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Environmental Work Group Guest Commentary Guest Commentary Submitted by Edward T. Lentz on behalf of the Coalition for Democracy of Central New York Recent editorials and commentaries in the media, including in this newspaper, have asserted that there is disagreement among scientific experts about the fact and/or cause of global climate change. Such comments are, at best, misinformed and, at worst, dishonest. The clear weight of expert scientific opinion is that the earth is warming due at least in part to man-made carbon emissions. Yes, there remains a minority of scientists who are skeptical about the role of human activity in global warming. No matter what the issue, there is always a minority viewpoint. An Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) Working Group recently concluded that (1) "warming of the climate system is unequivocal" and (2) there is "very high confidence" that human activity is causing global warming. "Very high confidence" is defined as meaning there is at least a 90% chance that the conclusion is correct. A second Working Group expressed only "high confidence" (at least an 80% chance of being correct) concerning the effect of human activity. Who are the likes of Rush Limbaugh and other pundits to dispute these findings? And, why accept their opinions when an overwhelming majority of experts are telling us otherwise? Would it make sense to rely on Rush Limbaugh's opinion of a medical condition over that of a majority of doctors? The experts' diagnosis of global warming is well-supported by scientific evidence and is borne out by our own observations. There are several good sources for information concerning the scientific evidence. These include, among others, the IPCC, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and Woods Hole websites as well as the Al Gore documentary, "An Inconvenient Truth," which, politics aside, is widely acknowledged as being factually and scientifically accurate. (Contrary to what some would have us believe, climate change is a global issue, not a political one.) Supporting evidence includes:
And, is it really so hard to believe that our spewing of carbon dioxide and other gases into the atmosphere for the past 150 years or so would have negative consequences? We know that dumping waste into the ground contaminates soil and water with devastating consequences for the environment. We know that dumping untreated waste water into our rivers and streams poisons the waters and living creatures, including humans, who depend on them. Doesn't it make sense that dumping waste into the air in the form of industrial, automobile and other emissions would also have grave consequences? And for those who say, "Who cares," think again. Global warming does not merely mean shorter winters and hotter summers. It means, among other things, rising sea levels with deadly consequences for coastal cities and communities in this country and elsewhere, an increase in heat-related deaths, an increase in the geographical range of vector-borne diseases such as malaria and yellow fever, mass extinctions of animal species that cannot adapt quickly enough, and greater human misery in regions that will suffer unprecedented drought. So, it's time, no, it's past time, we wake up. It is incumbent on all of us, for the sake of our own and future generations, to take action. What can we do? We can each take individual measures to reduce our carbon footprint such as by driving more fuel-efficient vehicles and driving them less. We can work within our communities to promote conservation and localization of production of food and other essentials. Finally, we can demand that our political leaders stand up to industry and take legislative action to force reductions in carbon emissions. Remember, political leaders don't lead – they follow the will of those people who make themselves heard. It's time we made ourselves heard on this vital, global issue.
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