Opinion: We must be aware of planet’s plight
By Conrad Anker
Ten years ago, the percentage of Americans who believed in anthropogenic global warming stood at 75 percent. Fast-forward a decade to 2011 and the number dropped to 44 percent. Has the amount of CO2 in the atmosphere decreased 31 percent in 10 years? The poll, conducted by Harris Interactive, is indicative of the battle being waged over climate change.
Lee Atwater, Republican strategist, coined the phrase, “Perception is reality.” We believe what is comforting. While soothing, it might not necessarily be factual. Build into this the persuasive power of advertising, and it is easy to understand why climate change and the related facts are less important to citizens of the United States. Where, as perception can vary according to one’s views, certain empirical measurements, based on the principle of scientific observation, are fact.
Drought, by any measure, isn’t fun. While we enjoyed a robust winter in southwest Montana last year, the paucity of snow is this winter’s opening line to many conversations. While low snow affects winter recreation, the greater concern is water available for domestic and agricultural needs. The intense two-week cold snap, a signature Montana event straight out of an Ivan Doig novel with 40-below temperatures, has not been part of the current winter. The ease of not having to warm up the car and being able to maintain comfort in the house with a lower energy bill are obvious benefits. The same ease also benefits the pine bark beetle. The colder temperatures needed to keep the bugs at bay are absent. For the regional forests this translates into more standing dead timber, which coupled with a dry summer, equates to a greater risk of wildfire.
On a global level, 2011 was the 10th warmest year on record and saw an unprecedented level of extreme weather events. From the flooding in Australia, Thailand and Mississippi, to the heat waves in Russia and Texas, to the devastation of Hurricane Irene in New England and southern Canada, climate chaos has created a fair amount of hardship and in turn economic duress. The general warming trend has continued unabated. Thirteen of the warmest years since 1880 have occurred in the past 15 years. The World Meteorological Organization will publish the final figures for 2011 weather events in the coming weeks.
Conrad Anker is a mountaineer and author. He lives with his family in Bozeman.
While I am sure this article will bring out the “you have been duped” and “I am smarter that all the PhD climate scientists who only do it to get rich” crowd, it is important to remember that the earth will do fine with climate change… it is just the people, plants and animal that will be devastated.
We are just riding on plant earth we are not the captain, as much of us would like to believe
Humanity’s ignorance coupled with it’s ego will soon lead to a painful end for our species, and many others, but the world will continue to spin long after we are gone!
Anker, a climber, with no science background is not helping. A single year does not prove or disprove anthropogenic global warming. This doesnt help. Like it or not fossil fuels will be used until a more profitable alternative is found. I think that can be done. But that is the exact moment when there will be change. I just hope its the U.S. that makes the discovery so we can profit rather than China or Europe.
Anker’s blind ignorance is worse than a canker(sore.)
The great majority of Americans are pathetically short on science education so lets ask them a question about science that Ph.D.’s debate. This kind of religious zeal only obfuscates clarity (like the god Tahoe) and creates demagogic politicians such as Al the Gore.
Climate change is a fact of life. Whether man has any influence on climate change may never be provable or have any significance in global cooling or warming.
(C)anker obviously didn’t watch Senator James Inhofe destroy the “true believers”
of AGW on C-SPAN II yesterday.
John, I think your post was spot on. The key word in your post is “profitable”. Americans are not willing to pay more in the short term to create these technologies to replace fossil fuels, and the argument they use for that is, “It’s too expensive!” Well folks we have to invest in these technologies to create better more cost efficient forms of them. Nothing is free, and some times you gotta give too get! This concept seems a bit too much for those that swing to the right in their ideology. They seem to be more enamored with the instant gratification mind set!
10.00 BUCKS A GALLON IN PARIS AS WE ALL SET HERE TURN UP THE HEAT.
IF YOU OWNED A GAS WELL OR A OIL PUMPER, YOU SING A DIFFERENT TUNE,BUT TILL THAT HAPPENS, WE CAN USE SELF IDLEASIM TO CONNECT,JUDGE THE REST.
Idealism..FOR ALL THOSE TEACHERS LOOKING FOR A KINKY COMMENT.
From 40+ years ago, a prominent environmental scientist: “Man is the only species on the face of the Earth that can affect all other species, and not even have to be there to do it – they do it through the currents, both air & water. . . and produce things that don’t go away. . . at all, let alone soon.
Profit (?)- another of man’s inventions to enrich himself at the expense of most all others. . .at its’ worst.
Filter this through the above comments, and only Polar Bare is close, unfortunately. . .
P.S. Senator Imhofe from Oklahoma – he needs to be put in the same league as our friend Rush Limbaugh
we had ice ages right?
turnabout is fair play, no?
biggerpicture, I rarely have an original thought. I tried to understand the science behind anthropogenic climate change and I just dont have the intelect and education to form an opinion about it. But then I read “Winning the Oil End Game:American Innovation for profit, jobs and security.” Its a heck of a good read. We can absolutely dominate 21st century energy delivery. And we can make huge amounts of money doing it, but like you said, it will take some seed money.
The Great Recession might be better for the Earth than People,many factories sit empty, many gas burning autos sit home more often now days,the Big gears around the globe sit rusting.
The markets adjust to demand both in energy and commodities.
They don’t want too much anything ,just the right amount controls the profits.They rather not drill or plant certain commodities to keep the future demand profitable.
I know many a farmer in the Midwest that the government pays them more to plow under than to harvest.Same with Dairy farmers,same with pot growers.
This the first time in history fuel so high before summer,but the investors know Americans are so spoiled that they will pay higher prices to take that smaller vacation this summer,spend less, go home,as soon winter rolls back the fuel recedes,it’s a old tale of making fast money.
There is no lack of oil or crops,it’s the traders that screwing the people along with powerful lobbyist.
The weather is not controllable,Thank God for that.
There’s many millions of years lost societies that were whipped into doom,and we aren’t any different,worry only makes you OLD, TIRED.