Don Mackenzie last week advocated for Harper while displaying apprehension over getting the right term in play; is it climate change or global warming? Both have been in play for decades, mean different things, and are true in their own sense. Don has unveiled some popular myths. Myth #1 “They” changed the name. A global warming skeptic/political wordsmith Frank Luntz encouraged the use of “climate change” because the term is softer and could influence the public into believing that the science is not settled, while in reality there is no debate among climate scientists. Myth #2 Must not be global warming because it’s cold this winter! Or, “Look at all the snow in Buffalo!”. In reality warming causes more moisture which leads to extreme precipitation (ex. Heavy snowstorms in places most succeptible to them). Record snowfall is often predicted in climate models, and is consistent with global warming. Myth #3 Antartic ice sheet is growing! Half truth, Antartica is gaining sea ice and losing land ice at an accelerating rate which is leading to sea level rise. It may be advantageous to recognize that global climate trends are measured across the globe, that my subjective view of weather in my backyard is not science, and that on a political level Environment Canada stated publicly that Conservative cuts to their budget have rendered them unable to fufill their mandate. Great job Harper?
Josh Cranston