“Is it [global warming] an existential threat? Is it something that is unsustainable, or what kind of effect or harm is this going to have? I mean, we know that humans have most flourished during times of what? Warming trends,” Pruitt said. “I think there’s assumptions made that because the climate is warming, that that necessarily is a bad thing. Do we really know what the ideal surface temperature should be in the year 2100? In the year 2018? I mean it’s fairly arrogant for us to think that we know exactly what it should be in 2100.”
Scientific predictions are inexact and subject to constant correction. Pruitt’s attacks on climate change and other environmental problems are always to find some weaknesses in scientific studies, exaggerate their effects and then attack anyone who might accept these conclusions as either stupid or arrogant. He spent most of last year identifying why global warming might not be occurring and now seems to be saying that it might be a good thing.
Climate change helps create extreme weather events. It is never a simple case of cause and effect. It is more that climate change is a significant contributing factor to catastrophic weather events, like the hurricane Maria that destroyed large parts of Dominica and Puerto Rico and the hurricane Irma that caused destruction on both sides of Florida. Studies indicated that the sea water in the Gulf of Mexico was warmer than normal and helped these hurricanes to grow in size and strength.
Climate change is worldwide. Now it’s Cape Town in South Africa’s turn. Cape Town is experiencing a “one in 1,000 year” drought. Scientists believe climate change has contributed to this drought. Also, increases in population and inadequate funding of other water sources, such as desalination plants, contributed to the crisis. Americans use about 80 to 100 gallons per day. In Cape Town, this is a crime. Water usage as of Feb 1, 2018 is limited to 50 liters, or about 12 gallons per day – not enough for cooking, showers and toilet flushes. They don’t know exactly when the supply of water will go to zero, but it’s real soon. It was May 11, 2018. Now it’s July 9. On Day Zero, peoples’ taps will no longer supply water. People will stand in line with water containers for hours at designated locations.
Name 3 places Scott Pruitt is unlikely to visit: Cape Town, Florida and Puerto Rico. I could name a dozen more. The evidence of global warming are everywhere. Ski resorts in Italy and Switzerland are opening later in the winter and closing earlier. They increasingly depend on artificial snow making machines. Islands in the South Pacific are getting smaller as water levels rise. Residents are abandoning their homes. Same thing is happening in northern Alaska as the ice melts.
It’s bad and getting worse.
Stay tuned,
Dave
Links:
Foundation for Climate Change Orientation
South Africa’s drought-stricken Cape Town pushes back ‘Day Zero’ to July 9
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