Stress will kill you before climate will

DEAR EDITOR:

People should stop obsessing about climate change because it’s beyond our control. Unnecessary fear and despondency are stressful. Stress will kill you quicker than the climate ever will.

Humans have always devised ways of dealing with changing climate and environment, while other species have had little success at adaptation. The fossil record illustrates that thousands of species have perished or evolved because of climate change.

Archaeology and history show attempts by past civilizations to placate their climate gods with cult-style practices. These were mostly focussed on accumulating wealth and power and controlling other people, instead of controlling the climate. Things haven’t changed that much.

It’s worth making one’s own assessments instead of blindly accepting all the messages that we hear in the name of science. Science is one thing, but the motives and credibility of the messengers is another.

Where’s the line between science and political science? Media is too shallow and uncritical to be a reliable source. Scientists better watch out when politicians say the science is settled because that will put them out of a job.

After unending warnings from Al Gore, one would expect the Statue of Liberty to have wet feet. Not even close. The waterline looks the same as it did in photographs 125 years ago. Sea levels are estimated to have risen 8 inches since 1880, but beach properties remain in high demand.

Weather data for Penticton shows a rise in mean daily temperatures in July from 20.11 to 20.4 degrees over the last 80 years. Temperatures have increased, but not on the scale we’re led to believe. Thankfully, this isn’t one of the places where climate activists claim temperatures are increasing at twice the global rate.

Justin Trudeau recently made the dramatic announcement that Lytton was a victim of climate change. That’s misinformation and crass exploitation of a sorrowful event. There were heat records set at the time, but the cause of the fire is unknown.

People should devote more thought and effort to adapting to the climate instead of trying to change it.

Carbon taxes don’t work.

Doing something practical like Noah and his ark is better. Build smaller, single storey homes with small windows, high ceilings, more insulation, extended eves and white exteriors.

And please steer clear of cutting back on agriculture and fertilizers as a climate solution. Less food production means higher costs for everybody and starvation for many.

John Thompson

Kaleden