Climate Skepticism

[SheilaT]

6. The science of climate change and global warming

is actually settled. Details, such as exactly how far the sea levels will rise and how quickly, are as yet unknown.

2012 was the warmest year on record in the U.S. since we've been keeping good records in 1895. Guess that doesn't count for much. Atmospheric carbon dioxide continues to rise. Oh, well, no matter.

Yes, it's true that the climate is more or less constantly changing. Heck, there was a time when this planet was totally encased in thick ice and it's surprising that it ever warmed up and got rid of the ice. It has been warmer than this in the past. As well as colder.

The real issue in my opinion is that as a global community, we have very little flexibility to respond to change because there are so very many of us already occupying almost all inhabitable areas. As some places become too dry to support very many people, as other place flood permanently, and so on, not very many large groups can actually pack up and go somewhere else. And if a lot of people who really ought to know better keep on saying, Oh wait, this thing isn't settled, then we're really screwed.