The Past Is Not the Present

Skepticalscience.com has a link for the top ten arguments against climate change and global warming. Each argument is linked to an article that specifically addresses and dismantles that argument. I clicked the link to the argument "Climate has changed before" and was brought to a brilliant analysis of the argument. Even better, the article allows you to choose the level of "science-speak" you are comfortable with. The basic level provides a general outline of what is wrong with that argument in the case of our current situation. The intermediate level involves a lengthier discussion as well as some graphs.

I find it quite refreshing that this website has dedicated the time, energy, and science to truly informing those who would come across their site about these urgent environmental crises we face. To see them deconstruct each of the main arguments used against believing in (or doing anything about) climate change in a responsible manner, and then go on to provide the real interpretation of the data and evidence, is laudable. This is how peoples' minds can be changed regarding this matter. I know it doesn't make for easy soundbites, but for those that take the time to read, review, and research, they will find that to not believe in and not do anything about our warming world and changing climate would be the zenith of irresponsibility.

Yes, the earth has had changing climates before. However, it has never been so rapid, and it has never been brought on by human activities. The fact is the evidence proves beyond a reasonable doubt that human activities are causing the major jump in CO2 levels, which is in turn raising the global average temperature, which in turn is altering global and regional climates. It is happening faster than any other time in geologic history, and it is happening at a rate faster than even scientists have projected it to. By knowing the facts, we learn that this current episode of climate change is attributable to our impacts on the planet, that it poses great threats to how we live our lives, and we also learn that we can do something about it. Information is a great and wonderful thing. Please share it as much as you can.

A Novel Idea

On Friday, The New York Times published an editorial that brought to light a change at the way scientists and politicians combat global warming. For the longest time, the largest scapegoat - justifiably so - has been Carbon Dioxide, or CO₂. While it is the main greenhouse gas, CO₂ is not the only one. The three other big contributors to raising global temperatures are soot, methane, and hydrofluorocarbons.

The Times editorial correctly identifies a problem that is happening with focusing our goal of stopping global warming by cutting CO₂ emissions. With all the haggling and obstructions caused by the skeptics and denialists, it is hard to put into place meaningful reductions of this most odious of greenhouse gases. Also, CO₂ stays in the atmosphere for a very long time. Between these two factors, we are seeing little effect on the atmospheric content of CO₂ and so the globe continues to warm.

Now, scientists and politicians are banding together in a few nations to reduce their emissions of the three other greenhouse gases. While we can continue to work on reducing carbon dioxide emissions, we can also focus attention on reducing these other gases that warm the planet, but don't stay in the atmosphere for nearly as long as CO₂. Not only can we combat all the major greenhouse gases, but we can actually have a chance at getting some of those gases out of the atmosphere sooner, giving us a chance to make the 2 degree Celsius cut that scientists say is the last acceptable temperature rise before disastrous climate change really sets in.

This solution fits into the regulatory category that many people despise. However, we must look at our approach to mitigating global warming - which is warming because of our energy activities - in a balanced way. We cannot just rely on technology, and we cannot just rely on regulations. We need both cleaner and more sustainable technologies to reduce our greenhouse gases, but we must also do all we can to make sure that our current practices of energy consumption do not continue to massively increase atmospheric greenhouse gases. I applaud the efforts of United States, Canada, Sweden, Mexico, Ghana and Bangladesh in creating a solution that is just another part of the grander solution in dealing with global warming. I encourage more of this brainstorming and implementation to take place, worldwide.