By Terry Hansen, Hales Corners WI
(May 20, 2019)
Letter-writer John Roberts is correct in that the sun does power a planet’s climate system. However, its atmosphere also has a profound impact. For example, although Mercury is closer to the sun, Venus is hotter because its atmosphere is mostly carbon dioxide.
In its report, “America’s Climate Choices,” the National Academy of Sciences states that climate change “is very likely caused primarily by the emission of greenhouse gases from human activities,” and it calls for strong national action and international cooperation to address it.
The NAS contends that this is wise risk management, because climate impacts will last for hundreds to thousands of years, but climate action can be scaled back if it is shown to be more stringent than what is needed.
Climate change should be a bridge, rather than a wedge issue. I’m encouraged that the bipartisan Energy Innovation and Carbon Dividend Act has been introduced in the House of Representatives. Let’s reach across divides and provide U.S. leadership in the fight to slow climate change.
References
Venus is hotter than Mercury
http://www.universetoday.com/102973/what-is-the-hottest-planet-in-the-solar-system/
America’s Climate Choices (introductory summary and p. 2, paragraph 3)
Energy Innovation and Carbon Dividend Act
https://energyinnovationact.org/
1 Comment
10s of thousands of scientists know that man puts a bit of CO2 in the atmosphere, but do not agree that man can do much about it as man is part of the planet. And historically CO2 has been way higher pre man.
The hysteria only happens when people have a financial benefit, either through carbon tax nonsense or are being funded by organizations that get funding from governments and organizations to enable wealth distribution that fixes nothing.
You want a miserable dirty planet with much more human suffering and death? Eliminate fossil fuels.
The plantet is going to cycle every 35 to 36,000 years, and no Google keyboard cruising is going to change anything.
The number one greenhouse gas is water vapor. Deal with that, or not since the planet is covered by 2/3 water.
It’s going to get gradually warmer over the next 18,000 years. What’s comical is the same, and I mean SAME people screaming the sky is falling are the people who predicted global cooling in the 70s. But why stop a good scam if the dollars continue to flow.
The actual hottest temps recorded in the US over the last 150 years was in the 30s. Just data. No hysteria.
As far as CO2 is concerned, if anyone thinks China and India give a damn about CO2 then you aren’t paying attention to these phoney climate treaties that give these folks a pass.
Nobody, country or treaty is going to slow the growth of these countries. Your best hope is that they become successful and create a better and more productive life for their citizens.
Then, and only then do people start caring about the environment they live in. When you don’t have to spend 12 hours a day trying to survive until the next day, other things can become important.