Climate Change

Climate change is a word that can trigger a disagreement if it is brought up in even the politest of conversation. The term, once a scientific oddity, has made its way into political circles, and as all things political tend to do, it has become a polarizing topic. Political figures are expected to have a stance on climate change, and the stance depends largely on their affiliation.

For example, in America, the Democrats tend to believe that climate change exists and that humans are a primary cause of the recent increase in global temperature. On the flip side, Republicans believe that climate change may or may not exist, but even if it does, that we are over estimating our own role in it, possibly out of hubris, or even more sinister motives. In their case, the sinister motive is usually a means to be anti-business.

Scientists attempt to rid themselves of such biases as politicians fling about piece meal, but it is extremely hard to publish findings contrary to the vested interests of your sponsors. Thus the scientific community has become as divided on climate change as the political one, and the end result is that anytime a new study is published, there are half a dozen lined up to repudiate and invalidate its findings. The end result is that much less is being done to provide a clear, effective picture of the issues involved than could be so. Regardless of who turns out to be right in this, we are wasting a lot of time and resources to confuse the issue.