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White House: Global Warming Out, 'Global Climate Disruption' In
White House: Global Warming Out, 'Global Climate Disruption' In
Published September 16, 2010 | FoxNews.com
From the administration that brought you "man-caused disaster" and "overseas contingency operation," another terminology change is in the pipeline.
The White House wants the public to start using the term "global climate disruption" in place of "global warming" -- fearing the latter term oversimplifies the problem and makes it sound less dangerous than it really is.
White House science adviser John Holdren urged people to start using the phrase during a speech last week in Oslo, echoing a plea he made three years earlier. Holdren said global warming is a "dangerous misnomer" for a problem far more complicated than a rise in temperature.
The call comes as Congress prepares to adjourn for the season without completing work on a stalled climate bill. The term global warming has long been criticized as inaccurate, and the new push could be an attempt to re-shape climate messaging for next year's legislative session.
"They're trying to come up with more politically palatable ways to sell some of this stuff," said Republican pollster Adam Geller, noting that Democrats also rolled out a new logo and now refer to the Bush tax cuts as "middle-class tax cuts."
He said the climate change change-up likely derives from flagging public support for their bill to regulate emissions. He said the term "global warming" makes the cause easy to ridicule whenever there's a snowstorm.
"Every time we're digging our cars out -- what global warming?" he said. "(Global climate disruption is) more of a sort of generic blanket term, I guess, that can apply in all weather conditions."
It's unclear why Holdren prefers "global climate disruption" over "climate change," the most commonly used alternative to "global warming."
Asked about the speech, Holdren spokesman Rick Weiss said only that the Office of Science and Technology Policy has been transparent about Holdren's remarks.
"The PowerPoint for Dr. Holdren's Oslo presentation has been public on our website since the day after he returned," he said.
Click here to see the presentation.
In a 2007 presentation, Holdren suggested a similar phrase change -- "global climatic disruption."
The explanation he gave last week was that the impact from greenhouse gas emissions covers a broad "disruption" of climate patterns ranging from precipitation to storms to hot and cold temperatures. Those changes, he said, affect the availability of water, productivity of farms, spread of disease and other factors.
He's not the first scientist to publicly veer away from "global warming." NASA published an analysis on its website in 2008 explaining that it avoids the term because temperature change "isn't the most severe effect of changing climate."
"Changes to precipitation patterns and sea levels are likely to have much greater human impact than the higher temperatures alone," the report said.
But Republicans predicted that re-branding the issue would have limited effect on the legislative effort. GOP strategist Pete Snyder said he doubts the term is going to change hearts and minds.
"Are they going to change the name of weathermen to disruption analysts?" he quipped. GOP lawmakers already exploited a terminology change of their own by re-branding the "cap-and-trade" bill as "cap-and-tax."
Holdren's "global climate disruption" isn't the most convoluted term to grace the climate debate, however.
According to the NASA article, early studies on the impact humans had on global climate referred to the relationship as "inadvertent climate modification."
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http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2010/09/16/white-house-global-warming-global-climate-disruption/
The food thing is a valid concern. I too come from a long line of farmers. My great uncle recently retired after a lifetime of farming, and my great grandfather before him started that farm. We had farmers and ranchers on the other side as well.
Anyhow, about soil mineral depletion. Pertaining to alternative fuels, I've been told that the kind of corn cheapest to use for alternative fuels/biodeisel uses more water and takes more minerals from the soil. Not for sure how they plan to amend the soil, but my uncle used to plant something like winter wheat, let it go to seed and then till it under and leavve the field dormant. That replentished a lot of the minerals, but was kind of costly. (He grew corn....had to use pesticides....) It is a problem.
And thanks for the idea on a good read. Here in the next month or so, work becomes a bit slow and I'll have plenty of time to read.
Anyhow, about soil mineral depletion. Pertaining to alternative fuels, I've been told that the kind of corn cheapest to use for alternative fuels/biodeisel uses more water and takes more minerals from the soil. Not for sure how they plan to amend the soil, but my uncle used to plant something like winter wheat, let it go to seed and then till it under and leavve the field dormant. That replentished a lot of the minerals, but was kind of costly. (He grew corn....had to use pesticides....) It is a problem.
And thanks for the idea on a good read. Here in the next month or so, work becomes a bit slow and I'll have plenty of time to read.
A tad bit off topic, but in keeping with the same theme, another big concern is the growing food shortage. I don't completely understand farming even though I come from a long line of farmers..just not my immediate family, but with the growing demand, farmland is not being treated properly, and of course is also a finite resource. With it not being allowed to lie fallow for the appropriate amount of time, combined with many of the chemical fertilizers and things being used, it is becoming stripped.
