Editor,
Ed Kahl’s letter (“Higher levels of CO2 are better”) in the May 14 edition of the Daily Journal is detrimental to the health of readers who may be swayed by it. The climate crisis is a clear and present danger caused by humans burning fossil fuels.
As a scientist, I will rebut the points presented. Ian Plimer is a retired geologist who denies climate science, contrary to 97% of publishing scientists (Cook 2016). “Publishing” and the reference are important. While you can say anything on the internet, scientific publications are carefully vetted to investigate claims and provide independent confirmation.
While “life” may expand in warming periods, the life forms predicted to succeed in the anthropocene include cockroaches, feral cats and kudzu. Human lives depend upon a stable climate that supports agriculture, trade and communication.
The greening reported by NASA is a fascinating phenomenon but is no happy accident from increased CO2. NASA.gov explains it resulted from “ambitious tree planting programs in China ... developed in an effort to reduce the effects of ... climate change.” Meanwhile the total land under cultivation is unchanged.
Nations not wanting to be cooled may rest easy. The best we can hope for is restricting temperature rise below a catastrophic threshold. My research suggests that Kahl is a realtor. Perhaps falling house prices from prolonged fire seasons would convince him. I encourage all skeptics not to wait that long. Especially since HR763: the Energy Innovation and Carbon Dividend Act is an effective bipartisan solution that doesn’t grow the government or mandate the end of eating meat.
Eliana Armstrong
San Mateo
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(1) comment
Ms. Armstrong - can you remind us what your scientific degree is in? Is it related to climate science? I don't think it is, but if it is, can you provide an explanation as to how the world has survived Al Gore's 2016 inconvenient truth of his end of the world prediction? Also, why is Fake News CNN moving to Hudson Yards if Manhattan will be underwater due to global warming? I mean doesn't CNN care about their employees, or is swimming a prerequisite for employment at CNN? I'm betting, and CNN also seems to betting, that the world will not end in 12 years, as per those geniuses, Ocasio-Cortex and Crazy Bernie.
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