Once again, Cliff Mass is the absolute voice of reason in a herd of shrieking moon-bats. From today's post:
A Science-Based Approach to Dealing with Climate Change in Washington State
Sometimes I muse about it--if I were in control of Washington State's response to global warming, what would I do? What would a rational, science-based approach look like, devoid of the hype and politics that is hindering progress today?
I would start by noting few principles:
1. The implications of global warming for the Northwest is serious (more extreme rainfall, warmer temperatures, less mountain snowpack, rising sea level in place) but it won't be existential and changes will initially be relatively small, accelerating later in the century.
2. Scientists and politicians must communicate the truth--the best estimates of our science. Exaggeration and hyping impacts "to get people to do the right thing" is both unethical and counterproductive. It produces unnecessary fear or turning away from the problem.
3. The effort MUST be bipartisan. Nothing major is ever accomplished by one party, something particularly true of our divided state and nation. We must not mix political goals (e.g., social engineering) with dealing with what is essentially a scientific/technical problem (increasing concentrations of one gas).
4. Few people are willing to sacrifice today to stop global warming tomorrow (including climate scientists with huge travel-related carbon footprints). Thus, all steps should provide benefits in the short run or not produce large additional costs.
5. Global warming and its impacts will be solved with science and technology.
Very rational and well thought out - read the whole thing.
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