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It all comes down to a matter of trust. Should we have trusted tobacco industry spokesmen who for decades downplayed the health hazards of smoking to protect profits? Should we now trust the climate change naysayers who parrot the misinformation propagated by the fossil fuel industry? (See “Tweet the Story of the Fossil Fuel Industry’s Climate Deception” at https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=http-3A__www.ucsusa.org&d=DwIDaQ&c=V6RwJ6H35feIEOPTfw4cSA&r=48EnQ_-qQ5DvTQDcemO5XVgNlZ70ly7qT_opx30H4OyjpZk5oqabCIZrhk1vUgYz&m=DxMDoaOtaZeJgp5z51ee5fcnk2zcRm3UwU8r196UVi8&s=DJSqIlznnGJzQOw_jSLP2HawiviWlw-AvxdQ4kFMAKU&e=) Or should we rely on the expertise of the vast majority of

climate scientists who, rather than serving as paid corporate mouthpieces, are motivated by a sincere desire to develop an impartial, evidence-based understanding of the current global warming phenomenon.

The Earth’s climate has fluctuated widely from hot to cold throughout its history. Factors such as volcanic activity, solar intensity, orbital cycles, ocean heat fluctuations, rock weathering, and atmospheric CO2 concentrations have played a part in these cyclical events. However, each past cycle normally occurred over many tens of thousands of years. The current rapid increase in worldwide temperatures has spanned just 100 years. The only factor that can account for this abnormally rapid rate is the corresponding increase in greenhouse gasses in the atmosphere, most of the excess coming from the combustion of fossil fuels.

Denying the reality of anthropogenic global warming is like denying that the Earth revolves around the sun. (Yes, there are those who fervently believe we live in an Earth-centered universe. See “Official Geocentricity Website”) Those who hold such views for predominantly political/ideological/religious reasons are unlikely to trust anyone who calls their beliefs into question.

JACK DeBAUN

Sandpoint