Global warming and climate change is one of those topics that often comes with more controversy and confusion than any other. I used to be in the camp that climate change was this big conspiracy to control the population, citing “they used to call it global warming now it’s climate change!” and “the people that push it fly around in private jets so it must be fake!” However, I vaguely remember reading a small fact-check news article about one year ago that pushed me over the edge. Some politician had claimed that we need not worry about carbon dioxide because it is only a small fraction of the atmosphere. However, the article pointed out that the fact that carbon dioxide occurs in such a small amount that we should be worried about increases in its volume. The final nail in the coffin was reading an article from Biologos that said that we should, indeed, care about climate change. I had people of common interests telling me that it was, indeed, not a big sin to “believe” that climate change was an issue.
However, despite my change in views, I have yet to push aside the constant speculation and debate that often surrounds these topics, be it someone ridiculing my stance or a small argument popping up online every now and then. So, I was hoping to try and clear up some of this confusion.
I know how the mechanism works (certain molecules trap heat in the atmosphere and provide life on Earth; more carbon dioxide traps more heat and thus issues) but often hear people ridicule the numbers. “How do cow farts contribute so much to emissions when there were 10 million buffalo on Earth at one point?” I’ve heard things about “if they cared so much about water usage (because these arguments often get tied into nature degradation as well) why do they keep making AI data centers? If they cared so much about resource depletion, why do they allow immigration?” The hypocrisy of leaders or even more weather conspiracies (they are just making the bad storms to scare us!) often come up too.
I kinda find it sad that I need to ask people for what evidence I need to defend the idea that global warming is real, but alas, I guess I’m asking what the strongest proofs of climate change are. How did we calculate the numbers we have? How can we differentiate the evidence from how people interpret it?
Never apologize for wanting to be reminded of evidence! We should be all about that here!
Somebody you should look up and listen to / follow about all this is Katharine Hayhoe. She’s got articles and interviews with Biologos. And she not only is a climate scientist, but a Christian too. Her lessons on “Global Weirding” are very accessible and designed to bring solid science into the normal person’s comprehension. Worth checking out! I’m sure she’s got videos addressing evidence too, though I haven’t rounded up which specific ones. You may easily see and zero in on stuff that interests you.
If you are really interested, you can watch Katharine Hayhoe’s global weirding series on Nova, it’s very accessible.
I like how she always replies to people who say they “don’t believe” in climate change, that it isn’t a faith claim you believe or disbelieve, it’s a scientific claim and you either understand or don’t understand the science.
Tangentially related, but my husband and kids are big Half Alive fans, and they just released a climate change themed video/song called The Wolf. In it there is a reference to the doomsday clock (“Eighty-five seconds 'til the other shoe is gonna drop.”) which has been used since 1947 to metaphorically represent how close we are to a human-created disaster that ends the world for humanity. As usual, they deliver pretty cool choreography and deep lyrics. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uRHIqSRb7YQ
Confusion may be true but controversy seems to only be real in the heads of the right wing populists (around the world) and Americans (that weird nation called USA). This is a bit exaggerated (sorry about the polemic approach) but not much.
The apparent controversy is trying to be flamed by those who have interests in fossil fuel-based economy. They can give money to politicians and people who speak against the scientific consensus, a bit like tobacco industry before.
The conservative believers that have bought the denial appear to be - truly sorry to say this - ‘useful fools’ in the attempts to delay the inevitable. The inevitable seems to be that the worsening catastrophes drive voters and the politicians depending on their votes to demand action against climate change. Also the business spheres that are not tied to fossil fuels have started to demand actions against climate change because the consequences of the climate change are becoming too expensive - profits drop.
Speaking straight is not popular and is likely to provoke angry comments from those who do not like what is said. I hope you are more skilful in what you tell. Anyhow, it is a fact that
climate has changed within a century and the change appears to be continuing faster than before;
the vast majority (probably >>99%) of climate researchers agree that human actions are a major reason for the current climate change, especially through the emissions of greenhouse gases;
the increasing average temperatures are correlated with the increasing amount of greenhouse gases, in a manner that was first predicted more than a century ago;
the costs of extreme weather events, including unprecented heat waves, droughts, more extreme floodings and strong hurricanes, have increased to at least tens, probably hundreds of billions per year. That is the economical cost, human suffering comes on that.
Edit:
It seems that I underestimated the economical costs of climate change. Based on two articles I read, the costs seem to be approaching a trillion dollars per year and, if the climate change continues as predicted, will rise to 2-3 trillions per year by the year 2050. If temperatures rise to +3 degrees, the global GDP is estimated to drop by 10%.
Maybe trying a Jesus approach of love and understanding could work? I would never try to storm the beaches of the internet with this information. The only time I would ever bring this up would be to friends or family who want to talk.
While AI power usage may create enough waste heat to boil the oceans, at least we’ll get human-like daily affirmations by an artificial personna that claims to like us and lets us know that everything we say is fascinating.
“Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone.” -Colossians 4:6
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