With Climate Change, It is Imperative That We Ignore the Sensationalism.

image taken from planetary society spacecraft: LightSail2

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I wrote this piece in August with the intention of posting it immediately. After some consideration, I chose not to release it for fear that in doing so, it would be received by some as “political” (which is against a foundational element of LM Coffee Project; to be approachable to everyone, regardless of political affiliation).

However, in re-reading this post, and in special consideration to the fact that today marks the 25-year anniversary of the death of Carl Sagan (of who’s thoughts appear here), I chose to publish it.

I hope that you will find it illuminating.

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The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) released part of its sixth assessment report this past Monday, August 6. The response in the media, both local as well as national, has been extremely predictable.

Left leaning media outlet The Hill, posted a video with the caps-laden headline “SOUNDING The Alarm On Climate Change: IPCC Report Blames HUMAN ACTIVITY” while right leaning Fox News posted a video with the title “Goal of UN report on climate change is to ‘scare everyone,’ says author”.

These self-serving titles, and subsequent video content, do nothing more than feed into their respective echo chambers and elicit pre-programmed feelings of either ambivalence or an overwhelming sense of fear and anger.

I personally believe that it is imperative that we ignore these click bait entries and instead remember, as we approach the 25-year anniversary of his death, Carl Sagan.

I believe that Dr. Sagan, perhaps more so than any contemporary public figure, successfully stressed a scientific, facts-based approach to political debate (a beautiful representation of this eloquence can be found here).

Today, however, this sort of discussion has devolved to the point to which the mere mention of the two word phrase “climate change” is enough to incite an emotional reaction within persons on both sides of the debate.

Furthermore, it seems increasingly certain that these reactions are based not on the science of the issue, but rather on the political figure, television host, or YouTube personality to which the individual relates most.

Absent the late Dr. Sagan, one side of the conversation now often features Bill Nye “The Science Guy” donning a pompous bow-tie, speaking with vulgar condescension, and all the while claiming that he’s off to “save the world”. On the other side of the dialogue, you have those like Senator Ron Johnson, who recently said, while speaking freely at a Republican Women of Greater Wisconsin Luncheon, "I don't know about you guys, but I think climate change is — as Lord Monckton said — bullshit. And by the way, it is."

People across the political spectrum who view these spectacles then dig in their heels on one side of the argument. However, they do so, not based on the science put forth by the IPCC, or NASA, or the ESA, or any other scientific entity, but rather they do so based on who they like more in the debate of Ron Johnson vs. Bill Nye The Science Guy.

I understand that it is hard, very hard, to look away from all of this and that it is potentially even harder to find the time and mental fortitude to read through the IPCC reports or peruse the data put forth by other scientific institutions.

However, is it not worth it?

It seems like the height of hubris to not take seriously this threat. To take the word of sensationalists and politicians at face value and without a healthy amount of skepticism. And perhaps most importantly, to not read through the data when it is so readily available.

I speak here to those on both sides of the issue. Do not take climate change as fact based upon what Bill Nye, Stephen Colbert, or Bernie Sanders tells you. Conversely, do not conclude climate change is a hoax based on the words of Ron Johnson, Tucker Carlson, or even the former President of the United States.

Rather, allow yourself to put aside your red or blue filters, as they are irrelevant to the issue, and instead allow for the data to come through unmolested.

In short, I seek here the hope that people will follow Dr. Sagan’s lead, to press pause on the pseudoscience and sensationalism, press pause on the politicking and grandstanding and simply ask themselves the purely scientific question; “Is the indisputable recent change in our climate anthropogenic (caused by human activity)?” and then from there, actively seek the truth.