An issue that affects our future
Richard Fulton
Two letters were sent out this week addressing an issue of great consequence to our future, especially the future of the world our younger generations will face.
Dramatic as this may sound, the topic, and weight behind the conclusions drawn by these letters, makes them of supreme importance.
Both letters warn of the impending disasters faced by our world due to manmade climate change.
In the first of these, an open letter from 375 top world scientists warns of “real, serious, immediate” consequences of climate change. Among these scientists are 30 Nobel Prize winners, including arguably the best scientist living, Stephen Hawking.
The scientists condemn the inaction of the world’s politicians in formulating real strategies and actions to combat the problem.
The facts are incontrovertible, 97 percent of scientists agree. No reliable scientist disagrees.
Though the rates of change may be variable, the following are measurably happening: seas are rising; oceans are warming; the lower atmosphere is warming; the land is warming; ice is melting at alarming rates at the poles and elsewhere; rainfall patterns are changing; oceans are becoming more acidic.
Most of these not only threaten us or make us uncomfortable or unhealthy, but they greatly affect the ability to grow the food the world will need in the future. Climate patterns already have created drought in many parts of the world.
The letter condemns the “inane Republican platform” and the “foolish position of Republican nominee Donald Trump” because he wants to scrap international agreements that begin to attack the problems created by climate change.
The last time carbon dioxide levels in the atmosphere were as high as they are now was three million years ago. This is not just cyclical nature, but man’s carbon based energy sources.
Alternate sources of energy are becoming more available and cheaper. Costs have dramatically gone down for solar, wind, and other green sources of energy. Thus the economy will not be crushed by actions taken now to make changes in man’s attack on the environment.
Some local economies (e.g. coal regions) will need additional help in adjusting, but the economy as a whole will benefit from green energy as will peoples’ health.
The second letter is addressed to the U.S. Congress by respected and politically neutral scientific societies: e.g. the American Chemical Society, the American Meteorological Society, the American Pubic Health Association, the American Society of Agronomy.
They say: “The severity of climate change impacts is increasing and is expected to increase substantially in the coming decades.” A conclusion based on overwhelming evidence of many scientific studies by prestigious groups and individuals. Green house gases remain the primary cause.
Theirs is a simple message in a short letter. Climate change is serious and immediate and Congress has done little to deal with the problem.
They note that since 2009, 800 pieces of federal legislation related to climate change has failed to pass Congress. And the reason in the overwhelming majority of cases has been the opposition of the Republicans in both houses.
This is the conclusion of the politically neutral associations of scientists and professionals, not politicians.
I might add that special interests of the carbon industries and localized perceived and, admittedly real, impacts that action on carbon emissions would entail have convinced politicians to put parochial interests ahead of the long-term interests of us all.
But green energy companies have proven that jobs can be created by alternative sources of energy. And wise government actions can work to lessen the impact of change on those particularly hard hit by energy changes like the coal areas of West Virginia.
Two letters. Heavy hitting scientific testimony. Alternative views of the problem confront the voters this November. And where is the discussion of this issue in the political campaigns?
This issue should be a major determinant to how we vote in November.
