Comments on: On the climate change debate http://chelseywaters.com/soapbox/2010/01/on-the-climate-change-debate/ clever would be nice Wed, 25 Jan 2012 00:39:44 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: Chelsey http://chelseywaters.com/soapbox/2010/01/on-the-climate-change-debate/comment-page-1/#comment-3025 Chelsey Fri, 22 Jan 2010 22:45:36 +0000 http://chelseywaters.com/soapbox/?p=1567#comment-3025 Yes, and don't misinterpret me -- I, too, believe global warming is caused by humans. But I also believe that we are in the information-gathering phase, and that there *may* be other elements at work. That doesn't mean we shouldn't work to reduce our emissions, of course! To me it just means we should be careful about how we gather and use information, and be dogged in our goal for accuracy. Yes, and don’t misinterpret me — I, too, believe global warming is caused by humans. But I also believe that we are in the information-gathering phase, and that there *may* be other elements at work. That doesn’t mean we shouldn’t work to reduce our emissions, of course! To me it just means we should be careful about how we gather and use information, and be dogged in our goal for accuracy.

]]> By: CëRïSë http://chelseywaters.com/soapbox/2010/01/on-the-climate-change-debate/comment-page-1/#comment-3014 CëRïSë Tue, 19 Jan 2010 14:39:06 +0000 http://chelseywaters.com/soapbox/?p=1567#comment-3014 I feel that there is conclusive evidence that human activity has had a negative impact on the environment, and that we need to change our individual and collective behavior if we want to avoid greater catastrophe. Incidents like the one in this article, or the earlier hacked e-mails the article also mentioned, have given unfortunate fuel to the "skeptics," who fail to notice that "The flawed estimate raises more questions about the panel’s vetting procedures than it does about the melting of Himalayan glaciers, which most scientists believe is a major problem," or that "The evidence pointing to a growing human contribution to global warming is so widely accepted that the hacked material is unlikely to erode the overall argument." You're absolutely right that we don't have all the information yet and that the picture is still evolving. What I can't countenance is the idea that because we're not certain of all the precise details, or that because human mistakes were made, we're entitled to sit back and do nothing. Composting toilets, tiny houses, and other thoughtful and responsible decisions strike me as much preferable (though I may be as much of a leftie loony as you!). I feel that there is conclusive evidence that human activity has had a negative impact on the environment, and that we need to change our individual and collective behavior if we want to avoid greater catastrophe. Incidents like the one in this article, or the earlier hacked e-mails the article also mentioned, have given unfortunate fuel to the “skeptics,” who fail to notice that “The flawed estimate raises more questions about the panel’s vetting procedures than it does about the melting of Himalayan glaciers, which most scientists believe is a major problem,” or that “The evidence pointing to a growing human contribution to global warming is so widely accepted that the hacked material is unlikely to erode the overall argument.”

You’re absolutely right that we don’t have all the information yet and that the picture is still evolving. What I can’t countenance is the idea that because we’re not certain of all the precise details, or that because human mistakes were made, we’re entitled to sit back and do nothing. Composting toilets, tiny houses, and other thoughtful and responsible decisions strike me as much preferable (though I may be as much of a leftie loony as you!).

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