Why I am Cool to Global Warming – Part 1: Bad Science is Bad for Everyone by Larry Stout
Why I am Cool to Global Warming – Part 1: Bad Science is Bad for Everyone by Larry Stout
There are real problems in the world today and concern for the environment certainly is among them. Yet when it comes to the issue of global warming – I have a big problem. Proverbs 11:1 states that God abhors dishonest scales. True science should be balanced and objective with a goal at arriving at verifiable facts that can be practically used. Today we are witnessing an abomination of science in the media hype and hysteria over global warming.
Before I continue, I would like to establish some guidelines so there is no misunderstanding. Much of the difficulty in discussing this area rationally is because there is not a clear outline what is meant by 'global warming.' Since the inconvenient truth that this has been an extremely cold or delayed winter in many parts of the world, and particularly America, the term 'climate change' is sometimes used. The terms are used interchangeably, but I will stick with 'global warming' since it is the more commonly used phrase and the term that is most often cited in scientific literature.
Second, I need to go on record as being a Christian with a strong concern for the environment. My wife and I put solar panels on the roof to heat our water. She recycles her plastic shopping bags and aluminum cans. We were even investigating acquiring a windmill for energy until the township authorities raised too many obstacles against us. We believe that the biblical mandate given to Adam and Eve to work and 'take care' of the garden gives us a responsibility to care for the earth that God created for us to live in. As good stewards of all that we have been given, concern for ecology gives glory to God.
Which brings us back to the issue of global warming. If indeed mankind is destroying the eco-balance of the planet through his destructive industrialization, why is it not prudent to take active measures to stop it? I have five reasons why I believe global warming is bad science and ultimately a harmful position to take.
(1) It is intellectually and scientifically false. It twists the facts to fit the theory.
(2) It has become a celebrity issue. Science is not determined like a popularity contest.
(3) It hides a liberal agenda that has very little to do with the environment.
(4) It diverts resources from real environmental issues (like controlling malaria and better water sanitation) that could affect millions and even billions of lives.
(5) It distorts what science is supposed to be about – intellectually honest inquiry and investigation.
It will take me several weeks to flesh all of these out, so please bear with me.
First, global warming is intellectually and scientifically false. There are so many points that could be raised here that it is difficult to know where to start. Let's try an analogy – calculating the wear on my automobile tires. For me to accurately calculate how much tread I am losing per year, I would have to accurately measure it initially and then take periodic measurements to track the deterioration. Herein lies the first problem with global warming. No one knows what is 'normal' for weather and climate. As a recent Newsweek article pointed out, "There is no evidence that extreme weather events are increasing in any systematic way, according to scientists at the U.S. National Hurricane Center, the World Meteorological Organization and the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change."
Al Gore loves to quote that there is a scientific consensus on global warming, but this is a very deceptive statement. The fact that the earth has been warming (somewhere between 1 and 1.7 degree Celsius in the last century) is an undisputable fact. What is NOT part of the consensus is (1) whether this rise in temperature is unique in history, (2) that it is totally a result of human activity, or (3) that the increase is bad thing (!)
The "scientific consensus" that Al Gore and his supporters love so much to cite are a rather insecure group judging from how much shaky they become whenever anyone does not support their 'consensus.' Thomas Friedman of the New York Times states, "sometimes you read something about this administration that's just so shameful it takes your breath away." The breathtaking horror was the discovery that a White House official had edited government climate reports to "play up" (as Friedman called it) uncertainty of a human role in global warming. William F. Buckley commented that "the heavy condemnatory breathing on the subject of global warming outdoes anything since high moments of the Inquisition."
The Danish scientist Bjorn Lomborg who teaches at the Copenhagen Business School has written eloquently for years against global warming hype and testified at the same congressional hearing as Al Gore spoke at last month. His brilliant point by point rebuttal of "An Inconvenient Truth" cited almost 100 scientific papers. The result – media silence.
As Christians, we need to be very skeptical whenever we hear that the debate is over in any area of ongoing scientific inquiry. The beauty of science is that it is like a public bulletin board – everyone can read what others are saying and challenge its veracity. Don't believe those who are saying that the bulletin board is holy writ – it is simply not true. Christians cannot ignore this issue either, as the public stakes in the global warming debate are very high. If the advocates have their way, there will be draconian solutions that are economically suicidal. I, for one, do not intent to stand by silently and let that happen.
