We check weather predictions often. When meteorologists tell us the weather will turn ugly, we prepare. We follow their advice when they urge us to take shelter because a tornado or hurricane approaches
That’s what we normally do.
Remarkably, although climate scientists tell us the weather—or climate—is turning ugly big time and warn us to prepare, we don’t. Or won’t.
We’re not acting normally.
On June 20, The New York Times’ John Broder reported that President Obama has ordered new rules for limiting carbon dioxide emissions from existing electric power plants. They are the facilities that release the most climate-damaging emissions, yet they were not covered in earlier regulations.
As you’d expect, Republican legislators object to Mr. Obama’s plan. However, they’ll have to scramble to thwart it. Congressional approval isn’t needed.
The President’s welcome action aside, a big question lingers. Why isn’t the public demanding more action to curb the increasing damage from our corrupted climate?
After all, Yale Climate Communications Project pollsters have discovered that 58 percent of Americans believe in global warming-caused climate change. In the April survey, six in ten Americans reported they believe global warming made 2012 the warmest year on record, caused more severe storms, and worsened the Midwest and Great Plains drought. Two out of three contend U.S. weather has been “worse” in recent years.
So why do so few clamor for action? It helps to consider how Americans react to the climate issue.
In a 2012 study, Yale’s Climate Project pollsters calculated Americans’ climate change beliefs. They found that 16 percent of Americans are “alarmed” by climate change. Twenty-nine 29 percent are “concerned,” and 25 percent “cautious,” meaning they sort of believes in climate change, but they’re not sure and aren’t worried about it.
Nine percent admit being “disengaged.” Such folks give little if any thought the climate issue. To them personally, it’s no problem. The disengaged, “tend to have the lowest education and income levels of the six groups,” the report explains.
Next come 13 percent who are “doubtful.” If climate change is happening, the doubters say it’s caused solely by nature doing her thing. They disagree with 97 percent of the world’s climate scientists who say mankind is largely responsible.
Finally we have the “dismissives,” the deniers. At eight percent dismissives form the smallest but most vocal group. They insist global warming is a liberals’ myth. Many call it a “hoax” and oppose any action to deal with the phantom threat. Republican Senators James Inhofe (SC), Tom Coburn (OK), and Mitch McConnell (KY) fall in this group along with 36 of their GOP colleagues. All have voted against efforts to curb climate-change.
The determined opposition of deniers may be one reason the 58 percent tend to inaction. The opposition seems too stiff to overcome.
Then too, the climate problem may seem too huge to cope with. After all, how can an individual do anything about it?
It’s clear the release of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere creates much if not most climate damage. But how many can switch to pollution-lessening hybrid or electric cars and push lawnmowers? How many business travelers will take trains rather than planes--if they could find trains going their way?
It’s easy to feel inadequate and ignore an earth-sized problem. It’s easy to slough off farmers’ laments that droughts have become longer, storms more intense, floods more damaging, and weather more quirky.
Unless you’re a bargeman, bulk-cargo shipper, fisherman, or environmentalist it’s easy to dismiss concerns that the Great Lakes and Mississippi River have become shallower, that changing fishing grounds cause lower catches, and that 968 fish species plus animals like sponges, jellyfish, and corals have fled their habitats seeking cooler waters. Others are just dying.
But in fact there is no easy way to the future. Even in a world convulsed by wars and terror, we must deal with the climate-change problem. And precisely because individuals can do little to address the problem, they have to take collective action.
Americans en masse must find the will and stamina to pester lawmakers into taking remedial action. Americans en masse must back politicians who have the good sense to back climate-change remedies.
If we don’t, it’s certain that someday there will be an event that galvanizes the pained attention of everyone then alive.
By then it will be too late.
----Gus Gribbin