Not sure if you saw my posts in one of the other threads about this topic, but the documentary I saw basically had scientists a few hundred years from now studying our civiliation and trying to figure out why we collapsed (it was done by the author of the book Collapse). It was fascinating. Basically the major issues were pollution...water ways especially, and farmland. How we essentially destroyed ourselves even with all the technology we have. The book Collapse is one I highly recommend...the author has studied all the great civilizations and their downfall...from the Roman Empire to the Mayans, etc. It's a bit dry, but address' much of this stuff. It's not a book touting Global Warming, no worries..lol. It takes a more realistic approach..that which we can control. Really interesting and makes you think. He does talk alot about our current dependence on oil as well, both from being dependent on other countries, cost and the fact that it is a finite resource. You might enjoy it.
Not sure if you saw my posts in one of the other threads about this topic, but the documentary I saw basically had scientists a few hundred years from now studying our civiliation and trying to figure out why we collapsed (it was done by the author of the book Collapse). It was fascinating. Basically the major issues were pollution...water ways especially, and farmland. How we essentially destroyed ourselves even with all the technology we have. The book Collapse is one I highly recommend...the author has studied all the great civilizations and their downfall...from the Roman Empire to the Mayans, etc. It's a bit dry, but address' much of this stuff. It's not a book touting Global Warming, no worries..lol. It takes a more realistic approach..that which we can control. Really interesting and makes you think. He does talk alot about our current dependence on oil as well, both from being dependent on other countries, cost and the fact that it is a finite resource. You might enjoy it.
Our little community has a pretty good recycling program going. There are multiple recycling bins at various convenient locations, and it is making a difference. Our local schools are implementing a program as well. More of a conscious effort, kind of "think before you use" attitude. So really, we are saving tons and tons of recycling from going to the landfill annually. More can be done.
And about oil. It is a finite resource, no question. We do need to develop viable alternative energy sources. I listened to something on Public Radio here in the states concerning alternative sources. I really only remember a few points of the discussion.
1. Wind energy: a lot of the components concerned with the wind mills are petroleum based. In order to positively impact oil comsumption in regards to building these components....we need new materials.
2. Getting gathered energy to the grid: they mentioned that all of the energy gathered in wind farms doesnt make it into the grid. Technology is such that a considerable amount of energy is lost. Not that its costing anything, but its very inefficient. In order for more energy to make it to the grid with todays technology, we need more wind farms. Now you are dealing with the "N.I.M.B.Y.'s" Not in my back yard.
The obvious benefit of this technology is, wind is renewable. Oil magnate T. Boone Pickens is sinking money into it.... theres all kinds of speculation as to why. My personal opinion, not that it means a squat..... the technology is very affordable now and he wants to corner the market on it. Bless him, he's got the money to do it.
Nuclear energy??? Seems as if more people are warming up to it, but again...nobody wants a reactor in their back yard and disposal or storage of the waste is a big issue.
Youre right, there are no easy answers. We do have some of the worlds brightest minds attacking this issue. As with anything, cost is an issue. Everything needs to be cost effective and it has to generate enough funding to become a self sustaining entity.
And about oil. It is a finite resource, no question. We do need to develop viable alternative energy sources. I listened to something on Public Radio here in the states concerning alternative sources. I really only remember a few points of the discussion.
1. Wind energy: a lot of the components concerned with the wind mills are petroleum based. In order to positively impact oil comsumption in regards to building these components....we need new materials.
2. Getting gathered energy to the grid: they mentioned that all of the energy gathered in wind farms doesnt make it into the grid. Technology is such that a considerable amount of energy is lost. Not that its costing anything, but its very inefficient. In order for more energy to make it to the grid with todays technology, we need more wind farms. Now you are dealing with the "N.I.M.B.Y.'s" Not in my back yard.
The obvious benefit of this technology is, wind is renewable. Oil magnate T. Boone Pickens is sinking money into it.... theres all kinds of speculation as to why. My personal opinion, not that it means a squat..... the technology is very affordable now and he wants to corner the market on it. Bless him, he's got the money to do it.
Nuclear energy??? Seems as if more people are warming up to it, but again...nobody wants a reactor in their back yard and disposal or storage of the waste is a big issue.
Youre right, there are no easy answers. We do have some of the worlds brightest minds attacking this issue. As with anything, cost is an issue. Everything needs to be cost effective and it has to generate enough funding to become a self sustaining entity.
I've actually heard something similar about Hybrids. They seem like a good idea, and I certainly haven't done much research into them, but my understanding is they don't really help resolve the issue.
I know we need the other major industrial countries on board and wish I knew the answer. I just don't think that not governing ourselves accordingly is appropriate. The other big issue is oil. It is finite and will eventually run out. We need to find good alternatives. The documentary I watched a little while back said that although there are alternatives, the use of them will change our lives in the sense that they are not as convenient nor will they provide what oil does. So unless people begin to be willing to change their own individual lives it won't do much good.
I am not a "tree hugger" by any stretch of the imagination. I am however a realist. It sounds like the jury is out on whether or not we are contributing to global warming (I have never believed that there wasn't some natural cycles at work), but either way we are destroying our planet a little bit at a time. We are starting to see mandatory recycling here in Canada, although not everywhere yet. My city does not yet have it. Where my parents live garbage has to be put out in clear bags, and you are only allowed X amount of bags per household per week. If they pick up folks notice recyclables such as cans, etc. they don't pick up that bag. If you have more then your X amount of bags, then you have to attach a tag you paid for. It is helping. They also provide you with a recycling box and pick that up weekly as well, so you are not on your own. It's good...at least it's a start.
