Climate Science Explained by Doctor Rosen - 252

 In the New York article titled, “The Science of Climate Change Explained: Facts, Evidence, and Proof”, Ph.D. Julia Rosen does a darn good job of describing what is going on with our planet.

Doctor Rosen is a geologist. Since she is not a climate scientist, she references her sources via links. (She has 61 by my count) Referencing information is professional and, if the references are reputable, proves a writer is not intellectually lazy or a fake.

Referencing your work allows diligent readers to double-check claims to assure themselves they are not being conned. With links readers can expand their understanding of important issues.

I have written 251 climate columns and submitted many letters to the editor to various newspapers. I am proud to say most of my columns and letters to the editor were referenced to experts. I have even sought out busy scientists for more information and have been able to attend seminars and presentations by world respected scientists in various climate fields.  Being armed with information from experts has allowed me to write with confidence.

Today, more Americans than ever understand climate change. The Yale Program on Climate Change has been tracking American’s opinions since 2008. Here are the results for 2021: 33% are alarmed, 25% concerned, 17% cautious, 10% doubtful, and 9% dismissive.

The good news most Americans understand the consequences if we do not act. The bad news is 33% are in the category “alarmed”. If being alarmed motivates people to act, this uncomfortable state of mind moves us to solutions. The bad news is alarmed people sometimes fall into despondency and fail to act.  It is important we stay focused on solutions and ignore both the deniers and the doomsayers.

Since our government has chosen to act via the Infrastructure Bill and the Inflation Reduction Act, IRA, I put myself in the Concerned (and optimistic) category. The Inflation Reduction Act has plenty of money-saving incentives we can access and, if we take advantage of it, will decrease our carbon emissions and slow climate change. 

The denier category makes up only 9% of the population.  This number will change but only as members drop out from natural causes. No one is predicting this 9% number of deniers will decrease through science based rational dialogue.

So why read Julia Rosen’s article?  The article is rich in information. Curious folks will get a learning rush. For people who wish to talk about climate, reading her article will help them speak with confidence.

Her article is a dozen chapters long and is as follows:  1) How do we know climate change is really happening? 2) How much agreement is there among scientists about climate change? 3) Do we really only have 150 years of climate data? How is that enough to tell us about centuries of climate change? 4) How do we know climate change is caused by humans? 5) Since greenhouse gases occur naturally, how do we know they’re causing Earth’s temperature to rise. 6) Why should we be worried that the planet has warmed 2 degrees F since 1800s? 7) Is climate change a part of the planet’s natural warming and cooling cycles? 8) How do we know global warming is not because of the sun or volcanoes? 9) How can winters and certain places be getting colder if the planet is warming? 10) Wildfires and bad weather have always happened. How do we know there’s a connection to climate change? 11) How bad are the effects of climate change going to be? 12) What will it cost to do something about climate change versus doing nothing?

That’s it for now from the Climate Zealot.

References: “The Science of Climate Change Explained: Facts Evidence and Proof”, Julia Rosen, the New York Times Nov 6th, 2021

                      “Global Warmings Six Americas” at the Yale Program on Climate Change Communication, Yale University

                         Global Warming's Six Americas - Yale Program on Climate Change Communication

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