Eleanor Babcock
10/4/15
Climate Denial

A quote from Merchants of Doubt: "Climate change is happening, it is due to human activity, but if we regulate CO2 emissions it would ruin society, that's what enviros want"

Let that sink in.

Climate change denial has taken on many different angles, arguments and perspectives, but this one expressed in the documentary Merchants of Doubt caught my attention. It was presented with a whole slew of other arguments against climate change but was stated as the last argument. I feel like this statement has a lot of validity, with a small dose of insanity, as an argument against climate change.

Let's break it down.

"Climate change is happening"
              Yes. Climate change is happening. The opening statement of this argument is very true. The scientific data states it true. The methods used in the Arctic to pull data from the polar ice caps solidifies that the level of CO2 in the atmosphere 100 years ago is lower than it is today. The scientific data is there and it rings true to many other portions of evidence supporting climate change. By using science and observations, conclusions can be made. These conclusions in the scientific world all point to a changing climate. Climate models have simulated the results of our changing climate and help us to better understand the matter of the fact that it is happening and it is our power to change that.

"It is due to human activity"
              Yes. This portion of the argument is also supported by scientific data and holds validity. The amounts of CO2 being pumped into the atmosphere by human activities can be calculated and is shown to be massive amounts. The atmosphere is not designed to hold such large amounts of carbon dioxide. It is our efforts to make coal power and oil power so prominent for use in daily life. Exxon mobile as a company did much research to support this claim and found that the chemistry of the air was changing due to the burning of oil, coal, and other fuels containing carbon.

"But if we regulate CO2 emissions it would ruin society"
               Yes. This claim as an argument against climate change is valid. It asserts that it is happening but also asserts what many humans used to today's lifestyle norms are all thinking. We are nervous to admit that climate change is happening because it will mean we have to change our way of life to be more environmentally friendly. Psychologically speaking, new social norms seem daunting and difficult to adapt to. This instigates the fight or flight response, flight being the instinct. We flee from this proposed lifestyle change knowing that there will be radical changes to society. "Ruin society" may be stated from the extremest point of view, but there will be major changes to society once political bodies finally accept and begin to acto on climate change regulations.

"That's what enviros want"
               No. The final portion of this argument is invalid. Many individuals perceive supporters of climate change as those with radical ideas trying to ruin society. Many supporters are called names and unrightly are accused of being communist or socialist. This climate argument focuses on the anthropological viewpoint that the interaction between people is the main cause of climate discussion. These climate deniers attack the people, not the science. This is significant in climate change theory conversations because it points to the negative light shed on environmentalists. In reality, supporters of climate change want a society which is high functioning and is friendly to the environment. There is no underlying motive to push for radical change except the love for the earth and humanity.