The strange relationship between global warming denial and... speaking English

Here in the United States, we fret a lot about global warming denial. Not only is it a dangerous delusion, it's an incredibly prevalent one. Depending on your survey instrument of choice, we regularly learn that substantial minorities of Americans deny, or are sceptical of, the science of climate change.

The global picture, however, is quite different. For instance, recently the UK-based market research firm Ipsos MORI released its "Global Trends 2014" report, which included a number of survey questions on the environment asked across 20 countries. (h/t Leo Hickman). And when it came to climate change, the result was very telling:

Read the story from The Guardian - “The strange relationship between global warming denial and... speaking English.”

Flying Isn’t the Source of Our Global Warming Problems, So Let’s Focus Our Energies Elsewhere

“If you’re so worried about global warming, then why do you fly so much?!”

It’s one of the most frequent criticisms from climate change deniers. Rather than engage in substantive debate about the science of climate change, and the apocalyptic effect it will have on our lives, they resort to personal attacks.

Flying has become a way of life for many.

Let’s first acknowledge the fact this criticism is a logical fallacy, an ad hominem, that in no way refutes the existence of global warming or addresses its accompanying issues. Criticizing an environmentalist for flying too much is a diversion, a red herring, meant to derail us from having a real conversation about global warming, because any real conversation about global warming ends with us realizing how enormous and urgent the issue is.

The “fly too much” criticism shifts the blame from the actually guilty parties — oil companies, and the governments and financial systems who support them — to the environmental advocate, making him a scapegoat. Instead of a systemic problem, it transforms global warming into a personal problem. The jet-setting environmentalist is turned into a convenient villain, and branded a hypocrite.

Read the story from Medium by Sasja Beslik - “Flying Isn’t the Source of Our Global Warming Problems, So Let’s Focus Our Energies Elsewhere.”