Dear Friends,
The historic COP 26 climate meetings are over, and the results are a mixed bag. Limitations on deforestation, methane gas emissions, and investments in fossil fuel industry are big wins.
But setting hard targets for reducing global GHG emissions was disappointing. While some still think we can limit the global temperature rise to 1.5 degree celsius over pre-industrial levels, many others think we are headed to 2.0 to 2.5 by the end of this century.
What exactly that would mean is up to conjecture, but certainly would result in hotter temperatures, more intense storms, more frequent droughts, sea level rise, food shortages and other climate related problems.
What worries me most though is the political divide on this issue.
The Washington Post reports that their latest poll shows 67% of adults in this country think global warming is a serious problem, but that’s the same % as it was 7 years ago! In spite of all the more recent news issued by climate scientists. But what is worse is the partisan divide.
Democrats who see climate change as an existential threat rose to 95%, whereas only 44% of Republicans see it s a serious problem. This divide was exacerbated by the Trump administration that denied the existence of climate change and pulled the US out of the Paris Climate Accord. They argue that the Earth is just going through another climate phase, as it has in the past. Others liken it to the Stock Exchange arguing that it will go up and go down and then will go stable. While these might seem like logical arguments, they unfortunately have no basis in scientific fact. The United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), which is composed of climate scientists from around the world ,have concluded that “human activity is fueling a dangerous greenhouse gas effect that is melting ice sheets, increasing the rate of devastating storms, and resulting in more severe droughts. At lest three Pacific islands are being engulfed by sea level rise, creating significant numbers of climate refugees and threatening many coastal communities around the world.
And yet, only 44% of Republicans think climate change is a serious problem, vs 95% of Democrats. How can political ideology result in such a different perception of reality?
I am very concerned about our democratic form of government, and how divided we have become over party lines. Even something like Covid 19, a killer virus, is perceived differently by different political parties. This should not be. If we are to make significant progress, be it climate change or Covid 19, political parties have to the a back seat to scientific facts. Covid 19 and climate change are killing people every day, albeit Covid is more serious in the near term. We need to focus on what is more important for humanity, what is the moral higher ground, and less on political beliefs and personal gain. The youth of the world are very discouraged right now. They need us to provide the support and hope for the future. And we must support them, because they are
Our Children, Our Grandchildren, All Future Generations and All Life.
Bill