As the Wheels of Climate Change Gain Traction, Should We or Shouldnt We Take Action?

By Calvin Jahnke While many scientists conclude that we cause the climate to change and that we should take action to stop it, others in the scientific community argue that it doesnt matter because of the fluidity of our climate regardless of human activity, rendering any effects improbable. It is well known that with or without humans, the earth will go through phases of warming and cooling. There is some controversy, however, about the role of humans in these fluctuations. In the Science Daily article, Human Influence on Climate Clear, IPCC Report Says, a recently released report on climate change from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change is summarized, Human influence on the climate system is clear. This is evident in most regions of the globe, a new assessment by the IPCC concludes. Even if it is concluded that humans have caused global warming, some say there may be no cause for alarm. Judith Curry, a climatologist, focuses on the uncertainties concerning the effect accelerated warming will have on the climate. I just dont know what the next hundred or 200 years will hold, and whether this will be regarded as an important issue. She told Richard Harris in an interview for an article titled Uncertain Science: Judith Currys Take on Climate Change. She argues that actions taken to fight global warming would be costly and

may affect our economic security. A warmer planet, however, with higher sea levels, stronger storms, and melting glaciers would also have adverse effects on our economy. According to Kevin Trenberth, a scientist at the National Center for Atmospheric Research, Hurricane Sandy was amplified by the warmer oceans and higher sea level. He is quoted in the article The Consensus View: Kevin Trenberths Take on Climate Change by Richard Harris. I reckon that without climate change, we would not have exceeded thresholds that caused the flooding of the subways in Manhattan and the tunnels from Manhattan to New Jersey and to Brooklyn. In a 2011 report, the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority estimated that a storm like Sandy would cost $10 billion to transportation infrastructure. Whether or not we decide to take action against climate change, it is clear that we will pay for it. Another issue arises when policies are crafted aimed at reducing carbon emissions and protecting the atmosphere. One way that this is done is by limiting companies to certain amounts of carbon emissions. Richard S. Lindzen writes in an article titled The World Should Not Waste Resources on Fighting Global Warming that [Carbon emission] rights are likely to amount to over a trillion dollars. He argues that these policies will lead to corruption and will just cost money and jobs. The problem facing politicians and policymakers boils down to making a better world for future generations. Whether this means using our resources to fight global warming or saving them for more important ventures is what we must figure out.