The fight over global warming so far has mostly been people arguing over whether the phenomenon will only kill some of us or all of us. Is this an unprecedented warming of the earth? Or is this a normal cycle that we may or be exacerbating?
Some climate effects are real. Humans are affecting the planet. Some of the things we’re doing are bad. But the disaster narrative the media spins ignores the progress we’ve made and keeps our focus off more important threats. The National Review reports that 98% fewer people die from climate-related disasters today than 100 years ago. Anyone who’s seen a picture of LA in the ‘50s knows we’re making huge improvements in air quality and pollution.
So why do we only hear “we’re all gonna die!” incessantly from scientists in the media? Because dire warnings get media coverage. And frankly, dire warnings are what people click on.
There are lots of nuanced conversations to have about global warming and climate change. Many of the events we’ve been warned are indications of a ruined planet aren’t as bad as the media leads us to believe. We don’t have more hurricane threats. The polar bear population is actually increasing.
And … if the predictions that the earth is warming are true … it may not even be all bad. More people die of cold every year than heat, by a wide margin.
In spite of the warnings every summer that people are dying from heat, dying from cold is much more likely. A slight warming (and even the most pessimistic predictions of warming are slight) could actually help.
Some insight from the Spectator:
The increase in average carbon dioxide levels over the past century, from 0.03 per cent to 0.04 per cent of the air, has had a measurable impact on plant growth rates. It is responsible for a startling change in the amount of greenery on the planet. As Dr Ranga Myneni of Boston University has documented, using three decades of satellite data, 31 per cent of the global vegetated area of the planet has become greener and just 3 per cent has become less green. This translates into a 14 per cent increase in productivity of ecosystems and has been observed in all vegetation types.
We may also potential upside is in agriculture and food production. Warmer temperatures can extend growing seasons, allowing farmers more time to cultivate crops. This has the potential to increase food yields and decrease prices, helping to feed a growing global population.
In some northern regions, such as Canada and Russia, the warming climate is making it possible to cultivate land that was previously too cold for agriculture. New crops can be introduced to these areas, diversifying the food supply and creating economic opportunities.
So take heart. When you hear climate change predictions, look carefully at who’s making them and why. And remember, we humans are pretty good at trying to preserve our species and coming up with solutions to threats to the human race.
– Ken
Ah, finally a voice of reason. No, we aren't going to end the planet tomorrow. However, we do need to treat the planet better.
And the windmill’s are killing our whales