It is interesting how climate change facts can be misused.
Doug MacDonald’s letter on climate change (Morning Star, Oct. 24) does employ facts in his argument that generally argues for more carbon, and thus more global warming.
He omits context or twists a few of these facts.
Yes, Earth historically has seen carbon levels rise to their current 420 ppm, and yes it is projected to increase.
But a projection is not a fact and as with most IPCC predictions it is more than likely on the low side.
Yes carbon is plant food, but there are limits to its utilization, the other chemicals in the soil necessary for plant growth.
Further as the atmosphere warms up, plants begin to shut down their transpiration in order to save water, thus slowing and stopping their growth.
The argument is made that one billion people have been lifted out of poverty in the past 25 years.
Again, true, but rather than being attributed to fossil fuels, it should be attributed to China’s economic policies that have lifted 800 million out of poverty, at the same time China is “adjusting to a low carbon growth model….to ensure a just transition.” (https://www.worldbank.org/en/news/press-release/2022/04/01/lifting-800-million-people-out-of-poverty-new-report-looks-at-lessons-from-china-s-experience)
I do agree with his comments on lithium, adding that lithium burns at 2000 degrees Celsius and is difficult to extinguish, its harvesting is devastating to the local environment, and - maybe just as a curious aside - is the main source of tritium for nuclear weapons.
And I agree with his comment that “wildfires are not caused by global warming,” with the large caveat that a drier climate with more droughts and trees dying as a result of warming related bug infestations (pine bark beetle, looper moth) make for much more severe fires, as related by BC Forest Service personnel.
One comment that is definitely not a fact is “environmentalists have tipped the scales in favour of nature;” no, fossil fuels have exacerbated normal natural phenomena through atmospheric and oceanic warming (fish kills, reefs dying).
More powerful storms, heavier rainstorms, prolonged droughts all arise from a warmer atmosphere and warmer oceans.
As for forestry practices, yes they need to change.
Studies have indicated that logged areas and clearcut areas do not reduce the fire hazard but increase their intensity as moisture is no longer retained by a healthy forest.
The closing argument of people first and pine bark beetles second is a good sound bite without any real context.
Am I being apocalyptic? No, just interested in facts being placed in context.
Atmospheric warming is occurring, is happening faster than scientists have predicted, but as it has so far been a relatively slow process (by human life spans) it is a fast process by geophysical and biological evolutionary measurements.
Jim Miles
