The subject of Climate Change triggers a wide range of responses from believers and deniers. Here at Puget Sound Solar, we believe in science, that the Climate Crisis is real, and that we have a moral obligation to future generations to work on reducing our carbon footprint. This is at the core of why Pam and Jeremy started our company.
Our Mission Statement is “To create and enable the energy revolution with an inspired and innovative team dedicated to ending fossil fuel emissions through excellence of design, installation, and customer service.”
The New York Times recently compiled some questions and answers focusing on the science behind climate change issues. We’ve included them below along with some additional links to climate research.
There really isn’t much argument left for climate change deniers when more than 90% of the scientists who conduct empirically based research agree that man’s carbon emissions are heating up our climate. Special interest groups with financial interests in fossil fuels, like coal and petroleum, have funded disinformation campaigns to create doubt about Climate Change with the public so they can to continue to generate profits. It’s the same strategy tobacco companies used to create doubt about the science connecting smoking tobacco to major health issues, including death … all just to make money.
That being said, here are some questions and answers about Climate Change that directly address some of the more commonly issues raised by skeptics.
How do we know climate change is really happening?
Scientists have been measuring different aspects of our environment for hundreds of years and the collective studies show consistent patterns that man is impacting the environment.
The fossil fuel industry has engaged in a pattern of disinformation to try to suggest otherwise for several decades.
By Veronica Penney.
How much agreement is there among scientists about climate change?
97% of scientists with expertise in the climate studies agree that man is impacting the climate via carbon emissions.
Studying tree rings, ice cores, corals and sediments that preserve information about prehistoric climates allows us to extend the climate record beyond the past 150 years.
How do we know climate change is caused by humans?
Since the Industrial Revolution, humans have been burning fossil fuels which release carbon emissions into the atmosphere.
Since greenhouse gases occur naturally, how do we know they’re causing Earth’s temperature to rise?
Carbon dioxide concentrations have doubled in the atmosphere since 1750 along with other greenhouse gases as the result of burning fossil fuels and farming activities.
Why should we be worried that the planet has warmed 2°F since the 1800s?
Yes, two degrees of change has caused changes in the habitant – melting glaciers, impacting weather patterns, causing confusion for wildlife and more.
Is climate change a part of the planet’s natural warming and cooling cycles?
There has always been heating and cooling of our planet but this was related to changes in our orbit around the sun. We can measure the increase in CO2 emissions in the past 250 years and see how they correlate with temperature increases by studying ice cores.
How do we know global warming is not because of the sun or volcanoes?
Volcano eruptions actually cool the planet by reflecting sunlight. Studies suggest the carbon emissions from volcanic eruptions represent about 1-2% of total CO2 emissions.
How can winters and certain places be getting colder if the planet is warming?
In the United States, average temperatures in December, January and February have increased by about 2.5 degrees over the past century.
We are seeing more frequent and intense weather systems and fires …
How bad are the effects of climate change going to be?
There will be financial costs due to severe weather events. Flooding in coastal areas and drought conditions elsewhere. Most likely large populations will need to move to more habitable areas. Less affluent countries will be impacted the most.
What will it cost to do something about climate change, versus doing nothing?
An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure …
So, the scientific evidence is overwhelmingly clear that we’ve done a great job of polluting our environment since the Industrial Revolution with our carbon emissions. The good news is that we now have the technology to significantly reduce our carbon emissions by making the choice to shift to clean, renewable energy like solar, wind, geothermal and tidal technologies; by electrifying our transportation system; and increased development and deployment of energy storage. To accomplish these changes to benefit current and future generations, we need to increase the public’s understanding and acceptance of Climate Change and get legislative policies in place to support technologies that don’t kill our planet.
Please contact your elected officials and encourage them to support policies supporting clean energy and transportation.
If you want to take a more immediate action, please give us a call at 206-706-1931 or fill out the form below and we’ll get started on providing you a free, customized solar quote.
