The Economist has a cover story this week on global warming. It is timely. A massive heat wave is gripping the nation on the first day of summer. Last night on network news a farmer was interviewed in his corn field in Iowa, saying he'd never seen conditions like this in June. The story reminded me that climate change deniers like US senator Marco Rubio have gotten a free-pass onto the VP list from GOP presidential candidate Mitt Romney.
In February 2010, the future senator Rubio promised Dr. Harold Wanless, chair of the Department of Geologic Sciences at the University of Miami, that he would respond to a hand-delivered invitation to meet with a group of scientists on climate change. Rubio never responded. Dr. Wanless' invitation:
Dear Mr. Rubio,
Wanless testified before the Florida legislature and wrote to Governor Bush: "This is not an environmental issue; this is a resource issue. The people of Florida have entrusted you to protect our resources. Every effort should be made to protect our fresh groundwater resources from degradation. It is simply our most valuable resource and one we must pass on to future generations as undamaged as possible. This resource will diminish over the next century in response to anticipated sea level rise. It must be the highest priority of the Governor and Legislators to cherish and protect our fresh groundwater resource. Examine and respect the guidance that the National Research Council (CROGEE Report) and other non-partisan professional groups have given to this question."
But Bush did not examine or listen to scientists. And he especially did not listen to environmentalists. It was his way, or, the highway. Dig it, dump it, drink it. Pay as you go? That's the power of, nope.
The Economist report final paragraph: "In the end, the world is likely to get a grip on global warming. The survival instinct demands it. But it is likely to lose a lot of the unique Arctic first. That would be a terrible pity."
The problem is that crop cycles, on which the planet's food supply depends, could be severely disrupted by rapid climate change. Were this to happen the impacts would be far more severe than pity can mitigate.
We need leadership from Congress, but don't look in Marco Rubio's direction. He will be cultivating voters in West Dade where charismatic Christians believe that twelve foot dinosaurs built the pyramids.
In February 2010, the future senator Rubio promised Dr. Harold Wanless, chair of the Department of Geologic Sciences at the University of Miami, that he would respond to a hand-delivered invitation to meet with a group of scientists on climate change. Rubio never responded. Dr. Wanless' invitation:
Dear Mr. Rubio,
I have become aware that recently you have taken a position doubting the reality of human-induced global warming and all of the very serious implications. In November, 2007, I briefly met you (as you passed through the lunch area) when I was speaking in Tallahassee at a legislative ‘Symposium on the Science and Economics of Climate Change.’ In our conversation, you communicated that climate change was real and serious and that there was so much money to be made. I enjoyed your response and have used it in many talks since to encourage business persons to take action.Why did Rubio blow off Dr. Wanless' invitation? Part of the reason could be that in 2001 Dr. Wanless was a vocal critic of the Jeb Bush plan to proliferate the contamination of drinking water supplies around the state through a technology called "aquifer storage and recovery". Marco Rubio does not turn his gaze without Jeb Bush first blessing it.
I am now disconcerted that you now question the whole thing. You were quoted in the Tampa Tribune newspaper as saying that there was not enough scientific evidence to justify ‘man-made global warming”. I understand that there is presently an abundance of misleading information and numerous persons pushing a personal agenda. A number of us have been asked to write op-eds in response. I prefer education first. I would like to invite you to visit with a group of highly respected climate and sea level scientists at the University of Miami sometime this spring when you are in Miami. I will arrange a 2-3 hour meeting that will combine 3-5 short presentations along with an informal discussion.
The reality is that human-induced global warming is thoroughly real and the Earth is responding at rates not anticipated just a few years ago. Critical to Florida, the Greenland Ice Sheet, portions of the Antarctic Ice Sheet and some of its outlet glaciers, and Arctic summer sea ice are melting at accelerating rates, far ahead of any earlier models or projections. This puts Florida, the State you wish to represent and the most vulnerable State to sea level rise, at extreme risk for severe changes much earlier in this century than previously anticipated.
It is most critical that Florida have legislative representatives that understand this reality of climate change that so aggressively lies in front of us all – so they can lead the nation in initiating truly meaningful changes that will curtail global warming and reduce the level of greenhouse gasses in Earth’s atmosphere. I am aware that climate change has not been popular among certain groups in the past, but that is changing. Our future leadership must not discount or delay what is the most critical and difficult challenge that humanity must face up to early in this century.
I look forward to your response.
Sincerely,
Harold R. Wanless, Professor and Chair
Department of Geological Sciences
Wanless testified before the Florida legislature and wrote to Governor Bush: "This is not an environmental issue; this is a resource issue. The people of Florida have entrusted you to protect our resources. Every effort should be made to protect our fresh groundwater resources from degradation. It is simply our most valuable resource and one we must pass on to future generations as undamaged as possible. This resource will diminish over the next century in response to anticipated sea level rise. It must be the highest priority of the Governor and Legislators to cherish and protect our fresh groundwater resource. Examine and respect the guidance that the National Research Council (CROGEE Report) and other non-partisan professional groups have given to this question."
But Bush did not examine or listen to scientists. And he especially did not listen to environmentalists. It was his way, or, the highway. Dig it, dump it, drink it. Pay as you go? That's the power of, nope.
The Economist report final paragraph: "In the end, the world is likely to get a grip on global warming. The survival instinct demands it. But it is likely to lose a lot of the unique Arctic first. That would be a terrible pity."
The problem is that crop cycles, on which the planet's food supply depends, could be severely disrupted by rapid climate change. Were this to happen the impacts would be far more severe than pity can mitigate.
We need leadership from Congress, but don't look in Marco Rubio's direction. He will be cultivating voters in West Dade where charismatic Christians believe that twelve foot dinosaurs built the pyramids.
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