Most of us barely know what global warming is. We think it has something to do with the ozone layer or why it was so hot last summer. If you asked someone if they thought global warming was occurring, they would most like say yes, based on what they have seen in the news or in conceptions of weather changes. Few of us know how real global warming is, and even fewer of us know the massive cover-up of certain industries trying to convince us that global warming isn't real. Guess what, it is.
On March 29, 2002, a huge iceberg in Antarctica, measuring 51 by 38 miles, broke free from the Thwaites Ice Tongue. This incident and other frequent iceberg calvings in recent years corresponds with other drastic warning signs of global warming.
Global warming is caused by carbon dioxide, which is released from burning fossil fuels, and by other gases. These gases absorb heat that would normally go out into space. More heat is stored in the atmosphere, heating and expanding oceans, causing a rise in global temperatures and increasing severe weather events.
Heating oceans is similar to water boiled in a pan; the water level rises. When water levels rise, delicate eco-systems are threatened, animal habitats and feeding grounds are disturbed and low sea level cities are in danger. The island of Tuvalu, a small island in the Pacific, had to be evacuated because of rising sea levels.
The average global temperature is predicted to rise by as much as 3.5 degrees Fahrenheit by 2050. A few degrees doesn't seem very costly to the environment except for the fact that the Ice Age occurred with average temperatures only five to nine degrees cooler than today. Already, the rise in temperature has caused a drastic increase of insects in northern latitudes. The upsurge of mosquito populations has cause a dramatic increase in Malaria worldwide. Some models show that by the end of the 21st century, ongoing warming will have enlarged the zone of potential malaria transmission from an area containing 45 percent of the world's population to an area containing about 60 percent.
Another disturbing effect of climate change is the erratic weather patterns due to global warming. There is an increase in hurricanes, heat waves and then drastic floods in the same region, and prolonged droughts. Mexico had its coldest winter in 25 years in 1996 and snowfall for the first time since 1976. In Fairbanks, Alaska, temperatures were reported 42 degrees higher than normal last January. The United States had the warmest winter on record this year, with November through January temperatures averaging 4.3 degrees above average.
Despite the overwhelming evidence of global warming, there are "greenhouse skeptics" who don't believe the trend is proven. These skeptics represent a small minority of scientists and are largely representative of coal and oil interests. Coal and oil lobbies pay millions of dollars to back a few scientists whose work is discredited by the majority of mainstream scientists (Gelbspan, Ross, "The Heat is On," 1997, Perseus Books).
The lobbies also buy access to the Congress, the media, and create their own anti-environmental organizations and media. An industry-backed measure in March voted down an increase in Corporate Average Fuel Efficiency standards by 50 percemt in the next 13 years. Last March, 11,000 documents were released revealing that the controversial Energy Plan released last year by the Bush Administration excluded all public relations or environmental groups in its decision-making. It did, however, hold meetings with 36 representatives of the energy industry and other business industries, as well as many Bush campaign contributors, proving industry access to politicians.
The documents alleged that anti-climate change organizations often distort the truth, out right lie, or slander scientists to get their point across. The industries launch intensive media campaign in an effort to convince the public that global warming is not really happening or anything to worry about. A Gallup Poll last March showed that only about one third of the population believes global warming is a serious problem, a number that has steadily decreased in recent years.
With lack of evidence, greenhouse skeptics often revert to slander of scientists who do support global warming to discredit their work. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, a group of over 2000 well respected scientists from around the world, issued a report with strong evidence towards climate change. Unable to dispute theories, skeptics reverted to personal attacks on the authors. They accused the authors of falsifying their results.
One does not have to look very far for the motivations behind the skeptics' lies and slander. Coal, oil, and utility industries pay millions to fund, support, and publish the skeptics.
The industries themselves list the amounts they spend on anti-environmental action. In 1994 and 1995, the Global Climate Coalition spent over a million dollars to downplay the threat of climate change. In 1992 and 1993, the National Coal Association spent over $700,000 on anti-environmental regulation. The American Automobile Manufacturer's Association spent $100,000 on global climate change representation in 1993.
While some industries acknowledge and show some action to climate change, others renounce it and refuse to work with any environmental standards; the worst of these is ExxonMobil. It claims "projections are based on completely unproven models or more often on sheer speculation." It also broadly disseminates misinformation, refuses to report CO2 emissions or comply with an emissions reductions program, or commit to renewable resources.
The numbers alone show how desperately industry tries to sway public opinion and prevent environmental regulation. They pay scientists millions to lie about global warming and question the scientific integrity of scientists who support global warming. Climate change is in the hands of gas and oil companies. It is they who refuse to reduce emissions, lobby congress, and lie to the public. It is they who will ruin our future if we don't stop them.
Rachael Hereford is a student representative for the Tufts Climate Initiative. She has yet to declare a major.
