Winning the Debate on Climate Change
Photo Source: mix
Have you noticed there has been a recent uptick in opposition to fighting climate change? From George Will to an old friend I saw celebrating St. Pat’s Day, opposition to the environmental movement appears to be back in the public forum. If you are reading this, more than likely I’m preaching to the choir, but how do you debunk the opposition to climate change and going green?
First, I assert that climate change is not a debate. An overwhelming consensus of scientists knows mankind’s habits have the power to adversely impact our environment. Yet, if you listen to some pundits or politicians they mistakenly cite this grand debate in the scientific community. It’s not happening. Climate change is as accepted and fundamental to science as evolution or the big bang. I would refer the opposition to experts in the field. Information on changing weather patterns should be retrieved from climatologists and data on rising oceans should come from oceanologists….not pundits and politicians. Websites like Grist.org or ClimateProgress.org are excellent resources that scientifically disprove an opposition argument that receives attention from the mass media.
Second, I separate environmentalism into a macro and micro level: Macro-environmentalism being global problems and solutions and micro-environmentalism being personal problems and solutions. The micro level or the basics of environmentalism can’t be argued. Is pollution bad? No one in Chicago wants the city to smell like Gary, IN. No one in KC wants the city to smell like that sewage plant on 435 near the rail yard. So let’s all do something about it and require companies to release fewer pollutants into the air. Are trees beneficial? A 5th grader could tell us that trees filter the air and provide oxygen for us to breathe. So let’s not chop so many down and let’s plant a few more. Do we like paying for gas we don’t need? No. So let’s keep our cars in tune, inflate our tires properly and drive a vehicle that gets 35mpg instead of 20mpg. Are landfills good for the environment? Obviously not, so let’s all try to divert the 80 percent of our trash that’s recyclable into the recycling bin.
Ultimately, the environmental movement centers on one key issue- accepting personal responsibility. We all want clean air and water, food free from disease and to enjoy a healthy standard of living. This can be achieved by everyone’s participation in the basics of environmentalism and persuading our businesses to do more.