Introduction
Climate change! It is almost impossible to read a newspaper or watch a news bulletin without some mention of it. But how much do we really understand about climate change? Although carbon dioxide (CO₂) is commonly blamed for global warming, the most abundant greenhouse gas is actually water vapour, contributing around sixty per cent to the greenhouse effect [1].
Methane, a much more potent greenhouse gas than CO₂, also plays a significant role in warming. It originates from both natural sources, such as decomposing matter in wetlands, rivers, and lakes, and biological processes in the digestive systems of animals like deer, antelope, and termites. Termites alone contribute between one and three per cent of global methane emissions. Domesticated ruminants such as cows, sheep, and goats also produce substantial amounts of methane, which, gram for gram, has a far greater warming potential than carbon dioxide.
Another greenhouse gas that receives less attention but is equally significant is nitrous oxide (N₂O), commonly known as laughing gas. Though it constitutes a smaller fraction of the atmosphere, N₂O has nearly 300 times the global warming potential of CO₂ over a century. It is naturally released by soil and ocean microbes, but human activities such as agriculture and fossil fuel combustion have markedly increased its concentration. In addition to contributing to global warming, nitrous oxide plays a crucial role in ozone layer depletion.
These gases are frequently discussed in the context of climate change, yet it is vital to remember that the greenhouse effect itself is a natural process – without it, life as we know it would not exist. Without greenhouse gases trapping heat in the atmosphere, Earth's average temperature would be around -18°C, far too cold to sustain life. However, the ongoing debate about anthropogenic climate change often overshadows this fundamental reality. While human activities have undoubtedly intensified the greenhouse effect, climate change is neither new nor inherently catastrophic for the planet.
In the 1970s and 80s, parts of the Green Movement were dismissed as radical, but by 1988, when Margaret Thatcher addressed global warming, it gained mainstream credibility. Today, green policies and environmental taxation have become integral to political agendas worldwide. Many people support these initiatives, believing they are "saving the planet." Yet, the planet itself is not in danger. Earth has endured far greater changes throughout its 4.5-billion-year history, including dramatic climate shifts long before humans emerged. Antarctica, for example, was once covered in lush rainforests and is now a frozen wasteland – not due to human actions, but because of natural climatic and geological processes.
Indeed, the history of our planet is one of continual transformation, driven by forces beyond human control. Microorganisms were the first to alter Earth's atmosphere, and one day, the Sun itself will render our planet uninhabitable – not human activity. However, the modern discourse on climate change often reduces this vast history to a narrow, politically charged narrative. Institutions like the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) – established by the United Nations – play a central role in shaping public understanding. While scientists draft the reports, their final versions are negotiated and approved by policymakers, complicating the distinction between scientific findings and political influence.
Al Gore's documentary, An Inconvenient Truth, is a prime example of this intersection between science and politics. While widely praised, the film was also criticised for its political bias. In fact, a UK High Court judge, Sir Michael Burton, ruled that the film contained significant factual inaccuracies and determined that it should not be shown in schools without appropriate guidance. This blurring of scientific facts for political purposes underscores the complexity of the climate change debate.
Some may interpret these points as scepticism towards climate change, but this book neither denies climate change nor endorses environmental extremism. Instead, Baked Alaska explores the profound history of natural climate change, examining the geological transformations and evolutionary shifts that have shaped life on Earth.
Throughout Earth's history, five major mass extinctions have wiped out vast numbers of species. Yet, paradoxically, these catastrophic events have also paved the way for evolutionary innovation. Each mass extinction triggered the rise of new species, fundamentally reshaping ecosystems and contributing to today's incredible diversity of life. Without these extinction events, it is unlikely that Homo sapiens would have evolved. It is astonishing to consider that 99.99 per cent of all species that have ever existed are now extinct – a testament to the constant ebb and flow of life over the ages.
Understanding these natural cycles – the extinctions, climate shifts, and evolutionary leaps that have defined Earth's history – offers a deeper perspective on the resilience of life. While human-induced climate change is a real and pressing issue, it is part of a much larger, more intricate story. The key to understanding our future lies in understanding the past.
With that in mind, let's take a closer look at the processes that have shaped and continue to change our planet today.
[1] See Appendix A1: The Greenhouse Effect for details