To Donald J. Trump and those who also say global warming is a hoax, based on bad science, or we should not be concerned because up-and-down cyclical global warming and cooling events have occurred since the beginning of time, should ask themselves, what if I am wrong, what are the consequences?
It is not arguable that a polluted environment is better than a non-polluted environment. It is not arguable that an atmosphere out of balance with what nature intended is not a polluted environment, in this case, excessive atmospheric concentrations of carbon dioxide. No one can successfully argue that these are good things, or that there will not be consequences for human health or the health of our planet.
So whether there is an impending climate crisis or not really does not matter. An effort to prevent what could very well threaten our very existence if we do nothing is imperative, especially when preventative changes do nothing more than make life better. But to make changes we cannot continue to blame government or company irresponsibility for what clearly is our collective responsibility. Environmental improvements will only come when we change our own attitudes and behaviors.
For those who take a defeatist attitude that we cannot change the attitudes and behaviors of society should heed the advice of Noam Chomsky who says, “if you act like there is no possibility of change for the better, you guarantee that there will be no change for the better. The choice is ours, the choice is yours.”
Robert Reich reacts to the recent hurricanes and Scott Pruitt, the administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency, who says we shouldn’t be discussing climate change now. “To use time and effort to address it at this point is very, very insensitive to the people in Florida.”
But if not now, when?
Trump has said climate change is a hoax. Pruitt has declared that carbon dioxide emissions from cars, power plants and other sources are not major causes of global warming, despite overwhelming scientific evidence to the contrary. Pruitt’s E.P.A. has removed many mentions of climate change from its website and is rolling back regulations aimed at curbing carbon dioxide emissions. Florida Gov. Rick Scott’s aversion to the words “climate change” has prompted scientists there to self-censor their work.
Here’s the reality, folks – and none of us should be reluctant to say it -- and say now, clearly: Climate change is causing
1. Ocean levels to rise, as glaciers and portions of the Arctic and the Antarctic melt – which means higher storm surges and flooding when hurricanes hit.
2. Warmer seas, which contribute to bigger and fiercer hurricanes.
3. A warmer atmosphere, which contributes to more rainfall from hurricanes.
If we don’t talk about this now -- when the public’s attention is riveted on the consequences -- when are we going to talk about it? Isn’t this a teachable moment?
By Lisa Friedman
