We need to understand the science of climate change
Wally Degner learned about the exchange of CO2 between plants and humans in the sixth grade. A generation ago, it was the disappearing ozone layer. Moneyed interests with a stake in the status quo fought the science tooth and nail. Fortunately, they lost and we all won.
Hazardous ozone-killing chemicals have been phased out, and new laws ensure most of the bad stuff still in use is captured and destroyed.
The ozone layer protecting all forms of life is returning to normal levels; proof the science was right.
Now it's denial over CO2 and climate change. Again vested interests in the status quo (big coal, certain manufacturing, some chemicals, some transporters, power generators, etc.) don't want to change the way they operate because it will cost them.
They spend millions trying to dispute the science, just like in the ozone campaign.
Climate change is happening. The 1.5 degrees increase in the zone comprising surface air and surface of the earth, represents an immense amount of energy stored up, because of the mass of the material in that zone. That is the zone we live in.
We see the ice cap melting, destined to be gone in the near future. It requires huge amounts of energy to melt mountains of ice, vs. increasing the temperature of the same amount of water 1.5 degrees.
Storms, floods, droughts have increased and climate is becoming a real, costly challenge.
We are becoming increasingly threatened. Burning tons of coal, wood, petroleum and other fuels has tilted the balance in the animal to plant exchange of oxygen and CO2, which we learned about in sixth grade.
We need to go back to the knowledge bank, because a sixth-grade understanding doesn't hack it any more.
Richard Cichanski
Palatine