Democracy Has Prevailed.

February 26, 2017

Meanwhile, Outside...

The Science (from NOAA State of the Climate (Global Edition) for January, 2017):
The globally averaged temperature over land and ocean surfaces for January 2017 was 0.88°C (1.58°F) above the 20th century average of 12.0°C (53.6°F). This was the third highest January temperature in the 1880–2017 record, behind 2016 (highest) and 2007 (second highest). Separately, the global land surface temperature was also third highest for the month of January at 1.54°C (2.77°F) above the 20th century average of 2.8°C (37.0°F).
Here's some visuals:


And now the Bullshit (from various Trump Administration incompetents):
  • Scott Pruitt, now-head of the Environmental Protection Agency.  In dishonest reframing of Exxon's climate dishonesty, Scott Pruitt wrote:
    Healthy debate is the lifeblood of American democracy, and global warming has inspired one of the major policy debates of our time. That debate is far from settled. Scientists continue to disagree about the degree and extent of global warming and its connection to the actions of mankind. That debate should be encouraged — in classrooms, public forums, and the halls of Congress. It should not be silenced with threats of prosecution. Dissent is not a crime.
    Yes, but fraud is. And that's what the lawsuit is actually about - as it's not about "dissent" but rather "misleading investors."  In any event, (and do I really need to say this again?) when 97% of experts in the field have all reached the same conclusion (as is the case, here) we can honestly dispense with the "Scientists continue to disagree" bullshit.  But not the current head of the EPA.

    BTW, our Climate Denying Jr Senator voted for Scott Pruitt for EPA Administrator.

  • Rick Perry, currently candidate for to be Trump's Secretary of the Department of Energy.  In his book, Fed Up! he called climate change a "contrived phony mess."  That was seven years ago.  Six years ago he made an astoundingly silly metaphor by placing himself next to Galileo:
    “The science is not settled on [Climate Science]. The idea that we would put Americans’ economy at jeopardy based on scientific theory that’s not settled yet to me is just nonsense,” Perry said. “Just because you have a group of scientists who stood up and said here is the fact. Galileo got outvoted for a spell,” he said.
    This is silly because Galileo was arguing against The Bible (the good book clearly says that the Sun moves around the Earth).  This is not a scientific argument but a religious one.  By the way, if you're a biblical literalist, you have to believe that it's been long settled that the Earth cannot be moved (Chronicles 13:30).   In his job interview before the Senate, Perry did soften his science denial a tad, a scosh and a jot:
    I believe the climate is changing. I believe some of it is naturally occurring, but some of it is also caused by man-made activity.
    That's not exactly reiterating "a contrived phony mess" but it's not exactly in line with the science either.  But then again, he's up for a Cabinet position.  So you can judge that for whatever it's worth.
Meanwhile in reality, it's still getting warmer out there, humans are still to blame and it's not going to get any better with the oranged-faced pussy grabber (who called the science a hoax) in charge.

1 comment:

Zeus0209 said...

Shane Smith at Vice news on HBO did another bit on the oil and gas industry on this past Friday's episode. The story ends with his detailing a Norwegian (I think) drilling company/ocean rig that takes an extra step to remove the CO2 from the drilled product on site, returning it back underground (sea) from whence it came, storing it safely for something like thousands of years. They're doing this right now. They're profitable. They recognize the science of climate change. They deal with problems.