.  The loss of biodiversity, environmental damage, a natural resource crisis and extreme weather are bad for business. "Economic fragility and societal divisions are set to increase." Source: World Economic Forum® 

Regardless of whether your perspective is environmental or economic, you should feel the need for a change. A real change.

enlarge risk landscape

Institutional Failure

On behalf of the British government, the widely respected economist Prof. Dasgupta has analyzed the root causes and found: "Institutional Failure"

"At the heart of the problem is a deep-rooted, widespread institutional failure. The value of nature to society - the true value of the various goods and services it provides - is not reflected in market prices because much of it is available to all without financial compensation." The Dasgupta Review 

If we rely on the existing government and economic systems, nothing will change. 

SUMMARY

Pollution is an ever-increasing burden and threat

Politics was not able to fix in over 50 years (since the Club of Rome)

It is mainly the vested interests of individual groups that prevent change

Nation states and corporations were not built to reduce global pollution and poverty