Negative impacts of climate change

Jan 14, 2023
Jan 14, 2023 Updated Apr 13, 2025
9

Editor,

This is in response to the Jan. 9 letter to the editor “There is no pending climate catastrophe.”

(9) comments

edkahl Jan 16, 2023 1:12pm

You might want to check your facts. The top return in Google a search says "Cold deaths vastly outweigh heat deaths". Another top return in Google search says that "57% of the public prefer a hotter climate” while only 29% would rather live in a colder one. The increase in the earth’s greening can be seen in photos from space between the 1960’s and now. Just as CO2 is used to grow more plants in green houses it grows more plants and creates more crop land on earth.

ChrisFrank338 Jan 14, 2023 9:48am

Thank you for the great letter, David.

Terence Y Jan 14, 2023 9:14am

Here we go again… Mr. Brittain, regardless of whether I believe in man-made global warming, what are you doing about it? Other than talking the talk, what are you doing to walk the walk? For instance, what are you doing to convince China, India, and other developing countries to curb their use of fossil fuels? European nations are resorting to re-opening shuttered coal plants because their green power supplies aren’t nearly enough. Too big a task? How about here in CA? Where will this magic electricity come from to power our state, if you don’t want fossil-fuel powered generation plants? Remember, Newsom authorized new gas generation plants, along with extending the life of a nuclear plant. What are you doing to prevent CA wildfires that have likely added more emissions than all the folks in CA have contributed? Anything, or just another lecture?

Westy Jan 15, 2023 10:46am

What he is doing about it, Mr Y, at least in this instance, is writing a letter to healp combat the pervasive messaging of climate change deniers. This includes those who deny it is happening, those who deny humans contribute to it, those who deny it is an immediate crisis, and those who claim that it can/should be addressed by personal actions, such as driving less, rather than systemic change.

All of these denialism tactics have been components of communications campaigns by the big oil companies (since at least the 1980's) to shape public opinion and delay action.

One fascinating example: Did you know that the very notion of a personal carbon footprint was first popularized by BP as part of a $100 million per year marketing campaign between 2004 and 2006?

Terence Y Jan 15, 2023 5:42pm

Westy, as I said to Mr. Brittain and in previous responses to you, whether I believe in global warming, or not, what are you doing about it? Are you doing anything? Or, like Mr. Brittain, just talking the talk? I’m looking forward to hearing about your carbon reduction activities and your efforts in effecting change (sorry, lecturing doesn’t count). Or maybe you can tell us how you feel about the folks at COP27 attempting to dictate carbon policy when they’ve hitched rides on 400+ fossil-fuel spewing jets to attend the conference; used loads of air conditioning indoors because the outside temperature was 80F; dined on slabs of meat from methane-producing cows. It’s almost as if those folks don’t believe in global warming or they don’t believe man is capable of effecting global warming. Now, what carbon emissions are assigned to using Zoom?

BTW, were you one of the folks who spent money on AOC’s climate change “To The End” movie released in early December? Or did you not know the movie was released? I believe the worldwide take on that movie was a little under $16k (yes, sixteen thousand dollars) and that’s after being released on over 120 screens. Perhaps folks didn’t watch the movie because they had to walk to the theater, or the theater was using fossil-fuel based electricity?

Westy Jan 15, 2023 8:33pm

Working to elect people who have a vision and a plan for systemic change.

The notion of a personal carbon footprint was first popularized by BP as part of a $100 million per year marketing campaign between 2004 and 2006. You use it as a distraction (in a very obvious way, which no one could be fooled by).

Terence Y Jan 16, 2023 9:02am

So, Westy, your only response is a nebulous statement of questionable value. In a very obvious way which fools nobody, we can see you’re basically doing nothing of substance save for talking the talk while not walking the walk (akin to the carbon-spewing COP conference). I’d recommend you listen to Konstantin Kisin’s recent speech at the Oxford Union (https://twitter.com/KonstantinKisin/status/1613830456243273730). Will you and others of like mind roll up your sleeves and get to work doing something in the world?

Westy Jan 16, 2023 5:39pm

Dear Mr Y, I'm so glad that my question to you some weeks ago struck such a chord that it is still rattling around in your brain, even though you didn't answer it yourself. What are you doing to make the world a better place?

Terence Y Jan 17, 2023 8:49am

So, Westy, your only response to avoid answering questions is asking questions? In the spirit of cooperation, although I don’t recall your question (perhaps it was lost in a long thread where you kept dancing and avoiding the truth), I’ll be happy to answer… I’m making a world a better place in supporting and funding groups that promote truth, justice, and the American way. Truth and justice by easily debunking and exposing rabid left conspiracy theories and Democrat talking points … The American way in promoting and remaining true to the US Constitution, especially freedom of religion, speech, etc. and the right to keep and bear arms. Now when I retire, I’ll be able to spend more time and effort but for now, I do my small part in making the world a better place.

I also do a small part in helping states being invaded from the South in funding sightseeing trips for those folks to Democrat-controlled cities. And at a local level, I’m happy to support short trips for homeless folks to reach a destination, such as San Francisco, Oakland, or Sacramento so they can take advantage of outreach services. Perhaps those cities can reap benefits in economies of scale in providing outreach. Your turn… BTW, there’s not much you can say that will rattle around in my brain – your arguments are too easily debunked and discredited in my immediate responses. But it’s nice to know, in the words of Harry Callahan, “You’re a legend in your own mind.” Waiting for answers...

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