Source:
time.com
First let me say I don't like the title of this article. I dislike the term 'Global Warming' and use 'Climate Change' myself since they imply two
different things.
Inhofe is an Oklahoma Republican and the most skeptical of Congressional climate deniers; he's the one who called global warming "the
greatest hoax ever perpetrated on the American people." The 2010 winter was one of the snowiest in recent memory — including a massive blizzard
that February that became known as "Snowmageddon" — which skeptics like Inhofe happily used as evidence that man-made climate change didn't
really exist.
Fast-forward a year and a half. The weather in Washington is extreme again, but this time it's brutally hot, with the city in early July
setting a record for the most consecutive 95 F plus days in a row...
The same way Inhofe used 'Snowmageddon' as proof that climate change does not exist is no different than saying this year's heat wave is proof for
the argument. I refuse the take part in that senseless 'tit for tat' debate.
More than 2 million acres have been burned in massive wildfires in much of the West, more than 110 million people were living under extreme
heat advisories at the end of June and more than two-thirds of the country is experiencing drought. Last month, 3,215 daily high temperature records
were set nationwide — and that's nothing compared to the 15,000 set in March. The 12 months ending in May were the warmest 12 continuous months on
record in the U.S.
Even though these stats are obviously outside the norm I still do not consider it proof... more like a supporting argument. I do agree with the
article's conclusion though.
Here's what we should take away from the heat: climate change is real and it's happening now. We can disagree about how to handle it, and how
much those policies might cost, but it's long past time to surrender to the science.
I believe that we are in a period of warming due to the natural cycles of our planet. Ever since the last ice age, the Earth has become warmer and sea
levels are still rising. I do not think this is the sole cause of climate change though. I believe we have sped up Earth's timetable. If you step
back and consider every way we have altered the various environments and ecosystems on this planet, is it so hard to imagine that nature is trying to
balance itself out? And in the process causing more extremes in weather patterns?
I personally believe that we will continue to see floods, droughts, heat waves, blizzards, tornado outbreaks, larger hurricanes, stronger windstorms
etc. with greater intensity and frequency. Although I think there will be an increase in injuries and deaths because of this, it is in no way an 'End
of Times' scenario. The human race will adjust but exactly how many adjustments will be necessary is still unknown.
If you are a skeptic and believe it is all a 'hoax' setup for a 'money grab' then at least stop blaming the scientists and put the blame where it
belongs... the capitalists. I think most scientists are trying hard to prove the changes happening on our planet but there will always be greedy
people trying to capitalize any way they can.