China and U.S. Standby While Climate Heats

As Germany becomes the largest proliferator of solar energy worldwide, the largest emitters of greenhouse gases merely pay lip service to the impending climate change crisis.  Last week, the Mauna Loa Observatory in Hawaii measured the highest concentrations of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere in human history.  No commitment to reducing emissions from the United States or China, the worst climate offenders, means we may be looking at severe losses to the human species before quality of life can be corrected.

The petroleum industry brings in billions every year.
Image: thewayinc.com

 There are several reasons why the U.S. hasn’t made significant impact on combating climate change, the most obvious being the stranglehold oil companies have over policy, proven by the billions in subsidies given to the petroleum industry.  The other, however, is that the problem may be just too big or too confusing.  While environmental lobbies try their best to get heard, industry lobbies are outspending and out-spinning the topic so that Americans are convinced that climate regulation will hurt the economy. 

Most people know who Kim Kardashian is.
Most people don't know that climate change
is a serious threat.
Image: aceshowbiz.com

A recent Gallup poll shows that two thirds of Americans do not even see climate change as a threat in their lifetime, even worse is that the percentage is down from 1997.  So far, no one has been able to explain what will happen or how soon, mostly because no one is quite sure, or they are afraid to scare people.  Even if someone was able to, explaining what will happen in the future has never been an easy sell. Speculation or prophecies are no longer a viable motivator.

It is clear that the scientific community needs a better way to present information.  The public and scientists have varying opinions about climate change causes and effects, so the distribution of information is clearly in need of a makeover.  While the noise may never be as loud as partisan pundits on popular news channels, more creative and engaging effort in media platforms, television and communities could give the public the necessary ammunition to demand carbon emission regulations.  Perhaps Kim Kardashian should join Greenpeace?