Years of Living Dangerously: A climate-change documentary coming April 2014. Big name actors, but is this science? Let’s check:
“Hurricanes are twice as bad as they ever were.” —the legendary Jerry Weintraub (at minute 1:11 in the in the sneak preview).
The problem is, this is a flat out lie, and that brings discredit on those trying to do something about the most serious environmental problem ever. It’s easier to get people worked up with extreme statements and scare tactics. It worked getting us into the Iraq war. But does fear and misinformation lead to good solutions?
It just might. Sometimes even lies and deceptions can bring out the best in people. But not always. And climate change is a problem that requires long-term cooperation, not herioc self sacrifice. So I’d rather bet on on an honest approach. And the honest case for action is strong enough:
- Scientists really don’t know how bad the climate will get by 2100.
- There’s roughly a 10% chance it could get only say twice as bad.
- There’s roughy a 10% chance it could be devistating.
- We’re talking about the whole world and permanent damage.
- It doesn’t cost much (1% of GDP well spent) to play it much safer.
And as for right now, science doesn’t tell us huricanes are twice as bad they would have been, or even 10% worse, but it does tell us #1 and #2 above and basic economics tells us #3.
