Thoughts on Global Warming

Thoughtful articles like this have kept me from jumping on the “stop global warming” bandwagon, in spite of the fact that a number of recent evangelical leaders have come out in support of this cause. When approaching the issue of global warming (which does not necessarily indicate one’s stance toward other environmental issues), several factors that are usually overlooked need to be taken into account:

1. Can it be scientifically proven that human activity is the cause of global warming? I doubt it.

2. Can it be scientifically proven that human activity has the potential to slow down or bring the process to a halt? Again, I doubt it; climate change is a fact of life and always has been.

3. If global warming continues, will it necessarily lead to the catastrophic consequences claimed by so many alarmist scientists? The article to which I linked argues that severe weather will be less likely, not more likely, as a result of global warming; I remember reading articles about how global warming is necessary to prevent us from plunging into another ice age. There is too much debate on this issue for me to throw in my lot with the alarmists, and I am theologically inclined to believe that God will providentially care for his creation no matter what the climate ultimately does. The earth and its diverse inhabitants are remarkably adaptive.

4. If we seek the well-being of humanity, shouldn’t we consider all factors that contribute to human well-being, including economic factors? In other words, we need to take into account the human suffering that would result from the economic consequences of any plan that is put in place to deal with global warming. In light of the fact that (a) we do not know for sure that human activity has caused global warming, (b) we do not know that human activity could actually have any effect on slowing it down, and (c) we cannot predict the consequences of global warming, I am not willing to support any action that would have negative economic results. I do not take this position because I am materialistic (I am not); I take it because I recognize that economic well-being is a major part of human well-being. Therefore, those who advocate plans like the Kyoto Protocol must meet a high burden of proof in order to convince me to commit to such a costly endeavor. At this point, that burden of proof has not been met. In addition, market forces are already pushing us toward technologies that do not depend on fossil fuels, for a variety of reasons. Let the market take care of this problem, if it is indeed a problem in the first place.

Finally, I think we should all listen to the wisdom of Dennis Miller, who once said on The Tonight Show (I am paraphrasing from memory):

“So the temperature rises 1 degree every 100 years. So what? It’s one degree. I’m always a little chilly anyway.”

[HT: Justin Taylor]