What Not To Do If You're In Policy-making

I apologize for my absence this last week. I have been incredibly busy with work and preparation for school (I'm going back to get an advanced degree) that any free time I had was quickly swiped up by some other task. I am currently visiting my family in Utah, so my posting may still be a little spotty until the middle of next week. I thank you for patience.

Now, on to more important things. So I arrived in Utah last night, and this morning when I looked at the newspaper my father subscribes to (the LDS-owned Deseret News) I found an article that discusses Utah's recent placement of states preparing for and dealing with climate change. Utah was placed in the bottom 12 states, as the Natural Resources Defense Council ranked all 50 states based on water management policy, as well as other factors, in determining that state's preparedness to help its citizens navigate climate change. The NRDC suggested that Utah's current water plans are not enough to help it deal with excessive water as was seen last year, or in the case of too little water, as happened during the multi-year drought during the aughts.

As typical in western state/Republican strongholds versus environmentalism, Utah Governor Herbet's office released a reply to the NRDC's report saying, "We do not need a New York City-based organization to tell Utah — based on their ideological agenda — that we are not taking steps to address our water 'vulnerabilities.'" The fact that the NRDC did this based on current policy adopted by each of the 50 states is negligible to Utah policy makers. They see this as leftist, liberal, tree-hugging environmentalists imposing their "viewpoints" on their state.

I put viewpoints in quotation marks, because the state actually believes environmentalists haven't any ground to stand on. In fact, as the newspaper article points out, in 2010, Utah resorted to stating opposition to anything that could be seen as pro-Obama by passing a series of resolutions. One of those resolutions was that the state legislature did not believe global warming and climate change were real things, and that they are not happening. So, it is hard to encourage a state to do something more about impending events that will affect their citizens when they refuse to accept the fact-based science, and continue to maintain the us vs. them mentality that they create between themselves and scientists/environmentalists.

Instead of rejecting what the NRDC is suggesting before you even consider it, policy makers in all 50 states, especially Utah, should go through their policy and the suggestions offered up point by point. You may be surprised to find some new ideas or new brainstorming time to create new ideas that will actually work better than the ones you currently have in place. Only when you have exhausted every option should you resort to suggestion-making with incredulity and character assassination of the suggesters. This is what we expect of our policy-makers, because when policy is unalterable it is no longer policy, but a dictator's edict.

Sometimes It Really Feels Like This

While I try and keep the videos I find and post here purely educational, I just find this one too entertaining and the content all too common to pass up. Neil deGrasse Tyson is on the Bill Maher show, and he has to educate a obstinate skeptic - a former GM executive  - on the realities of global warming and climate change. The executive spouts the same old rhetoric used by denialists, and, despite being told the facts, insists that it is all made up, scientists are wrong, or that the green movement is going to fade away because it is all based on lies. Dr. Tyson, a highly respected astrophysicist, works hard to identify with this car exec to get him to understand that global warming is real, but in the end, the man refuses to change his mind - or to even admit that he just spoke a falsehood. Bill Maher is visually beside himself as the denialist rattles off falsehood after falsehood and refuses to budge.

Many times our conversations with denialists, skeptics, and even fence-sitters can seem like this. While I advocate educating people by focusing on the facts, producing evidence, and the like, some people will be like the car executive and will refuse to listen, budge, or reconsider even a small facet of their take on the issue. Why do they do this? I have no idea, but in these instances, it is just best to agree to disagree, encourage them to look at the real facts, and go on your merry way. We will never convince everyone. The droughts will get worse, the oceans will rise, biodiversity will falter,  and food and habitat will become scarce, but there will still be those who will deny it has anything to do with climate change and global warming. Our job is not to convince those people, but to convince enough people of the truth so that we can make the needed changes to reduce our impact and prepare for climatic shifts.

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.

What The Stats Say

Climate change infographic

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Take a look for yourself at the stats. Do you think the "debate" is balanced? Or is there even a need for an ongoing debate?

