Global Warming Snow Job
Sentinels and photo by Camden
The local paper carried an editorial from a retired forest service worker who felt the frenzy over global warming was a snow job. He wrote that we shouldn't try to solve global warming until we know "for sure" that it's a problem.
I wrote the following letter to the editor in response:
Jim Gerber's editorial (Is global warming a snow job?) makes me wonder if while working for the Forest Service he actually had to see flames before being convinced there was a forest fire. Everyone should weigh the global warming evidence for themselves by reading The Intergovernmental Panel On Climate Change's (IPCC) latest report where they state "most of the observed increase in globally averaged temperatures since the mid-20th century is very likely due to the observed increase in anthropogenic [i.e. human caused] greenhouse gas concentrations."
The IPCC is not some left wing environmentalist group, but a well respected global panel established in 1988 to provide a "comprehensive, objective, open and transparent" review of the latest in climate research.
It will be impossible to know with absolute certainty that global warming is human induced, but we make decisions every day without absolute certainty including believing in God and/or the existence of weapons of mass destruction in Iraq. Gerber states we shouldn’t seek to correct the global warming problem until we know “for sure”.
What statistical level of certainty does “for sure” represent? If it is at the 100% confidence level then we will be waiting for a very long time. As for me, "very likely" is sufficient enough evidence to act.
Snowman with more things to worry about than global warming by Bret
Comments
That's an awesome letter! And I appreciate the link to the site. You've mentioned it before, I think, but I didn't get it bookmarked and was wanting to do some reading.
It drives me crazy when people scoff at global warming because it's cold here. I'm going to carry that website address with me and just start handing it out rather than always telling people that the world is bigger than their backyard.
Posted by: Kell | February 4, 2007 9:32 PM
Thanks Kell. Your trip to Scotland sounds fun. Best to get there now before its underwater.
Posted by: jd | February 5, 2007 8:10 PM
What's important, too, is the cost of waiting until "for sure." By that time, however it's defined, it will be too late. That's not doomsaying but historical precedent.
Posted by: Simmons | February 9, 2007 12:48 PM
Agreed, Simmons
Posted by: jd | February 9, 2007 3:24 PM