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Trends, Skeptics and Deniers
By Roger Stephenson, VP for Programs, Clean Air-Cool Planet
Sandy hits home. My first thought is for the safety and well-being of the people and their homes and their communities. I’ve included a picture from friend and CA-CP colleague Brooks, showing his street in Maryland flooded during the storm. Brooks is spending today on recovery.
NY Governor Andrew Cuomo says climate change is the new reality for New York. He’s said people should prepare for similar weather conditions in the future.
Over the weekend, thinking about the pending hurricane and Nor’easter, I imagined deniers getting ready to remind us that “one storm” does nothing to prove climate change is real. No argument from me; however, trends are a different matter. On Saturday I mistakenly raked a poor Wood Frog into the leaf pile (he’s fine). Earthworms are burrowing in still-soft earth not touched by frost, let alone a freeze. And I removed a tick from the neck of my cat pal, Wesley. Two Gray Catbirds in the front yard. I live in northern New England! Trends are real and evidence of a changing climate. Five hundred-year storms in 5 years. John Hutton is a friend and as a farmer he is serious about trends. He’s growing 90 day soybeans in New Hampshire – read his account on how he’s adapting.
More frequent and costly storm-related disasters is a reality for New Hampshire.
Trained in science in college, I appreciate what skepticism really is. Good scientists are skeptics, and after running global warming through its paces – modeling, measuring, analyzing, testing – the scientific consensus is that human activities are causing climate change. Skepticism has its roots in science. Deniers have their roots in politics and special interests.
Filed under: Uncategorized Tagged: climate impacts, climate skeptics, flooding, Hurricane Sandy, New England 
2012-10-31 15:45:40
Source: http://coolplanet.org/2012/10/31/trends-skeptics-and-deniers/
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