A Little Humorous Truth

Here is a funny cartoon that aptly sums up what is going on in the media and politics about a variety of issues, especially global warming. This fits in with yesterday's post on Dr. Krosnick's expert viewpoint on why people are having a hard time accepting the reality of global warming. The cartoon is also sadly pointing out how scientific research is being marginalized in this nation by those in media, politics, and the public who would rather listen to pundits and special interests than experts with evidence. The cartoon is on ClimateBites.org which has several hilarious cartoons dealing with climate change.

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.

How Do You Deal With Illogical Thinkers?

A very interesting news article was posted yesterday on The New York Times website. It was also re-posted on msnbc.com. It deals with a very specific issue concerning various individuals and groups who are linking up with the Tea Party over green projects being instituted by local and state governments. These groups are fighting the implementation of green initiatives adopted by the government on the basis that these projects are part of larger plan by the United Nations to take over the world. Their view is that the U.N. is bent on world domination and will take away our freedoms, and they will do it by encouraging green technology being used by federal, state, and local governments as a means of spying on the people.

Now, you need to read the New York Times article to really appreciate the length of time these groups have been about this business, what some of their specific concerns are, and how they have been gaining momentum with the help of the Tea Party in the last two years. It is a bit scary to me, even though their numbers may be small, how these individuals can be this reckless in their reasoning and their claims. Everyone has a right to their opinion and point of view, and I'm sure they found some sort of basis for their claims, but I am baffled by this. This very loud minority of individuals is gaining sway with an even louder Tea Party that wants to stop any further implementation of government backed "green plans". Many have dismissed the Tea Party, and many more have dismissed these groups afraid of a U.N. take over, but even the Times article points out that they have started to actually become effective because we haven't taken them seriously.

My question is how do you deal with these people? They are obviously not thinking in reality, and no matter of reasoning with them will make them see the error of their logic. However, we now know that we cannot just ignore them, because they are starting to cause chaos in the move to a more sustainable and eco-friendly future. I have absolutely no idea how to deal with this problem. We need to think of a solution, because we risk the chance of having a "greener" future derailed by people who view global warming as a hoax and the U.N. as an evil "Orwellian" empire-in-the-making. Let's brainstorm this for a bit, and will someone in the smart think tanks of the nation also take this up and help develop a solution? We cannot let crazy and unfounded claims guide our society or the human race. We risk our future and we risk our lives by giving into such misinformation and falsehoods. This much is clear from the last three years though, we cannot just dismiss them, because they will cause massive damage. Developing a good solution to deal with these groups is the only correct course of action.

Remember Reality

Skepticalscience.com referred yesterday to the latest op-ed written by climate skeptics on why nothing should be done to address climate change. The author of the blog article pulled apart the skeptics and their tactics one by one, showing both their lack of knowledge and ties to the fossil fuel industry. The author then proved point by point that the "facts" that these skeptics used in their op-ed were completely cooked up.

It's important to be reminded that disinformation continues to be spread to the general public regarding global warming and climate change. It is done in a way that tries to mask reality and present it as the truth. Because there even continues to be a debate about global warming proves that these tactics are effective enough. The longer that action and solutions to addressing the warming globe are deferred, the more fossil fuel giants and other industries win.

These climate skeptics may indeed be scientists, but their ties, their outdated credentials, and their fake facts prove that they don't speak for science. The consensus among scientists has been communicated to the public, and the real facts are disseminated for our consumption. Reality is in front of us, and even if skeptics try to disguise it to throw us off the trail, it is still reality. Unmask those who try and offer you this false reality.

Science is Still Science

After being out of the loop for a couple of days due to travel and sickness, I found an article on Treehugger.com about science and personal bias. I thought it was a really well written piece which accurately describes how many people, both educated and not, feel that if they don't believe in a scientific claim then it's just not true. They then go forward screaming loudly about their disbelief in the hopes that it will make others believe that it is not true. This goes against everything science is about.

Regardless of our different biases, science is destined to rise above the fray as it relies on empirical evidence to make its claims. We know that animals and plants can be grouped into different "similar" categories based upon the evidence science has found using anatomical and genetic markers. We know that the planets orbit the sun because of the overwhelming evidence we have obtained from telescopes and satellites. We know that global warming and climate change are real events taking place right now due to human activities because of the vast evidence scientists have found over time. Science is not a consensus. Science is what the evidence says is really happening. It is the explanation of causality in the universe and world around us. Yes there are incongruities, as there are in all things. Even those incongruities are eventually explained as more evidence is gathered on the phenomenon.