I don't think there are any easy answers here, but I do think we have to get serious. We need good alternatives and need to encourage other countries to do the same...not sure exactly how, but I do think it should be somewhat of a priority.
I know we need the other major industrial countries on board and wish I knew the answer. I just don't think that not governing ourselves accordingly is appropriate. The other big issue is oil. It is finite and will eventually run out. We need to find good alternatives. The documentary I watched a little while back said that although there are alternatives, the use of them will change our lives in the sense that they are not as convenient nor will they provide what oil does. So unless people begin to be willing to change their own individual lives it won't do much good.
I am not a "tree hugger" by any stretch of the imagination. I am however a realist. It sounds like the jury is out on whether or not we are contributing to global warming (I have never believed that there wasn't some natural cycles at work), but either way we are destroying our planet a little bit at a time. We are starting to see mandatory recycling here in Canada, although not everywhere yet. My city does not yet have it. Where my parents live garbage has to be put out in clear bags, and you are only allowed X amount of bags per household per week. If they pick up folks notice recyclables such as cans, etc. they don't pick up that bag. If you have more then your X amount of bags, then you have to attach a tag you paid for. It is helping. They also provide you with a recycling box and pick that up weekly as well, so you are not on your own. It's good...at least it's a start.
I don't think there are any easy answers here, but I do think we have to get serious. We need good alternatives and need to encourage other countries to do the same...not sure exactly how, but I do think it should be somewhat of a priority.
I agree that we need to do more about recycling. It should be mandatory, it would create a few new jobs. As much science there is saying this is a real threat, there is as much science saying it is a recurring, natural event.
The deal with this is, if we are going to make any positive impact on the environment by recycling and cutting emmissions and so forth, all countrys must jump on board. For all the good that North America could do, China and or India's lack of effort would make it a wash.
This thought just came to mind, so thought I'd insert it into the discussion. Hybrid vehicles.... Ive heard it said that mining the materials for the batteries in hybrid vehicles leaves a bigger carbon footprint that operating a Hummer for the vehicles life time. I do not know the validity of that statement, but think I will try to find something on it and get bck to you.
The deal with this is, if we are going to make any positive impact on the environment by recycling and cutting emmissions and so forth, all countrys must jump on board. For all the good that North America could do, China and or India's lack of effort would make it a wash.
This thought just came to mind, so thought I'd insert it into the discussion. Hybrid vehicles.... Ive heard it said that mining the materials for the batteries in hybrid vehicles leaves a bigger carbon footprint that operating a Hummer for the vehicles life time. I do not know the validity of that statement, but think I will try to find something on it and get bck to you.
I can't comment on the Cap and Tax issue as in all honesty, I don't know much of anything about it.
I still maintain however that regardless of Global warming or climate change or whatever the case may be, there are two facts not in dispute....pollution is a big problem for a variety of reasons, and the planet climate is changing. Whether or not the two are related seems somewhat irrelevant to me.
We do need to start changing our ways...more put into green energy (oil will not exist forever), recycling (yes, I know there are still problems, but we need to be working on it), and taking care of our enviroment in general.
As for the climate change aspect...if doing these things has a positive effect, great! But I don't feel that the lack of absolute proof that that is the case should change the fact that we need to change as a society.
I would love to see other countries step up and work on their problems as well. However, I don't feel that their lack of willingness to do so should excuse our behaviours. We can lead the way in the west by example. Perhaps they will choose to follow suit.
This is another of those issues that impacts the entire world, not just a single country. I wish it would not be made into a political issue...it's too important.
I still maintain however that regardless of Global warming or climate change or whatever the case may be, there are two facts not in dispute....pollution is a big problem for a variety of reasons, and the planet climate is changing. Whether or not the two are related seems somewhat irrelevant to me.
We do need to start changing our ways...more put into green energy (oil will not exist forever), recycling (yes, I know there are still problems, but we need to be working on it), and taking care of our enviroment in general.
As for the climate change aspect...if doing these things has a positive effect, great! But I don't feel that the lack of absolute proof that that is the case should change the fact that we need to change as a society.
I would love to see other countries step up and work on their problems as well. However, I don't feel that their lack of willingness to do so should excuse our behaviours. We can lead the way in the west by example. Perhaps they will choose to follow suit.
This is another of those issues that impacts the entire world, not just a single country. I wish it would not be made into a political issue...it's too important.
I'm personally glad they've brought this back to the forefront. This will remind people that dems are desperate to get cap and tax through. The public doesn't want it and we can't afford it. IF this is a man made problem, nothing will change until China and India do something about their emissions.
Jesus, really? Uhm, did anyone consult with Al Gore...for hell's sake?
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