The following letter and link was recently sent to City Council from Gil Anda, in advance of the Climate Action Study Session (3/5/14).
| "Global warming is not our fault!" Humans |
My impression is that the film was misleading. We saw some very compelling images of the destruction that results from the last hurricane that struck the east coast. Many of these homes were built on sand bars. The main question we need to ask is, was that damage the result of global warming.
Another way that I felt that the film was slanted was how both sides of the issue were represented. Global warming proponents were shown being interviewed in their offices at Rutger's University, behind a backdrop of bookshelves, while the opposing points of view were represented by the hapless city official (no offense), expressing concern for economic and property rights over global warming. I've read many articles, and continue reading to this day, about global warming. Enough so that I know of other scientists that continue to look at other causes, such as solar forcing, etc.
If I can cut to the chase; I've included a link to a you tube interview by Richard Muller, a former skeptic who now is convinced that global warming is real. I would recommend that you watch this video because I feel he does a very good job of addressing the global warming issue in a very objective manner. This video is just under a half hour long. One of the comments he makes, if I can paraphrase, is that just because global warming is real, doesn't mean that everything attributed to it is real. One of his comments is that Hurricane Katrina is not a result of global warming. He also points out that most of the CO2 will be coming from developing countries like China.
I think my three minutes are just about up so if I can make one final suggestion: Take a pragmatic and practical approach to any ordinances that you adopt to address climate change. In particular I'm concerned with any RECO/CECO point of sale requirements. Having been a real estate agent, I'm aware of the costs to both buyers and sellers and the difficulties that result from them. The problem with point of sale ordinances is that the point of sale becomes the nexus, not just for climate regulations, but for a lot of agencies. As you are aware, the city now requires a point of sale sewer lateral replacement. The RECO ordinance is only limited to a fraction of a percent, however, if you add up all the requirements that exist now and potentially in the future, the burden becomes onerous.
Please take the time to view this video, the link is below. If you want to type keywords into a search engine, try 'Climate Skeptic Richard Muller Admits Global Warming is Real and Humans are the Cause.'
I'm sure you'll see that it is well worth the time. 23 minutes Richard Muller 8/2/2012. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QqPuKxXUCPY."
Thanks,
Submitted by Gil Anda
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Note: Richard Muller, PhD is a physics professor at the University of California, Berkeley. He had been a global warming skeptic, but now reports that there is scientific proof that global warming is real. The video is his interview with Amy Goodman, broadcast journalist, host of "Democracy Now!" newscast. Photograph from Imperial College (London) /Natural Sciences/Climate Change/news summary, from an article by Emma Critchley.
Note: Richard Muller, PhD is a physics professor at the University of California, Berkeley. He had been a global warming skeptic, but now reports that there is scientific proof that global warming is real. The video is his interview with Amy Goodman, broadcast journalist, host of "Democracy Now!" newscast. Photograph from Imperial College (London) /Natural Sciences/Climate Change/news summary, from an article by Emma Critchley.
10 comments:
"just because global warming is real, doesn't mean everything attributed to it is real" - Richard Muller
The problem is if you question anything said you are labeled a "global warming denier". We need to question the solutions.
As all scientists agree, China and soon India are the real problems. "Anything we do in the US is meaningless if we don't get China off coal and fossil fuels. Instead of Pacifica doing something that won't matter, help the Chinese get off coal.
Most scientists agree, even if we stopped all carbon emissions today it would be 100's or even 1000's of years until levels in the atmosphere went back to pre industrial revolutions levels. So don't put people in great hardship for something that won't make a difference for a millenia.
"The main question we need to ask is, was that damage the result of global warming." I disagree. We need to ask if this is what the future will look like if we don't act. And the answer, according to the experts, is yes.
And yes, without China and India and every country, state, city and family addressing the problem we are in trouble. But Pacifica can't "make China get off coal", we can only do our part and set an example. And if we can't,we will be complicit when the worst effect of climate change come to pass.
Actually, the main question we need to ask is which side of history do we want to be on. Choose wisely.
Actually Ian, Pacifica is insignificant. The US has and will continue to make huge reductions. The problem is not us, it is China, India and the developing world. If we don't concentrate on lowering their emissions we're all screwed.
You are wrong, Pacifica CAN help China. If every city & environmental group in the US helped 3rd world countries getting on cleaner energy it would make much more difference than Pacifica and all US cities doing little insignificant things.
Three number to keep in mind: 6, 18, and 87. That's the killowatt hours (X 1,000) consumed by the average Indian, Chinese, and American citizen (2008 numbers).
If it's too much trouble for us to cut our 87,000 kWh, how are we to expect an Indian to lower their paltry 6,000? And keep in mind, that a lot of the energy consumed in those countries is used to manufacture products for the US market, so we are responsible for some of that as well.
So sure, let's encourage other countries to do the right thing, but we'd better start by doing it ourselves if we don't want to be dismissed as hypocrites.
I wonder how many comments beseeching us to do something about China were written on Chinese made electronics?
Think globally, act locally.
Actually 1102, since when is best practices an either/or issue? As Ian said we must do our part. And as Gil said in his letter to city council: take a balanced approach with practical ordinances.
As a city, want to single-out China and India now vs the earlier European and American coal/carbon based economies? Sure, why not? How about a city resolution to support our federal government in assisting China, India and smaller emerging counties in their transitions from carbon/coal based energy to solar or other green sources. Since China builds a lot of our solar panels, they may also benefit from a substantial economic profit-- win, win!
Meantime, this country, our state, our county, our city-- all continue to work on our own green energy and climate infrastructure issues. And that progress seems painfully slow (the result of cost, innovation, old technology vested interests).
No one or area is insignificant. While action is stalled at the federal level, we need to enact positive change locally -- that is what is in our control.
I seriously doubt China or India are going to look at Pacifica as a role model on climate change issues.
Why does Pacifica always have to be the city that sacrifices itself to save the world?
Right 1058, do all we can. Just don't try to impose draconian regulations on Pacificans. Do what we can without hurting Pacificans. Instead of a stick use a carrot. Reward home sellers for bringing their homes into energy compliance. Don't order them to do it as our socialist council has done with the mandated sewer lateral repairs.
Please folks, it's not ours to reason why, it's ours to do or die.
Don't anyone dare laugh at Berkeley.
Ever! Our council and theirs is interchangeable.
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