For those who want to continue to believe that climate science is "made up" and that it is some sort of vast conspiracy, fine. However, it does not make your belief correct. Scientists have drawn these conclusions after analyzing the data and the evidence. Records show the average temperature of the globe is rising and the evidence is also there showing the growing rise in greenhouse gases. Scientists have been able to make the correlation between greenhouse gas emissions and the rise in global temperature and subsequent climate changes. The only reason they are very vocal about this is because they realize the danger we are in and they know we are the only effective solution to the problem. Science will always be science. There will always be people who disagree with what conclusion is drawn. However, we cannot let those who disagree with science be the ones who get to dictate to the rest of the world what science is and what science is actually right about.

Remember When?

Remember like 20+ years ago when there was a commercial that talked about your brain on drugs? If you don't here is a reminder:

I thought of that video today when I read on the BBC that smog in South Asia is the worst it has ever been, and the outlook doesn't get much better. I wondered, 'Wouldn't it be interesting if they did a video like the brain on drugs commercial that showed what air pollution does to your lungs?' That sort of commercial would definitely resonate with many people and perhaps give them the will to demand for tougher emission standards. It would also be nice if they did a video about the Earth on global warming. It might look a lot like the above video.

This is where the U.N. Climate Convention last month could be playing a vital role. Instead, while getting something done, they did not address the immediate concerns as well as the long term ones when it comes to dealing with emissions. South Asia, especially India, is experiencing the Industrial Revolution for the first time, really. As its economy burgeons, so too does its emission of greenhouse gases. India has every right to be able to bring its people out of dire poverty using a good economy that is becoming more modernized. However, as emerging top economies such as China, Brazil, and India are showing us, there is a great threat to an even higher jump in greenhouse gases finding their way into the atmosphere.

As the BBC report reminds us, this exponential increase is not just disastrous to the global climate, it is even more potent in personal lives. It brings with it health issues of many sorts, some of which are deadly, and it can bring a disruption to the daily routine if it is unsafe to go outside or even travel. That, in the long run, can be a huge setback for businesses looking to grow and make a profit. If nothing else than for human lives to be spared, this is why there should be stricter emission standards in developing nations. We must give these governments incentives and the technologies to clean up their air and really begin making the move toward clean, sustainable energy. These countries outpace even the U.S. in some aspects of becoming "greener", we should help them with the crucial issue of bringing down emissions while holding energy steady.

In the end, what we are putting out into the atmosphere and doing to the environment and the resulting warming of the planet isn't just about the planet. Though that is hugely and crucially important, this should be about providing better health and lives to all. Life isn't worth living if you can't breath, or if your home is constantly in danger of natural disasters due to a changing climate, or if you can't drink the water. If we get sick because of our production activities, shouldn't that be an alarm telling us to come up with better ideas. If nothing else, I want the denialists to look at this in terms of human lives. Stop focusing on corporate profits, and look at what the impact global warming due to human causes is having on individual and groups of people. How can you not want change after thinking about that?

A Sunday Gift

I found this article on the BBC website concerning climate change. It delves into why climate change deniers act the way they do. It is a very interesting read and well worth your 5 minutes of time. I encourage you to read it. The more we know about those that want to keep the "debate" on climate change going, the more we can do to get past that hurdle. Not everyone will be convinced, that's fine. However, they shouldn't drag the rest of human and biological life down with them.

Climate Change and Politics

Here is a video that describes in a very succinct way what climate change is all about and the threats we face because of it. Thanks to Global green for originally posting this video on their blog.

So there you have it. Climate change is real and the facts and evidence are stacked up high in telling us that humans are the cause of this change. So what do the denialists do? They attach two riders to the payroll tax cut extension bill that exempt the coal industry from the Clean Air Act and expedites the approval of the Keystone XL pipeline that will carry tar sands from Canada to Texas. They live in an alternate reality.  Fortunately, Senate Democrats have said that bill is dead in the water and even if it passed the Senate, President Obama will veto it. Republicans don't get it. You don't save your hand by cutting off your leg. Politics is a mess and full of self-serving killjoys. It's time to clean up Washington. Send that message through your vote.

