Woolly
When I speak about something generically, like say
modern art or global warming (:P), my friends let me
blather away unreservedly, but are also candid about
how little I know (!). In my mind, if I am able to
break these woolly subjects without wandering of the
point, it means that I know something about them. You
want to start questioning my knowledge when I yammer
on and on, without getting anywhere :-) I want to
think it is not the same as making blanket statements
out of ignorance, because the intention behind the
generalizations are less about showing off my
knowledge on the topic and more about the topic
itself.
Today is Blog Action Day and the focus this year is the world’s most favorite woolly subject: Climate Change. I was going to say something cynical about the pointlessness of these action “days”, but I remembered that two years ago, the focus was something environment-related as well, and at that time I collected a lot of links to blogs with interesting posts about the environment, which eventually led to my job in a sustainable development organization. :)
In 1998 New York Times published an American Petroleum Institute memo titled “Global Climate Science Communications Plan”, which gives an interesting overview on the climate change debate back then! I bring this up because the report came out only three years before I joined Grad school in India, and the Kyoto Protocol was a hot topic in media schools. The protocol was adopted in 1997, but came into force in 2005, so we were stuck in the middle of this simmering debate taking place across the globe. One particular prof usually spewing left-winged rhetoric made the climate debate even more intriguing. His lectures while factual and passionate, were far from objective. The media too was abuzz with "global warming- hoax or not", "facts and fictions of the climate change debate" type of news. The Global Warming shindig came in an interesting medley of flavors. Of course, we all know now who's winning this debate (my prof too might be happy to note!)
Back to API's memo: It says “the climate change theory being advanced by the [Kyoto] treaty supporters is based primarily on forecasting models with a very high degree of uncertainty. In fact, it is not known for sure whether (a) climate change actually is occurring, or (b) if it is, whether humans really have any influence on it.
Some more excerpts from the memo:
A little over a decade now, we have a whole new perspective on Climate Change. API’s website today says
Isn’t seeing change in such unambiguous terms exhilarating?It's the kind of emotion you go
through when you watch those "before and after"
videos of people in makeover shows. As long as you
are watching the show, you have that stupid wide grin
on your face like you are the one getting made over.
Sometimes you can't help thinking, "This poor girl
had it in her to look good all this while, and just
didn't know it!" It's a nice feeling to see someone
happy! But, would she have been as happy about her
current state had she looked good all the
while? [I was asked to
strike this out because it makes me sound
imbecilic!]
Some kinds of wisdom that trigger positive change are recondite and abstruse and profound even. We can show our disgruntlement on what "was", and bicker that it is only the opportunistic motives of corporates and governments that propel action to mitigate global warming today and not genuine concern. But, I would much rather we ignore the motives and celebrate what "is" and what "will be" because something tells me that the future is bright and promising. :)
I am currently eyeing this page to figure out what else I want to do to get involved in this climate action business.
Happy Diwali!
My mom's family celebrates it today, and my dad's tomorrow! (some cultural differences are convenient! :) Behind feeling the need to please both families and wanting to follow both traditions was the opportunistic motive that we got to burst crackers twice!... :). I miss my grandparents today.
Today is Blog Action Day and the focus this year is the world’s most favorite woolly subject: Climate Change. I was going to say something cynical about the pointlessness of these action “days”, but I remembered that two years ago, the focus was something environment-related as well, and at that time I collected a lot of links to blogs with interesting posts about the environment, which eventually led to my job in a sustainable development organization. :)
In 1998 New York Times published an American Petroleum Institute memo titled “Global Climate Science Communications Plan”, which gives an interesting overview on the climate change debate back then! I bring this up because the report came out only three years before I joined Grad school in India, and the Kyoto Protocol was a hot topic in media schools. The protocol was adopted in 1997, but came into force in 2005, so we were stuck in the middle of this simmering debate taking place across the globe. One particular prof usually spewing left-winged rhetoric made the climate debate even more intriguing. His lectures while factual and passionate, were far from objective. The media too was abuzz with "global warming- hoax or not", "facts and fictions of the climate change debate" type of news. The Global Warming shindig came in an interesting medley of flavors. Of course, we all know now who's winning this debate (my prof too might be happy to note!)
Back to API's memo: It says “the climate change theory being advanced by the [Kyoto] treaty supporters is based primarily on forecasting models with a very high degree of uncertainty. In fact, it is not known for sure whether (a) climate change actually is occurring, or (b) if it is, whether humans really have any influence on it.
Some more excerpts from the memo:
Project Goal
A majority of the American public, including industry leadership, recognizes that significant uncertainties exist in climate science, and therefore raises questions among those (e.g. Congress) who chart the future US course on global climate change.
Progress will be measured toward the goal. A measurement of the public’s perspective on climate science will be taken before the plan is launched, and the same measurement will be taken at one or more as-yet-to-be-determined intervals as the plan is implemented.
Victory Will Be Achieved When
Current Reality
- Average citizens “understand” (recognize) uncertainties in climate science; recognition of uncertainties becomes part of the “conventional wisdom”
- Media “understands” (recognizes) uncertainties in climate science
- Media coverage reflects balance on climate science and recognition of the validity of viewpoints that challenge the current “conventional wisdom”
- Industry senior leadership understands uncertainties in climate science, making them stronger ambassadors to those who shape climate policy
- Those promoting the Kyoto treaty on the basis of extant science appear to be out of touch with reality.
Unless “climate change” becomes a non-issue, meaning that the Kyoto proposal is defeated and there are no further initiatives to thwart the threat of climate change, there may be no moment when we can declare victory for our efforts. It will be necessary to establish measurements for the science effort to track progress toward achieving the goal and strategic success.
A little over a decade now, we have a whole new perspective on Climate Change. API’s website today says
Oil and natural gas take us down the street and around the world. They warm and cool our homes and businesses. They provide the ingredients for medicines, fertilizers, fabrics, plastics and other products that make life safer, easier and better.
While we rely on them for most of our energy and will likely do so for years to come, emissions from their production and use may be helping to warm our planet by enhancing the natural greenhouse effect of the atmosphere. That’s why oil and gas companies are also working to reduce their greenhouse emissions.
To see more about what companies are doing, please look at Climate Challenge: A Progress Report. To view additional and more recent information about voluntary efforts, see Companies Address Climate Change.
Isn’t seeing change in such unambiguous terms exhilarating?
Some kinds of wisdom that trigger positive change are recondite and abstruse and profound even. We can show our disgruntlement on what "was", and bicker that it is only the opportunistic motives of corporates and governments that propel action to mitigate global warming today and not genuine concern. But, I would much rather we ignore the motives and celebrate what "is" and what "will be" because something tells me that the future is bright and promising. :)
I am currently eyeing this page to figure out what else I want to do to get involved in this climate action business.
Happy Diwali!
My mom's family celebrates it today, and my dad's tomorrow! (some cultural differences are convenient! :) Behind feeling the need to please both families and wanting to follow both traditions was the opportunistic motive that we got to burst crackers twice!... :). I miss my grandparents today.
