Just because Earth Month is nearing its end, does not mean the work of activists and environmentalists does as well. On the contrary, the work must remain persistent — that’s according to Lowell E. Baier.
Lowell E. Baier is an environmental attorney with over 30 years of experience, author of multiple books about environmentalism, and an -advocate for the natural world. His new book titled “Earth’s Emergency Room: Saving Species as the Planet and Politics Get Hotter” was released this month. It attempts to connect the public to the species going extinct at unprecedented rates.
“My biggest surprise is the accelerated rate at which we are losing species, because of the consequences of man’s activities — not only in the United States, but globally,” Baier said. “We are losing species at a thousand times the rate we were losing them 50 years ago. We have lost more species since around 1900 than the entire history of mankind before that.”
The role of an environmental attorney in the movement cannot be understated, Baier said. Having practiced in the D.C. area, Baier has seen how legislation can guide the course of action for our planet and its spices — including humans.
Growing up on a farm in northern Indiana and spending significant time on a family ranch in Montana, Baier also noted that people growing up in and around cities tend to have a harder time connecting with the natural world, largely due to lack of proximity to it. This lack of appreciation for the outdoors can lead to harmful actions or inaction toward the environment.
“There is a drastic, drastic difference between the outlooks of people that were raised in an agrarian culture close to the land versus a big city or a suburban environment,” Baier said. “The trend is more and more for humanity to congregate closely in urban areas… and of course, the mechanization forces that because we have bigger tractors, bigger planters — we’re seeing bigger harvesting machines, so you need less people, and therefore the only place for people to do work and get a job is an urban environment.”
That said, it’s important to state the obvious: most people are not against conservation, and generally speaking it’s not a popular opinion to hope for the extinction of a species.
Some do, however, argue that species have always come and gone — i.e. survival of the fittest — and that only those that have adapted quickly enough will make it. There’s no point in trying to save species that cannot adapt to the new world, as the argument goes.
Additionally, when people do care, it tends to be for the popular animals — the ones that a child in grade school would have heard of, or are likely represented by an emoji on your smartphone. One of the more challenging aspects of protecting species is helping people understand that there are animals that they’ve never heard of, big and small, some not traditionally “cute” looking, but vital parts of their ecosystems nonetheless that shouldn’t go extinct due to human-driven forces.
“We need to get people to recognize that all species exist in a web of life… and they all depend on each other for survival. And as we lose species, we also lose the goods and services that they provide,” Baier said. “You’ve got to get people sensitized to the fact that without nature, they can’t survive. Once they realize that nature is an integral part [of humanity], all these unknown, small creatures and [plants] — all a part of the interconnected web of life that is mutually supportive of each other.”
Baier equated the Earth as a giant balloon that lets out a little air every time a plant or animal species goes extinct. Enough extinction and, well, the balloon deflates to the point where it no longer floats.
Another argument made by those who do not see climate change as a threat is that the Earth naturally goes through periods of warming and cooling, and in the grand scheme of things this is a normal swing, as some argue.
Baier pushed back on this ideology, saying how we are in the “sixth extinction”, a mankind-induced global extinction, referencing a concept developed by Elizabeth Kolbert in her book “The Sixth Extinction: An Unnatural History”.
“Just because it’s occurred before doesn’t mean man has found ways to survive these catastrophic epics,” Baier said. “Just because it has occurred before doesn’t mean we can ignore it now.”
The argument itself doesn’t make much sense to me, either. I’ve often used another analogy: picture “Mother Earth” as a body. For humans, some of us on average run slightly colder than others, while others run slightly warmer; sometimes our environment lowers our body temperature, or our activity levels, or a slew of other factors, but generally our body temperature falls within an acceptable range with the “gold standard” being around 98.6 degrees.
If someone took their average body temperature at age 10, compared it to their average body temperature at age 80, and found that they got slightly colder or warmer within that acceptable range, nobody would bat an eye. At the same time, if someone went to bed Wednesday with a temperature of 98.6 and woke up with a temperature of 100.7, we would call that a fever and address it so that the body could heal.
On the timescale of the Earth, estimated around 4.5 billion years old, a warming of about 2 degrees Fahrenheit since the Industrial Revolution age over the last couple hundred years is significant, and a predicted rise of anywhere between another five to 10 degrees Fahrenheit by the end of the century would only exacerbate problems. In short, the argument that the Earth “naturally warms and cools” is true, over long periods of time; however a temperature rise of this speed, compared to the lifespan of the planet, indicates sometimes is wrong: Mother Earth is running a fever. It would seem prudent to address it rather than ignore it.
Whether you resonate with Baier’s ballon analogy or my fever analogy, however, Baier’s experience holds unique perspective most people cannot offer. Baier, whose 50 years as an environmental lawyer trumps my 23 years of life altogether, saw decades of environmental action and inaction unfold before his eyes.
Now 50 years after the Endangered Species Act of 1973 which Baier credits as being a lifeline of environmental protection in the states, he reflected on the environmental movement and found both happiness and disappointment in progress that’s been made.
“What made me happy is that during the 1960s and 70s,the environmental consciousness of America was awakened. The whales, spotted cats, the polar bear, the grizzly bear, the American alligator, the whooping crane — were all in crisis,” Baier said. “The American public recognized that and seized upon it to get Congress to recognize the problem.”
He credits American politicians for being less polarized and acting in national interests at the time, which were protecting the environment. This consciousness, Baier said, persists in the public today. Nevertheless, the battle is not over. He is disappointed with how the American public, in a focus on cities and industrial recreation activities, have seemingly lost touch with nature.
Baier said all things considered, he is hopeful mitigation of drastic effects of human-induced climate change can be made, and that we as a planet can still develop — just in a more responsible way and pace. A compromise, in other words, with a world whose population continues to grow exponentially.
Baier is already working on book number seven and keeping the good fight going. Conversations like these are gentle reminders that, in the scale of the universe, wood is more valuable than diamonds due to the fact we’ve yet to find life on another planet, much less life capable of producing wood. One can appreciate the magnificence of the world around themself, and understand how lucky we are to share this planet with other plant and animal species — and the responsibility we have as humans to be good stewards of it.
Lowell E. Baier’s perspective on the ongoing urgency of environmental activism resonates deeply. His insights highlight the critical need for sustained efforts beyond Earth Month, emphasizing the accelerating loss of species due to human activities. Baier’s experience as an environmental attorney underscores the pivotal role of legislation in guiding actions toward conservation.
Baier adeptly points out the disparity in environmental awareness between rural and urban upbringings, emphasizing the vital connection between people and nature. His advocacy for understanding the interdependence of all species within ecosystems is crucial, challenging the notion that only popular or traditionally “cute” animals warrant conservation efforts.
The analogy of Earth as a balloon losing air with each species extinction vividly captures the precarious state of our planet’s biodiversity. Baier’s rejection of the notion that current climate change is simply a natural cycle is supported by scientific evidence, likening it to a fever in Earth’s system that demands attention and action.
Reflecting on the progress since the passage of the Endangered Species Act in 1973, Baier acknowledges both successes and disappointments in environmental consciousness. Despite challenges, he remains hopeful that responsible development and mitigation efforts can address the looming threats of climate change while accommodating a growing global population.
Baier’s commitment to continuing the fight for environmental preservation, as evidenced by his ongoing work and forthcoming book, serves as an inspiration. His message underscores the profound responsibility humanity holds as stewards of this unique and precious planet.