Regardless of the roots of Earth Day, where some proclaim it was a far, far left “holiday” designed to promote communism, the ideals of a healthy environment, clean air, clean water, clean land, saving nature, are worthy goals. Unfortunately, like most real environmental issues, the “climate change” wankers have hijacked the day. But, that’s not what is being lamented in this USA Today article
Tuesday, as we observe another Earth Day, there is broad public support for cleaner air and water, and as a nation we have taken dramatic steps to improve the environment.
The coming challenge is what to do about climate change, which a nearly unanimous collection of scientists says is real and potentially calamitous if we don’t act now to reduce greenhouse gases.
“Climate change” has nothing to do with the environment: there has always been changes within the environment, and the Earth has survived. Things change. Here’s the big point
Yet, the American public – in fact, the global public – seems unmoved by the threats, and some deniers still cling to positions that echo the DAR’s attack on the environmental movement back in 1970.
Indeed, a Gallup Poll in March found that only about a third of the American public worry “a great deal” about climate change and global warming.
That finding reinforces two attitudes that have not changed over the past four decades:
First of all, we aren’t motivated to do anything about environmental problems until they are staring us in the face. Only when our foul air caused breathing problems, and water became too polluted to drink or wade into, did we spend the money for federal, state and local governments to tackle the problems.
Second, the vast majority of us won’t sacrifice our high-consumption lifestyles, put jobs at risk or pay a high price to protect the environment. Give up our big SUVs? Pay higher gas taxes? Spend more time in the dark?
Even “green” consumers who ride bikes are part of the problem if they are always connected to the Internet. Various studies estimate it increases our electricity consumption by 10% to 20% (and it’s dirty coal that generates most electricity). Then there are the pollutants emitted by the giant data storage centers.
Obviously, the solution is for Warmists to practice what they preach, to give up their fossil fuels, make their lives “carbon neutral”, right? Er, no
If we are to save ourselves and our planet from ourselves, the answer now – as back in 1970 – is the same: science and technology. Better purification systems have cleaned our water and air. Car exhaust emissions are down because of catalytic converters and engineering changes that make vehicles more fuel efficient. Light bulbs are more energy-efficient.
Is anyone surprised in the least that Owen Ullman, who was there right at the beginning of Earth Day back in 1970, refuses to recommend that Warmists practice what they preach? What I recommend is that Warmists stop linking real environmental issues to this idiotic political issue of “climate change”. Unless they are will to walk the talk.
I did get a chuckle out of Mr. Ullman lamenting the use of the Internet, considering that the vast majority of people who read the article will do so on the Internet, rather than the dead tree edition.
PS: For any who might think I’m full of it regarding the graphic, no. I do all I can to be environmentally friendly. I’m not perfect, but I do work hard to keep the air, water, and land clean.
