Climate change deniers clearly believe their opinions about climate change are consistent with scientific reality. And they cherry-pick tiny shreds of data that fit their convictions while they ignore the tons of evidence that contradict them.
Here is an example of what I am talking about. The U.S. Global Change Research Program (USGCRP) began as a presidential initiative in 1989 and was mandated by Congress in the Global Change Research Act of 1990, which called for "a comprehensive and integrated United States research program which will assist the Nation and the world to understand, assess, predict, and respond to human-induced and natural processes of global change."
That was 22 years ago. In the last two decades, global warming has become one of those divisive issues that liberals and conservatives argue about like gun control, abortion and gay marriage. But it wasn't always true. Back in the late 1980s the conservative attacks on climate science had not yet begun.
In 1987, for instance, "Several climate-related bills were introduced in Congress" and four of them "specifically mentioned global warming." In 1988, President Reagan signed the "Global Climate Protection Act," which required "his administration to assess and create a plan to stabilize the level of greenhouse gas emissions." Reagan was also instrumental in helping the United Nations to establish the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) that same year.
As he campaigned for the presidency in 1988 George H.W. Bush said, ''Those who think we are powerless to do anything about the greenhouse effect forget about the 'White House effect'; as President, I intend to do something about it." Not only that, "Mr. Bush promised to convene an international conference on the environment" and said, ''We will talk about global warming and we will act."
"A poll taken in 1990 showed that 90% of Americans had heard about global warming and 69% felt that the United States should join the international community in limiting carbon dioxide emissions."
On January 25, 1989, the Global Change Research Act of 1990 was introduced in the Senate and was passed unanimously (100-0) only 12 days later. This bill could not pass today. The House also passed and President Bush signed the bill which stated in part:
"Industrial, agricultural, and other human activities, coupled with an expanding world population, are contributing to processes of global change that may significantly alter the Earth habitat within a few human generations.
Such human-induced changes, in conjunction with natural fluctuations, may lead to significant global warming and thus alter world climate patterns and increase global sea levels. Over the next century, these consequences could adversely affect world agricultural and marine production, coastal habitability, biological diversity, human health, and global economic and social well-being."
Thirteen departments and agencies, including the Departments of Defense and State, NASA and the Smithsonian Institution participate in the USGCRP and during the last two decades, our federal government "has made the world's largest scientific investment in the areas of climate change and global change research."
Here are the vision and mission statements of the USGCRP:
Our Vision:
A nation, globally engaged and guided by science,
meeting the challenges of climate and global change
Our Mission:
To build a knowledge base that informs human responses to climate and global change through coordinated and integrated federal programs of research, education, communication, and decision support
In 1990 the USGCRP published the first edition of Our Changing Planet. If you scroll down to page 71 you will see a cute (hokey?) drawing of a silhouetted human boxing with the Earth. Yes, the planet has actual arms in this drawing. The drawing is described as a "Representation of the impact of human activities on the global environment." Mr. Human thinks to himself, "I will lead with industrialization...then follow with urbanization, deforestation, and greater use of fossil fuels!" He also thinks, "Because of my diverse regulations, market structures, political systems, and abilities to apply technology, I surprise myself with the combinations that I throw." In response, the Earth thinks, "And I'll counter with warmer temperatures, rising sea levels, increasing ultra-violet radiation, and decreasing biodiversity."
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