Duh

I saw this article on the msnbc.com website this morning and had to laugh. The article speaks of a study that confirms that global warming is happening. This is how bad it's gotten with the denialists, despite all the evidence that has been amassed over the years that detail the warming globe and subsequent climate change caused by human activity. Now they have to sponsor a study to see if global warming is real and can be attributed by man. We've done this before, we are constantly getting new information on how our activities are changing the global climate. Why are we wasting time doing a study that confirms what has already been confirmed. Will the skeptics be appeased by this? I doubt it. I could be wrong, but I highly doubt it. The science is there. The proof is in the pudding. When will the denialists own up to the truth?

One nice thing that the article points out is the study showed how one area can seem to be cooling while other areas can be warming. Cooler trends encourage people to deny global warming, but the study showed that the areas of the world that were warming more than made up for the fact that some areas were cooler. The average temperature for the globe has once again been shown to be on the rise from the records dating back several decades. So let's stop wasting our time confirming what we already know and put our funds and efforts into developing solutions to the problem we have created. No more committees to determine if we need a committee. Just do it already!

How Many Americans Does it Take . . .?

When the world is in a state of emergency, Americans seem to think that the issue is not so much what to do about the emergency, but whether there is an emergency at all. Over on greenoptions.com, a report has been posted that claiming that only 12% of Americans are very worried about climate change. Of the 57% that actually believe man-made global warming is a real thing, 38% were only somewhat worried. Compare that with 3 years ago when 71% of people polled thought global warming was real. I think this really shows that the denialists are doing their job and those of us who recognize the threats and accept the facts need to do more about this.

This gets to be very frustrating. Here we are, facing the greatest potential threat of mass upheaval. Here we are, presently experiencing Earth's 6th mass extinction event of biological creatures. The facts tell us we are the cause of these problems, but our population chooses to ignore them and even disbelieve them. The facts also tell us that we can do something about it. We may be causing the problem, but we can correct our behaviors and reverse the problem. But, at present, barely a tenth of our citizenry thinks climate change is something to be very concerned about (these are the ones who want to do what it takes to solve the issues).

Then we get stories reported that denialists are not only controlling the debate, but hijacking the facts. The State of Texas apparently doesn't want the facts to get out about climate change and so, when a scientist files a report that chronicles and lists the evidences that Galveston Bay has been affected by climate change, their environmental agency decides to censor the report and its documentation on global warming. Not only do the denialists want to continue to disbelieve in man-made climate change, but they want to alter/censor any scientific documentation that will be made available to the public and the science community at large. My question is, how do we bring this fight back to reality? For those of us who believe, and for those us who are convinced and "very worried", I believe the answer is to make our message more public and pressure the mainstream media to stop providing equal (or in some cases, more than equal) time to those who deny global warming.

This information is very unsettling and upsetting. Especially when a majority of Europe's citizens view climate change as the world's number two priority. Why is the gap of the Atlantic a microcosm of the gap between Europe's and America's view of global climate change? America is a great country and as I have said before, I believe America can still lead the way in the brainstorming and implementation of solutions to climate change. However, America needs to wake up to reality and those of us "warmists" (as the Republicans like to call us) need to retake the debate. We are being pushed to the sidelines and we need get back into the middle of the court. Let's stand together and fight the lies with mountains of truth.

Now it Makes Sense

Over on treehugger.com there is a flow chart that breaks down how the spread of climate change denial works. It literally calls out all those, including mainstream media, that make it difficult for real change to happen that will benefit the environment and help control climate change as best as we can at this point. It is important that this flow chart is made available to us, and that is it is easily understandable. Now we know where we can start throwing wrenches in the denialists plan.

Also, on ecostreet.com, a visual chart has been posted that shows the state of the world in relation to pollution. It brings to light where the Carbon Dioxide is being emitted in the greatest quantities, what pollution does to our health, the kind of cars that are the most offensive in pollution, and a few other things. I'm really glad to see these kind of flow charts and information illustrations being made and distributed to for public viewing. It helps us grasp it all, and it uses the facts to get the reality of situation across to us. It is common sense and now it is available to everyone.

