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30 October 2012

Americans and global warming—science bounces back

Earlier in this century, almost 80 per cent of Americans accepted that the Earth was warming and almost half believed we were causing it. Then skepticism increased and those believing in warming fell to 57 per cent and those believing we were causing it fell to a third. This increasing rejection of an inconvenient truth was no doubt aided by the massive disinformation campaign waged by vested interests and their political servants. But now there is some good news.

According to a Pew survey, over the last few years recognition of reality is returning. Two-thirds of Americans now agree there is solid evidence that the earth’s average temperature is increasing and 42 per cent say this is caused mostly by human activity.

Global warming is a vastly greater threat to Americans' security than their favourite fear, terrorism. Deniers have done grave mischief by undermining the science of climate change in order to sow confusion and doubt. Major figures in government and industry, men who are expected to show leadership, have acted with particular irresponsibility, one might even say, given the gravity of the threat, wickedness, in support of their own greed or political advantage or simple ignorance.

Perhaps the truth is now beginning to have its day. Americans still have a very long way to go before they come to terms with science which overwhelmingly declares that we, Homo sapiens, are causing global warming, but at least the trend is now in the right direction. A shred of hope remains.
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2 comments:

  1. Anonymous30 October 2012 at 12:59

    In 20 years time or maybe less, when the shit really starts to hit the fan, people will no doubt turn towards the countless media pieces that have accumulated, for the words spoken and action rendered by these so-called leaders. They and their wealth will be held accountable, though it perhaps would be much too late.

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  2. The Mound of Sound30 October 2012 at 20:29

    Interesting interview on NBC Nightly News with NY governor, Mario Cuomo, from the site of a ruined subway station that had been under restoration beneath Ground Zero.

    Cuomo said, in essence, that there'll be more Sandys coming New York's way as part of a new normal that included severe storm events of increasing frequency and intensity.

    I think Anon is unduly optimistic in entertaining a possible 20-year timeline. Two, perhaps even one more megadrought like we had this past summer, and we're in deep kimchee.

    The hydrological cycle is broken, plain and simple. The fossil fuelers can argue about why until they're apoplectic but the warming of the atmosphere is indisputable and warmer air holds more water vapour and more energy, which ensure more megastorms of increasing intensity. You can't fudge that.

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