Ryan ChartrandIn Wednesday’s opinion column in the Mustang Daily, Taylor Scott, representing the College Republicans, submitted a spirited attack on the theory that global climate change is the result of increased (anthropogenic) CO2.
Yesterday, Ivan Van Wingerden published a response criticizing Taylor and defending this theory of man-induced climate change. The tone of the discussion is one of defending one’s sports team or one’s religion – using the terms “religion of global warming,” “Green Inquisition,” and whether people “believe” global warming is due to human activities. While it is encouraging to see these important issues getting attention, the discussion does not belong in an opinion column, and it is not our beliefs, but our understanding and interpretation of a decade of scientific literature that should guide our actions.
What distinguishes global climate change from ideologically polarized issues such as prayer in schools or budgets for social programs is that global warming is scientific FACT – whether correct or incorrect. While each person is entitled to their own opinion, support of a scientific fact requires each of us to be held accountable for what we say. This is especially important today because on the Web one can find every scientific statement possible. However, some are correct and others are incorrect and it takes time and effort to discern those with integrity. The consequences of being incorrect are staggering.
To Taylor and Ivan I ask, “What is your priority? Is winning converts and achieving political gains against political adversaries your goal? Is it not at least equally important to be correct?” Being incorrect will cost both the “right” and the “left” considerably, so it is in each person’s best interest, regardless of ideology, to research the facts rather than “defend” the “team.”
While there is presently clear scientific consensus about global climate change, one finds numerous conflicting arguments that are very convincing. Rather than enter a “he said” debate, I instead (shamelessly) encourage students to take my class, and other classes addressing politically important environmental issues. I am teaching a class on energy/society/environment for all students, regardless of technical background: PSC 320.
Additionally, I invite any student organization interested in the conflict to meet and address the information surrounding global climate change. I suggest that the College Republicans and other concerned student organizations co-host a discussion whereby the university community can meet – not in a debate – but as a team, to separate correct from incorrect information.
I implore the Cal Poly community to step away from ideology and the hype associated with the debate surrounding global climate change and critically address the information in front of us.
Peter Schwartz is a Cal Poly physics professor and a Mustang Daily guest columnist.