The latest issue of the NYU Alumni Magazine has an article that begins, “It’s not news—climate change is real—but the matter gets more urgent by the day.”
Candidate Trump declared climate change is a Chinese hoax.
In 2007 NYU promised to cut carbon emissions by 30% in 10 years, a difficult goal because more than half its buildings were over 60 years old and some over 100. In 2012 the goal had been achieved, five years early!
A recent article from the New York Times (https://www.nytimes.com/2019/05/27/us/politics/trump-climate-science.html) stated ex astronaut petroleum geologist James Reilly, now White House appointed director of the U. S. Geological Survey, has said only computer-generated climate models that project the impact of climate change through 2040 will be produced by his office.
So, what we have on the one hand is a respected research university fearful of climate change and willing to take on the expense and passion to do something about it.
On the other hand we have a nonscientist uncurious professional liar and an ex astronaut who is afraid of data that will show how much out of touch his boss is, because estimates get a lot worse between 2040 and 2100. I’m glad Reilly isn’t an astronaut anymore, because that’s a scientifically based occupation.
By the way, NASA has placed its blessing on the accuracy of long-term earth temperature estimates and stated the methods are accurate to within one tenth of one degree Fahrenheit (https://climate.nasa.gov/news/2876/new-studies-increase-confidence-in-nasas-measure-of-earths-temperature/).
How can anyone not be impressed by the obvious competence on one side and the obvious shenanigans on the other.
Well, I am sick of it.
I’m sick of Trump unraveling policies of the past that aimed to curb greenhouse-gas emissions.
I’m sick of Trump moves such as pulling out of the Paris Agreement and for being unwilling to sign a communiqué to protect the melting Arctic region unless all references to climate change are stripped.
I’m sick of actions like appointing aging retired ex-Princeton physics professor William Happer to consult on administration efforts to debunk climate change. Former colleagues at Princeton express chagrin at Happer’s current stance, backed as he is by John Bolton and funded by billionaire climate science debunkers Robert and Rebekah Mercer.
I’m sick of arguments fearful of economic damage if we stop using oil and coal.
I’m sick of people who dare not think of the future, who are concerned only with today and making money.
I’m sick of Trump trying to intimidate other nations who want to do something about the problem.
Here’s the truth of the matter. Anyone not working to curb climate change is committing murder. Yes, murder! First, of our planet which cannot survive forever on a diet of neglect. And of untold numbers of animal and vegetative species. And, indeed, of humans many of whom will be unable to survive the rise in sea level, increased warmth of their homelands, droughts, and a host of other horrors.
So anyone who believes climate change is a hoax, who thinks withdrawing from international efforts to control it is a great idea, who thinks the answer is more coal and oil, who believes aiming for a greener lifestyle is terrible, who is against solar power, is against wind power, who believes it’s not getting hotter, who thinks there’s nothing to it because it was cold today, I say to you, you are acting criminally.
I know some of you who feel this way gush over your grandchildren. Please don’t. Because you don’t really care about them. You might survive just fine. Your children may not be unduly affected. But your grandchildren probably and great grandchildren certainly will suffer.
If I’m wrong about you, and you do care about your descendants, then accept the truth and do something about this threat to our planet, and demand your leaders do the same.
After all, it’s a job for all of us.
Candidate Trump declared climate change is a Chinese hoax.
In 2007 NYU promised to cut carbon emissions by 30% in 10 years, a difficult goal because more than half its buildings were over 60 years old and some over 100. In 2012 the goal had been achieved, five years early!
A recent article from the New York Times (https://www.nytimes.com/2019/05/27/us/politics/trump-climate-science.html) stated ex astronaut petroleum geologist James Reilly, now White House appointed director of the U. S. Geological Survey, has said only computer-generated climate models that project the impact of climate change through 2040 will be produced by his office.
So, what we have on the one hand is a respected research university fearful of climate change and willing to take on the expense and passion to do something about it.
On the other hand we have a nonscientist uncurious professional liar and an ex astronaut who is afraid of data that will show how much out of touch his boss is, because estimates get a lot worse between 2040 and 2100. I’m glad Reilly isn’t an astronaut anymore, because that’s a scientifically based occupation.
By the way, NASA has placed its blessing on the accuracy of long-term earth temperature estimates and stated the methods are accurate to within one tenth of one degree Fahrenheit (https://climate.nasa.gov/news/2876/new-studies-increase-confidence-in-nasas-measure-of-earths-temperature/).
How can anyone not be impressed by the obvious competence on one side and the obvious shenanigans on the other.
Well, I am sick of it.
I’m sick of Trump unraveling policies of the past that aimed to curb greenhouse-gas emissions.
I’m sick of Trump moves such as pulling out of the Paris Agreement and for being unwilling to sign a communiqué to protect the melting Arctic region unless all references to climate change are stripped.
I’m sick of actions like appointing aging retired ex-Princeton physics professor William Happer to consult on administration efforts to debunk climate change. Former colleagues at Princeton express chagrin at Happer’s current stance, backed as he is by John Bolton and funded by billionaire climate science debunkers Robert and Rebekah Mercer.
I’m sick of arguments fearful of economic damage if we stop using oil and coal.
I’m sick of people who dare not think of the future, who are concerned only with today and making money.
I’m sick of Trump trying to intimidate other nations who want to do something about the problem.
Here’s the truth of the matter. Anyone not working to curb climate change is committing murder. Yes, murder! First, of our planet which cannot survive forever on a diet of neglect. And of untold numbers of animal and vegetative species. And, indeed, of humans many of whom will be unable to survive the rise in sea level, increased warmth of their homelands, droughts, and a host of other horrors.
So anyone who believes climate change is a hoax, who thinks withdrawing from international efforts to control it is a great idea, who thinks the answer is more coal and oil, who believes aiming for a greener lifestyle is terrible, who is against solar power, is against wind power, who believes it’s not getting hotter, who thinks there’s nothing to it because it was cold today, I say to you, you are acting criminally.
I know some of you who feel this way gush over your grandchildren. Please don’t. Because you don’t really care about them. You might survive just fine. Your children may not be unduly affected. But your grandchildren probably and great grandchildren certainly will suffer.
If I’m wrong about you, and you do care about your descendants, then accept the truth and do something about this threat to our planet, and demand your leaders do the same.
After all, it’s a job for all of us.
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