The controversy of global warming is often seen as an issue up for debate. This is a dangerous rhetoric that may lead people to believe that global warming is not real. However, seeing as global warming is indeed an irrefutable and observable fact, this narrative is not only false, but prevents further climate change action from occurring. The issue of global warming should not be up for debate, seeing as it is scientific fact.
In 2006, the American Association for the Advancement of Science stated, “The scientific evidence is clear: global climate change caused by human activities is occurring now, and it is a growing threat to society.” The U.S. Global Change Research Program in 2009 stated that, “The global warming of the past 50 years is due primarily to human-induced increases in heat-trapping gases.” The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, a body of the United Nations, stated that: “Human influence on the climate system is clear, and recent anthropogenic emissions of greenhouse gases are the highest in history. Recent climate changes have had widespread impacts on human and natural systems.” It is abundantly clear that across the board, global warming is indeed happening. Not only do American and international scientists agree that climate change is indeed happening, but also that it is indeed caused by humans.
The issue with climate change deniers, or people that consider the occurrence of global warming to be an opinion, is not only that they are blatantly ignoring scientific data and observations, but that they are taking valuable time and attention away from the problem at hand. With over 50 climate change deniers in the Senate and over 200 from the House of Representatives, legislature that targets climate change seems almost impossible at this point. The vast majority choose not to address climate change have been paid off, or what they like to call “received funding” from organizations such as the Koch Brothers. This enables these representatives, more specifically the Republican party, to profit off of convincing millions of Americans that climate change either does not exist or isn’t important. Even some representatives from California, which has just recently had wildfires that burned over a million acres of land, are climate change deniers. What is a state to do? What is a country to do with representatives that will not seek out the wellbeing of its citizens and planet? Call out your representatives. Let them know that you are a citizen who is concerned with not only the wellbeing of the planet, but the subsequent impact it will have on people. Be vocal, write them an email or a letter, explaining why this issue is so incredibly important to not just you, and not just other Americans, but the world. While you may not be a state representative or senator, you have a voice that matters, and that voice has an impact.
The saying that the flap of a butterfly’s wings in Brazil can cause a hurricane in Texas holds true in this moment; your letter, your call, your opposition has an impact greater than any of us will ever know. Call California Representative Devin Nunes at (559) 323-5235.