As Climate Change Worsens Many Americans Refuse To Accept Reality

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Reality is the state of things as they actually exist rather than as they may appear, might be imagined, or what a person wants to believe is true. More broadly defined, reality includes everything that is and has been, whether or not it is observable or comprehensible. It is a sad state of affairs in America that a large segment of the population cannot accept reality they can see, feel, and know is true and it is quite frankly similar to religious ignorance. Of course, there is a reason so many Americans do not accept the reality of global anthropogenic (man-made) climate change, but the fact is that it is here and another batch of empirical data show it is worse than scientists predicted.

The latest report from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA) National Climatic Data Center is that the entire world’s oceans were hotter in June than at any time in recorded history. The previously high oceanic temperatures was in May, and they have been steadily rising and creating droughts, superstorms, flooding, and creating conditions conducive to devastating wildfires. However, it is not just the world’s oceans that are warming, global land surface temperature was nearly two degrees above the 20th century (1900s) average. It is important to remember, that June was the warmest month on record for the entire world; not just America and it followed the warmest May on record. This bears repeating; according to all known records, “June represented a significant milestone for the world’s oceans as it was the most anomalously warm ocean temperature than at any other time on record.”

One of the real travesties in America is that besides a steady stream of climate change denial from Republicans, the religious right, and fossil fuel industry, the profound level of ignorance among the population prevents a great number of people from understanding that ocean temperatures affect the currents that control the climate. It is nearly impossible to believe every American does not understand the simple concept because it is part of curriculum in every eighth-grade science class. Unless of course, it is schools where science has been replaced by the bible, or red states where climate change is portrayed as an evil United Nations’ plot to subvert America and destroy the fossil fuel industry. However, those states are suffering the devastation of climate change and it is baffling how human beings suffering historically severe droughts, wildfires, and water shortages can possibly deny the climate is changing for the worse.

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Likely, it is due to religion and Republicans beholden to the dirty energy industry who are going to great lengths to perpetuate the myth that man-made climate change is a liberal hoax. In fact, just last week Republicans in Congress prohibited the Department of Defense, Army Corp of Engineers, and the Department of Energy from acknowledging climate change. The Republican legislation was particularly egregious because for the past five years, at least, the Department of Defense labeled global climate change a clear threat to national security.

Republicans are so devoted to denying climate change exists, they threatened to shut down the government in October if the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) goes forward and implements President Obama’s recommendations to cut carbon emissions, the source of the warming oceans, by 30%. Although reducing carbon emissions now will assuage the effects of future oceanic warming, the nation is feeling the impact now and it is not just an issue that will impact future generations; something those that do acknowledge the reality of climate change still cannot accept.

According to a recent Gallup poll, only 36% of Americans see climate change’s effects as posing a serious threat to their way of life presently. A similar Yale poll revealed that the number of Americans who think global climate warming is a “right now” issue is 32% and they must all live in the Southwestern and Western United States where historically severe droughts and wildfires are adversely affecting residents’ lives.

Maybe as more Americans are exposed to extreme weather, severe droughts, flooding, and wildfires, the number of Americans acknowledging climate change is real will increase, and according to the NOAA, climate change’s effects are only going to get worse; much worse. Noted astrophysicist Neil de Grasse Tyson believes the only thing that will convince climate-change deniers to face reality is “if they begin to lose their wealth, then they’ll change their minds real fast, particularly in a capitalist culture.” Tyson may be right, to a point, because the California drought has already cost the corporate agriculture industry $2.2 billion in profits and yet the only solution a Republican proposed is rolling back, permanently, environmental regulations the Koch brothers and Republicans have sought for a decade.

It is a sad commentary, but as long as Republicans, the religious right, and fossil fuel industry continue convincing ignorant Americans that what they see, feel, and suffer is a liberal hoax, and not the result of rapidly warming oceans driving climate change, there will be precious little action in Congress. With Republicans obstructing legislation of any kind, especially on addressing the effects of climate change, the only hope for Americans is a robust voter turnout in November because Republicans have made it abundantly clear that one of their highest priorities is preventing any action to address climate change, regardless the damage to the economy, the American people, or national security.

 


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