Editor:
Dear Mr. Bereczky: You are correct. The Sun is absolutely the biggest factor producing our climate (long-range weather) and you also mention volcanoes, but many other factors contribute as well, such as the Earth’s tilt on its axis, which is variable and now at 23.5˚, a wobble in Earth’s rotation, a variability in the shape of Earth’s orbit, along with the presence or absence of polar ice caps, the composition of Earth’s atmosphere and others.
You state that the Climate “[L]obby believes wrongly that the burning of fossil fuels is the major cause of climate warming” today. All burning, whether it be gasoline in our vehicles, petroleum or coal in our power plants, or wood burning, produces the greenhouse gas CO2.
Here’s what is on the NASA website: “Multiple studies published in peer-reviewed scientific journals show that 97 percent or more of actively publishing climate scientists agree: Climate-warming trends over the past century are very likely due to human activities. In addition, most of the leading scientific organizations worldwide have issued public statements endorsing this position.”
It’s time to stop debating the science behind whether humans contribute to rising temperatures. The over-whelming consensus is that humans are the cause of the rate at which our planet is warming, and only a small cohort continues to deny and even try to discredit what objective science tells us. Let’s move on.
I won’t go into the doubt-induced propaganda put out by the oil industry using similar techniques as the tobacco industry to place doubt that cigarettes cause lung cancer, but if we have the ability to stabilize, reduce or reverse the impacts of climate change, why not make the attempt for future generations sake? We already have the technology to do so. Many jobs would be created, which, by the way, is already happening. And, America can set the example for the rest of the world.
Idyllwild is likely to continue experiencing droughts, and, if this happens, we will be subject to forest fires. We can try to remedy this now or later but no doubt about it, it will be a burden to our economy.
We are all part of the issue of climate change and we now need to pull together to all be part of the solution.
Frank Baele
Idyllwild
