Michael E. Mann Debunks some Climate Change Myths

At last night's 2019 Jones Lecture at Lafayette College, renowned climatologist Michael E. Mann provided answers to some important questions about the most effective way to fight climate change. This post could easily take the format of one of the WaPo's "5 Myths About..." columns but I'll try not to.

We're At A Pivotal Moment
Dr. Mann spends a lot of time talking to lawmakers and business leaders. He believes there has been a major change in the attitude toward climate change, away from whether it exists, to what to do. A few examples:

• In the House Science Committee (officially the Committee on Science, Space and Technology of the U.S. House of Representatives), Republicans on the committee no longer dispute the science, but instead want to ensure that policies promote their conservative ideals. That is a huge shift. Rep. 
• You don't have to deny climate change to be a conservative.  Matt Gaetz, (R-FL) has tweeted, "I didn't come to Congress to argue with a thermometer, and I think that more of my colleagues need to realize that the science of global warning is irrefutable." - He has to deal with the effects of climate change in his state and is seeking out advice from leading climate scientists. 
• Climate Change is no longer a "liberal issue." National security experts recognize climate change as a national security threat. Here is a link to the DoD's climate change report. ISIS has Is came to be because of an unprecedented drought. Forced people into the cities. Recruiting ground for terrorists.
• The business community can no longer ignore climate change, as they are dealing with opportunities and threats. Insurance companies are seeing huge rises in claims for flooding, hurricane, drought and fire damage.

The Cost of Inaction is Greater than the Cost of Action
Many lawmakers and business owners protest about the costs of dealing with climate change. However, we're already seeing that the cost of inaction is far greater. On the positive side, addressing climate change offers huge economic opportunities. Growth in renewable energy means jobs and investment. Renewable energy is the economic revolution of the 21st century.

Can We Make A Difference In Time?
We need to take action now on climate change. One of the biggest challenges is that now that more people believe in climate change, they also believe there is nothing we can do. That is simply not true. We can still avert catastrophic effects. Alexandra Ocasio-Cortez has been ridiculed for saying that she and other young Americans fear "the world is going to end if we don't act on climate change within 12 years," according to Mann, the conclusions of the IPCC that we have only 12 years to act is essentially true. We need to keep warming below 2C , and instead of raising carbon emissions, we need to reduce them by as much as 5% a year.

However, according to Mann, these changes are doable. The obstacles to scaling renewable energy are not technical, but political. This is heartening for me because it means we can focus on activism, something the public does very well when motivated and focused. We can choose and support lawmakers who have strong climate values, voting, and letting our lawmakers know that climate change is important to us.

Should I Go Vegan?
Methane is a more powerful greenhouse gas than CO2, but it has a short-term warming effect, and doesn't stay in the atmosphere as long as CO2.  Methane is important but the real culprit is CO2. The effects of animal culture on the greenhouse effect are exaggerated. (The film Cowspiracy is wrong, based on a misunderstanding of the science.) According to Dr. Mann, only 15-20% of global carbon emissions comes from agriculture and animals combined. If everyone stopped eating meat we could only save a few percent. However, go ahead and be a vegan, it's more healthy, and if it makes you feel good to make a lifestyle change, that's good.

On the other hand, we shouldn't ignore methane, especially if human activities suddenly cause an increase in methane in the atmosphere. Fracking is an example, as the process causes large methane releases.

Other Personal Lifestyle Changes
Air travel worldwide accounts for 3% percent of global carbon emissions. We don't need to quit flying. Dr. Mann feels that confusion about these issues is promulgated by those who have an interest in distracting us from the real problem, which is addiction to carbon fuel. By pushing the onus back on individuals they make us feel as if the problem is our fault, and the solution is a voluntary one. What we need instead are policies that will gently nudge us in the right direction. 

Who Is This Guy and Why Should I Listen?
Michael E. Mann is a renowned climatologist, Distinguished Professor of Atmospheric Science at Penn State, with joint appointments in the Department of Geosciences and the Earth and Environmental Systems Institute (EESI). He is also director of the Penn State Earth System Science Center (ESSC). He's perhaps best known for pointing out (with two colleagues) the so-called "hockey stick" graph showing the alarming rise of global temperatures since the industrial revolution. Among his many efforts to educate and spread the real science of climate change to the public and lawmakers, he was a lead author on the Observed Climate Variability and Change chapter of the IPCC Third Scientific Assessment Report in 2001, he has written over than 190 peer-reviewed and edited publications, and has published four books including The Madhouse Effect (with cartoons by Tom Toles); He has testified before numerous congressional committees and made many television appearances to try to demystify the science of climate change.

Unfortunately, Dr. Mann's work and his willingness to speak publicly means he's the target of vicious and frightening attacks by climate skeptics. It's such a gargantuan waste that someone with this level of expertise spends the majority of his time arguing about whether the science is true with skeptics who will not listen.