Credentials of climate change deniers should be examined

By Lethbridge Herald on September 24, 2022.

Editor:

 Re “There needs to be room for debate in the climate discussion” (Sept.14).

To begin on an observational, but largely unscientific note: There certainly seems to have been an increase in “once in a century” weather disasters in recent years. Massive floods, fires, droughts, and deadly heat waves – and all on a global basis. This is pretty much as the climate models have predicted. 

So when a person or group makes a statement such as “there is no climate emergency,” you have to wonder what’s prompting such self-assuredness on their part.

Are these commentators acting – as researchers should – by evaluating the evidence impartially based on the results of their and others’ observations? 

I think it’s important to consider the credentials of such commentators: Are they involved in climate research? Have they done any recent research in this field? If so, has their work been published in reputable scientific journals? Has their research been peer reviewed? From where are they receiving their financial support? Until these questions have been answered, it’s best to take their pronouncements with a grain of salt.

As to the notion that further debate is needed, I think it’s true: Vigourous debate is needed into best practices and mitigation strategies as we go forward in this new climate regime.  But the notion that “more debate is needed before we can really be sure that global warming is 100 per cent real” has been the mantra, for decades, of those whose intent is to instill doubt.

 Their goal is to make us feel that “since the issue isn’t really settled after all, “we can just ignore it and go about our business. It’s a strategy used by the tobacco companies back when the research was becoming increasingly certain that smoking caused lung cancer and other illnesses. 

Interestingly, some of the individuals involved in that misinformation campaign have gone on to employ the same technique to sew doubt about climate change. It works well but, as time and the increasing weight of research show us, it doesn’t work forever.

Ron Fazio

Lethbridge