Hard Science and Hot Air : Dissecting the Global Warming Debate

by Johansen, Bruce E.

• ISBN13: 9781597972802
• ISBN10: 1597972800
• Format: Hardcover
• Copyright: 2010-08-30
• Publisher: Potomac Books Inc

Summary

It's not news that global warming has provoked a visceral debate. What many readers may find surprising, however, is how many people pose as experts in this debate who know little or nothing about the operation of the ecosystems that support life on Earth. This book dissects the multifaceted debate on global warming for the nonspecialist. Using hard science, Johansen examines the difficult questions that too few people are asking. He casts doubt on the ability of our economic and political system to survive in a world of escalating environmental constraints by asking tough questions: Is a corporate-driven economy devoted to growth without accounting for environmental debits suitable for a sustainable future? Will this system transform itself to promote the kind of new technology we need to survive? Johansen takes issue with contrarians who subvert science by denying the facts about geophysical reality. He then expands the ambit to other 'œexperts' who deny that global warming is an imminent threat, demonstrating how their views are tainted by political ideology. As he points out, carbon dioxide has no ideology or party affiliation, it merely retains heat in the atmosphere. Johansen concludes that people need to set aside their political differences and take concerted action to stop global warming now, for without fundamental changes to our way of life, future generations will be faced with an even more difficult and urgent set of choices.