I am *EXTREMELY* frustrated about the fossil fuels/climate change/pollution debate [View All]

[Matsubara]

On the one hand, I think that climate change has become a bit of a panicmongering orthodoxy, to the point where, if you challenge assertions that sea level will definitely rise by 20 meters in our lifetimes, or point out that the rise in temps, sea levels and storms in the last 100 years has actually been quite subtle, you are branded a climate change skeptic or whitewasher, or an industry apologist.

But do I have a home on their side? Well, they seem to think that humans should be able to just keep on "biggering and biggering" their consumption of fossil fuels to their heart's contents.

I feel kind of stuck in between the people on one side, prophesying an apocalyptic future due to changing climate, and those on the other saying that it's all due to sunspots and we really needn't worry about it at all.

The only people who seem capable of being honest and rational are the scientists, who are always careful to point out the large degree of uncertainty in climate modeling.

But the laypeople have divided themselves into these two camps that are so extreme that it's hard to find sanity.


I have driven econobox cars, biked and walked for 20 years now, because I believe STRONGLY in conservation, and I didn't need global warming catastrophes to motivate me. I knew that fossil fuels were finite so I conserved in the hope that we could make them last longer until technology provided more clean and sustainable ways to propel our vehicles. I use CF bulbs, turn off the lights in rooms I'm not in. I don't even heat or air-condition rooms I'm not using.

I was raised to believe that deliberately and unnecessarily wasting food or resources was sinful. So the rise of SUVs and the mountains of plastic imported crapola being sold in huge box stores has saddened me to no end, as has the increading tide of litter EVERYWHERE. So many people seem to have no regard for the natural world.

But it seems that the only sides available to pick are "We're all going to die within 5 years if we don't ban personal cumbustion-powered autos and start riding hempfiber bicycles" and "Buy a Hummer and a McMansion - it's your birthright as an American. Environmental degradation and global warming are liberal myths with the intent of destroying capitalism"

Am I the only one who feels this way? Is it wrong to say I don't buy into the direst of warming scenarios, but that we should still have much stricter controls on emissions and fuel efficiency, JUST BECAUSE IT'S THE RIGHT THING TO DO?

Is that just too quaint and square and Carter-era? Do we need the threat of annihilation to motivate people to make these small lifestyle changes? Do people even have a concept of "civic duty" anymore?


Sorry if this post offends anyone. It's not intended to...