Politicians and Science, Like Oil and Water
Posted on July 1, 2009 under Emergent News, Energy Politics & Policy, Renewable Energy, Sustainability,
In a recent Op-Ed for the New York Times, Paul Krugman discusses the Waxman-Markey climate bill we’ve all been hearing so much about. Krugman notes that it’s not the barely passing margin the bill received but the 212 representatives, democratic and republican, who voted no. The climate change conversation should be one of whether the glass is half empty or half full; how do we address the potential dangers of human-induced climate change? Instead, almost half of our legislature refuses to acknowledge there is a glass on the table in the first place!
We started with a dearth of climate science completely and utterly backing up the assertion that humans are changing the climate of the earth. What we didn’t know was how much. Now, evidence is surfacing that the changes we’re having on our environment are potentially even worse than the pessimists predicted. Krugman notes a study by M.I.T. (it’s a college in Boston. I hear it’s hard to get into) which more than doubled the expected rise in temperature by the end of the century from 4 degrees to 9 degrees. I don’t know about you, but I plan on being around for at least another 60 years. And I don’t want to move to Florida when I retire. Nor do I want Boston to turn into Florida.
The evidence is out there. The conversation should be, how much is it going to cost us to mitigate the changes and potentially halt human-caused climate change. Instead, 212 members of our legislature refuse to acknowledge the glass on the table and have a productive debate. One called climate change a hoax, saying there is no scientific consensus. He received applause. Then he misquoted numbers on the cost of the bill to American families.
I have issues with the cap and trade bill. I have issues with some of the proposed ‘fixes’ to the climate crisis. But until we all agree that there is a big ol’ glass of water on the table, this conversation and the subsequent action, in whatever form it may take, will keep getting pushed to the next generation. I just hope I have time to teach my kids how to swim. Because the glass is getting bigger. And sooner or later the levees are going to break.
In a recent Op-Ed for the New York Times, Paul Krugman discusses the Waxman-Markey climate bill we’ve all been hearing so much about. Krugman notes that it’s not the barely passing margin the bill received but the 212 representatives, democratic and republican, who voted no. The climate change conversation should be one of whether the glass is half empty or half full; how do we address the potential dangers of human-induced climate change? Instead, almost half of our legislature refuses to acknowledge there is a glass on the table in the first place!
We started with a dearth of climate science completely and utterly backing up the assertion that humans are changing the climate of the earth. What we didn’t know was how much. Now, evidence is surfacing that the changes we’re having on our environment are potentially even worse than the pessimists predicted. Krugman notes a study by M.I.T. (it’s a college in Boston. I hear it’s hard to get into) which more than doubled the expected rise in temperature by the end of the century from 4 degrees to 9 degrees. I don’t know about you, but I plan on being around for at least another 60 years. And I don’t want to move to Florida when I retire. Nor do I want Boston to turn into Florida.
The evidence is out there. The conversation should be, how much is it going to cost us to mitigate the changes and potentially halt human-caused climate change. Instead, 212 members of our legislature refuse to acknowledge the glass on the table and have a productive debate. One called climate change a hoax, saying there is no scientific consensus. He received applause. Then he misquoted numbers on the cost of the bill to American families.
I have issues with the cap and trade bill. I have issues with some of the proposed ‘fixes’ to the climate crisis. But until we all agree that there is a big ol’ glass of water on the table, this conversation and the subsequent action, in whatever form it may take, will keep getting pushed to the next generation. I just hope I have time to teach my kids how to swim. Because the glass is getting bigger. And sooner or later the levees are going to break.
