Cal Thomas’ May 26 column (“No apologies from left on climate change issue”) claims that recent scientific findings “prove” predictions of climate disaster were wrong — a “hoax.” It’s Thomas who’s wrong.
What the findings do is to eliminate one scenario used by scientists in making climate predictions. This scenario assumed the world would make no efforts to cut fossil fuel emissions. That assumption was only ever a “worst case,” and fortunately now appears implausible. But Thomas refuses to see why.
The new findings tend to show that the growth in use of renewables has slowed growth in emissions. This — not the unmasking of some “hoax” — makes the worst-case scenario implausible, no doubt enraging those who want to tear down the windmills and solar farms, burn more fossil fuels, drive ever-bigger vehicles and eliminate transit alternatives.
Unlike ideologues, scientists change their mind based on changing facts. As MAGA world sticks to stolen election lies, Thomas sticks to a discredited mantra rejected by over 95% of active climate scientists: that fossil fuels are not the major cause of climate change. Denying the real problem, Thomas decries climate action spending as if it were a problem, when it is creating a solution.
Thomas sees everything as a nefarious plot by Democrats, academics, and Hollywood “elites” for big government to take away our personal freedoms. It never occurs to him that one of government’s jobs is to prevent us from using our personal freedoms to harm everybody else.
David Richie
Wyomissing