There are real problems in the world today and concern for the environment certainly is among them. Yet when it comes to the issue of global warming – I have a big problem. Proverbs 11:1 states that God abhors dishonest scales. True science should be balanced and objective with a goal at arriving at verifiable facts that can be practically used. Today we are witnessing an abomination of science in the media hype and hysteria over global warming.
Before I continue, I would like to establish some guidelines so there is no misunderstanding. Much of the difficulty in discussing this area rationally is because there is not a clear outline what is meant by 'global warming.' Since the inconvenient truth that this has been an extremely cold or delayed winter in many parts of the world, and particularly America, the term 'climate change' is sometimes used. The terms are used interchangeably, but I will stick with 'global warming' since it is the more commonly used phrase and the term that is most often cited in scientific literature.
Second, I need to go on record as being a Christian with a strong concern for the environment. My wife and I put solar panels on the roof to heat our water. She recycles her plastic shopping bags and aluminum cans. We were even investigating acquiring a windmill for energy until the township authorities raised too many obstacles against us. We believe that the biblical mandate given to Adam and Eve to work and 'take care' of the garden gives us a responsibility to care for the earth that God created for us to live in. As good stewards of all that we have been given, concern for ecology gives glory to God.
Which brings us back to the issue of global warming. If indeed mankind is destroying the eco-balance of the planet through his destructive industrialization, why is it not prudent to take active measures to stop it? I have five reasons why I believe global warming is bad science and ultimately a harmful position to take.
(1) It is intellectually and scientifically false. It twists the facts to fit the theory.
(2) It has become a celebrity issue. Science is not determined like a popularity contest.
(3) It hides a liberal agenda that has very little to do with the environment.
(4) It diverts resources from real environmental issues (like controlling malaria and better water sanitation) that could affect millions and even billions of lives.
(5) It distorts what science is supposed to be about – intellectually honest inquiry and investigation.
It will take me several weeks to flesh all of these out, so please bear with me.
First, global warming is intellectually and scientifically false. There are so many points that could be raised here that it is difficult to know where to start. Let's try an analogy – calculating the wear on my automobile tires. For me to accurately calculate how much tread I am losing per year, I would have to accurately measure it initially and then take periodic measurements to track the deterioration. Herein lies the first problem with global warming. No one knows what is 'normal' for weather and climate. As a recent Newsweek article pointed out, "There is no evidence that extreme weather events are increasing in any systematic way, according to scientists at the U.S. National Hurricane Center, the World Meteorological Organization and the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change."
Al Gore loves to quote that there is a scientific consensus on global warming, but this is a very deceptive statement. The fact that the earth has been warming (somewhere between 1 and 1.7 degree Celsius in the last century) is an undisputable fact. What is NOT part of the consensus is (1) whether this rise in temperature is unique in history, (2) that it is totally a result of human activity, or (3) that the increase is bad thing (!)
The "scientific consensus" that Al Gore and his supporters love so much to cite are a rather insecure group judging from how much shaky they become whenever anyone does not support their 'consensus.' Thomas Friedman of the New York Times states, "sometimes you read something about this administration that's just so shameful it takes your breath away." The breathtaking horror was the discovery that a White House official had edited government climate reports to "play up" (as Friedman called it) uncertainty of a human role in global warming. William F. Buckley commented that "the heavy condemnatory breathing on the subject of global warming outdoes anything since high moments of the Inquisition."
The Danish scientist Bjorn Lomborg who teaches at the Copenhagen Business School has written eloquently for years against global warming hype and testified at the same congressional hearing as Al Gore spoke at last month. His brilliant point by point rebuttal of "An Inconvenient Truth" cited almost 100 scientific papers. The result – media silence.
As Christians, we need to be very skeptical whenever we hear that the debate is over in any area of ongoing scientific inquiry. The beauty of science is that it is like a public bulletin board – everyone can read what others are saying and challenge its veracity. Don't believe those who are saying that the bulletin board is holy writ – it is simply not true. Christians cannot ignore this issue either, as the public stakes in the global warming debate are very high. If the advocates have their way, there will be draconian solutions that are economically suicidal. I, for one, do not intent to stand by silently and let that happen.
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