LOOK, I just give up on this alleged climate change debate, if it can be called a debate rather than a Punch-and-Judy-ish exchange of ideologies.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
I’m confused (again). On the exact same day this week, one national media outlet carried articles that said August had been the hottest on record in the US, there was a record amount of new sea ice around Antarctica, the ozone layer was bung, and it was recovering for the first time in 25 years.
And even when things get cooler, the warmists say that’s to be expected, while the coolists say the warming rate is within normal. And, quite frankly, I do not have the scientific ability to work it out.
And, quite frankly, I do not have the scientific ability to work it out.
BUT, dear reader, I have a solution. You knew that was coming.
One of my extended family and I often have extensive exchanges of views on politics and everything associated with politics (which means absolutely everything), and it is simply remarkable how often he is wrong. On this we agree: he also says it is simply remarkable how often I am wrong.
I got sick of it the other day.
I tried to explain to him that I did not really care to adopt as a sort of religious mantra one view or the other on climate and whether mankind was at fault, or a mere bit player.
Even if I did adopt one fervent stance over another, how would that change things?
I have long held a very firm position on this: it doesn’t matter.
It doesn’t matter whether we agree that mankind’s fondness for steak means an abundance of bovine flatulence. Or whether the ice caps will melt because I forgot the green supermarket bags.
It doesn’t matter whether the question is one of anthropologically-initiated climate change or greater demand on the world’s resources, because the answer is always the same.
We simply have to live more gently on the planet.
What allows me to arrive at my: ”it doesn’t matter what the question was so long as we get the right answer” is a deeply cherished optimism in humans and their infinite ingenuity.
It wasn’t by accident that our species managed to occupy almost every possible environmental niche on a very varied planet.
We did it because are good at using what’s to hand and by adapting to the occasion.
Humans are good at what they can do and where they can thrive, and we will continue to do so.
There are still challenges to our species, but that’s always been the case.
Now stop arguing and shut the bloody fridge door