What makes science deniers tick – especially those who insist that man-made climate change is a lie?
There are almost as many reasons as deniers. Here are just nine:
- Global warming was a hoax perpetrated by Al Gore in his 2006 film, An Inconvenient Truth. Because Gore is so far-left liberal, he and any of his theories are not to be believed. Climate-change notions are touted just to put the skids on American industry through energy-use regulations. Thus, it’s an attack on free-market capitalism, a way to weaken America.
- Climate change might be true, but it’s a natural cycle and has nothing to do with humans’ energy use on Earth. Glaciers covered much of the world. Then, the Earth warmed up; the glaciers melted. Cycles. T’was ever thus.
- God, in His perfect plan, would make sure humankind would not be able to ruin the Earth forever. God put coal and oil on Earth for us to use.
- Climate change due to carbon-dioxide emissions is preposterous because there has always been carbon dioxide on Earth. (That brilliant assertion comes courtesy of former Rep. Michele Bachmann.)
- Just because most scientists claim people cause climate change does not make it so. It’s like those so-called experts who claim we evolved from other life forms, which is ridiculous because how does a clam or a zebra turn into a human? Other scientists claim the Earth is 4.5 billion years old. It’s not; it’s only 6,000 years old, and that’s a fact because the Bible tells me so.
- Global warming is a joke. If it’s warming up, how come last winter was so cold?
- Never trust nutty professors, egghead scientists or kooky tree-huggers. They all live in a dream world.
- Catastrophic weather events are not increasing; it’s just they’re reported more, so it just seems like there’s more of them.
- We don’t have enough accurate science yet to prove global warming is occurring.
No, dear readers, I did not make up those reasons. I have heard them and read them time and again from science deniers. And let me hasten to add, I don’t criticize all deniers. Some of them are sincerely convinced enough accurate science is not in yet; thus they are skeptical, reserving judgment, as in Reason #8 above.
As for me, I’m a believer – a science believer. While I’m no expert on the subject, far from it, it’s a stark fact humankind has been polluting and over-populating this planet ever since the invention of the internal-combustion engine. Such relentless pollution, caused by more and more people, has catastrophic consequences now and even more so in the future.
A story in the Jan. 16 New York Times reports 2014 was the hottest of the past 134 years. The 10 warmest years in that time frame all occurred since 1997.
According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, there have been alarming rises in 2013 in levels of greenhouse gases, global temperatures and the seas. Sea levels have risen by 3.2 millimeters (give or take 0.4) each year for the past two decades. The weather station at the South Pole registered a record-high temperature in 2013. Those findings – and more – are listed in the NOAA’s State of the Climate Report for 2013. It was compiled by 425 scientists from 57 countries and based on independent data from monitoring stations everywhere on Earth. Those readings show continuing increases in levels of carbon dioxide, ethane and nitrous oxide. China has become the Smog Monster of pollution, and the air in Beijing was so bad during President Obama’s recent visit, they had to shut down many factories for a day or two. It’s ironic (or should I say appropriate?) that Obama and the Chinese signed an emissions agreement in that filthy city.
How people can deny hard scientific data is hard to fathom.
What’s puzzling is one would think even those who scoff at man-made climate change would, nevertheless, join those who strive to limit carbon-fuel emissions into our water and air. Who wouldn’t want to rally for a cleaner planet? Who wouldn’t want to stop pollutant filth from mucking up life for this generation and the coming ones? Fine, go ahead and sneer at climate change, but at least join the push for cleaner energies.
Another good reason to join the cause is the world is going to run out of fossil fuels sooner or later. If we don’t push – now – to develop alternative energy sources, we’ll be in real trouble.
Joining forces for reduction and elimination of pollutants is just as important as joining forces against terrorism. Both threaten our very existence.