Sshhh! Did You Hear That?

If a tree falls in a forest, and no one is there, does it make a sound? How about if the whole forest falls? Will we hear the noise then? Today's cover article in the New York Times brings light to the fact that several of the world's old forests are falling victim to global climate change. In an excellently written piece, the article gives voice to these forests as they are ravaged by insects, diseases, drought, and wildfire.

What scientists have found during fairly recent research shows us the unseen importance in forests. They help sequester carbon by taking in Carbon Dioxide and prevent it from getting back into the atmosphere. With the help of the forests, the atmosphere has not warmed up as quickly as it should, since the forests can absorb up to 25% of the emitted Carbon Dioxide around the world (absorbing 10% of the national carbon emissions). A loss of the forests, whether through decay, or most likely, fire, immediately releases that carbon back into the atmosphere, continuing the warming of the skies.

Now, some research shows that while some forests are failing, others are being strengthened by the increase of Carbon Dioxide in the atmosphere. Plants, of course, love that gaseous compound since they breath it in. It stands to reason that plants will do better in a slightly warmer, Carbon Dioxide-filled world. However, the skeptics of climate change damage and the denialists are using this argument to say everything is going to be just fine and we shouldn't need to alter our activities. What they are failing to accept is that with a continued rise in temperatures, even by a few degrees, the growing number of healthy forests will also begin to fall prey to the insects, diseases, and droughts that are already creeping northward and southward from their traditional boundaries of affliction.

Also, with the loss of forests comes a loss of biodiversity to an ecosystem. Not just the trees are affected, but the understory plants and all of the animals that call the forest home. This loss of biodiversity leads to a completely different ecosystem, one that may become a monoculture of invasive plants and animals, or one that at the very minimum is less healthy and less stable. Forests are not just the lungs of the Earth, they are the shelter of the Earth. With the continued attacks on environmental regulations and protections, and haggling over which protection techniques are best, we lose time and traction in the fight to reverse our negative impact on the Earth. Why should every other living thing have to suffer on behalf of our greed and ineptness to get into a cleaner, safer way of living our human lives?

When I read this article this morning, my heart broke. I have very fond memories of being in forests and observing and interacting with those types of ecosystems.  I can't bear the thought of seeing them become a rare and almost unseen commodity. We've got to stop the bickering and the nay-saying in this country and actually think of the future. I don't want the future generations of the human race not knowing what a natural forest is.

Did you hear that sound? How could you not? It's echoing all around us.

"We Look Like a Joke"

Former President Bill Clinton last week aptly summed up what the debate surrounding global warming is doing to our nation and its credibility. "The Bottom Line on Climate Change" conference that I attended this past weekend echoed that thought as several of the speakers on a variety of topics told of how our country was falling behind the search for real sustainable and clean alternative energy sources. The world is leaving America behind and an Associated Press report that I read on msnbc.com on Saturday night only furthers the argument that we are becoming the nation that everyone laughs at.

The story dealt with how a growing number of self-identified Republicans are returning to the ranks of denialists. Even more shocking, not only is the number growing, but those holding the point of view that climate change isn't real or caused by man is hardening. Now, it is not only a point of view to them, but it is a deep held conviction. And even scarier, they want their representatives to eschew the notion that climate change is real and that human actions are responsible for it. As Bill Clinton said in the previously referenced speech, "You can't win the nomination of one of our major parties if you admit the scientists are right."

It is, indeed, a very scary thought. In the light of massive evidence that climate change is already moving into  the next gear, and the facts telling us we are in the midst of Earth's 6th major extinction event, a great deal in this country continue to say that they don't believe it, or in fact, they know it is a lie. They claim the science is flawed, or biased, or run by the uber-liberal corporation haters. They are pulling at straws and one day they will have to reckon with reality. The question is, will they be able to delay necessary changes enough to forever prevent our ability to undo the majority of the damage we have done? Those who believe, and accept, the science of climate change need to make their voices heard and not let the denialists turn back the clock, and perhaps run out the clock, on our ability to help the environment overcome our interference. Write your representative, senator, governor, and the President. Don't let us stay the butt of the joke.