Mauricio Diazgranados

• PhD
• Chief Science Officer and Dean of Science at New York Botanical Garden

One of the conclusions of COP26 is that the climate change emergency cannot be simply addressed without considering the causes of biodiversity loss and the impacts of unsustainable human activities on the ecosystem services we rely on, among other environmental challenges we are facing now. I wonder if human population growth (HPG) is the elephant in the room, i.e., the controversial issue that is obviously present but is avoided as a subject for discussion. Based on Worldometer, the current population is >7,9 billion, with net population growth this year of 70 million, despite Covid-19. Then, if HPG is the real problem, what do we do about it? What is going to happen to all life on earth in 50, 100 or 200 years if HPG continues? There will be a point in which no matter how green our activities are, there will not be enough resources to sustain the growing population. But it is not ethical to restrict the right of having children, and the livelihood of families in poorer countries is related to the number of children. Then, what is the solution? (if any)

Plant blindness, i.e., the inability to see, notice or recognise the plants in one's own environment, is common in urban citizens of the Western world. Also named ‘plant awareness disparity’ (PAD), it has consequences on environmental management and conservation practices. Is plant blindness rooted in human biology or is it a consequence of the Western world? Do indigenous cultures 'suffer' from PAD as we do? Are there differences among continents, nations, cultures or religions? Tell me what you think.

Colombia está pasando por una crisis múltiple, no sólo por los efectos devastadores de la pandemia de Covid-19 y del estallido social que se desató el 28 de abril, sino por una acumulación de insatisfacciones en los campos de economía, sociedad, ambiente, educación, seguridad, salud, y otros. El origen tal vez se podría rastrear incluso hasta los efectos de una conquista y colonización avasalladora, por múltiples formas de esclavitud que incluso perduran en nuestro tiempo, por un cúmulo de injusticias, crímenes, genocidios, violencia, corrupción a todo nivel, negligencia, y hasta sumisión a otros gobiernos. Hoy en día, Colombia sigue siendo uno de los países más desiguales y corruptos del mundo, y los gobiernos parecen desconocer las verdaderas causas de problemas como el narcotráfico y la presencia de grupos armados al margen de la ley.

¿Qué podemos hacer para ayudar al país usando el pensamiento científico? Tal vez podamos de manera adecuada identificar los verdaderos problemas y posibles caminos de solución, dejando a un lado posturas políticas y religiosas. Cualquier comentario es bienvenido, siempre y cuando se mantenga el respeto por las diversas posturas y pensamientos.