If one looks only slightly beneath the surface, the current arguments against climate change are not about the science, but about how the regulation of CO2 emissions to the atmosphere would result in a loss of individual and corporate liberties and about raising the cost of the good life.
Author: William Schlesinger
Why Hug a Tree
It is worth reflecting on how trees contribute to our lives—beyond their role as a source of wood and paper. Should we preserve trees?
A Modest Proposal
At the first Earth Day, our campus slogan was, “Whatever your cause, it’s a lost cause unless we control population.”
Volcanic Carbon Dioxide
Every now and again someone writes me saying that the real source of rising carbon dioxide (CO2) in Earth’s atmosphere is not human combustion of fossil fuels but volcanic emissions. There are several reasons why this cannot be the case.
Beyond Keystone XL: How to win the war on climate change
Last week, environmentalists celebrated President Obama’s veto of the Keystone XL pipeline. But we shouldn’t jump for joy too soon. As long as the price of oil, now about $50 per barrel, is above theContinue reading
Will Sea Level Rise Remain Illegal?
A couple of years ago, North Carolina’s legislature became a laughingstock across the nation by voting to ignore the increasing rise of sea level in setting the rules for development along its coast.
Throwing Snowballs at Climate-Change Deniers
The past few weeks have seen unusual cold and record snowfall in the Northeast. All kinds of folks point at me and say: this global warming stuff you talk about can’t possibly be true. Nothing shows their ignorance of the issue to be deeper.
High on the Hog
Recent developments in the North Carolina hog industry have opened new doors to the world marketplace for gourmet foods. Near Smithfield, NC, the Ivey brothers, using the best animal science, have significantly helped to expand NC pork exports by creating “silky pork,” that suits the tastes of Japanese customers.
With Every Breath You Take
The human health effects of air pollutants are hotly debated. Since air pollution is typically a long-term, diffuse problem, it is difficult to link human mortality to any particular air pollutant. Studies of the health effects of acute chemical spills are much easier. At least you can identify the bodies.
Global Warming Redux
When I wrote my first editorial about global warming, back in October 2000, the concentration of CO2 in Earth’s atmosphere stood at 370 parts per million (0.037%). Today, CO2 stands more than 400 parts per million, and the world’s additions of this gas to the atmosphere have increased nearly every year—with only a slight pause during the global recession of 2009. The rise in emissions is due to more people, each with a desire for a higher standard of living, largely based on fossil fuels.