Extreme heat waves, increased hurricanes, disease and death were the crux of the message the EPA delivered when it released its report on climate change and health yesterday. It seems to be another case of highlighting the Armageddon dangers albeit these are the least plausible. This comes only a week after the EPA released its Advanced Notice of Proposed Rulemaking that would allow the EPA to regulate lawnmowers, boats, hotels, restaurants and a number of other buildings.
A similar warning was given by the UN Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) last year that claimed humans were contributing significantly to global warming. The IPCC and climate change fanatic Al Gore really infused the message that humans need to change their behavior. The IPCC backed off its catastrophic results that reported 20 foot sea levels and the “[…] summary concedes in a footnote that the magnitude of mankind’s contribution was not assessed and that the attribution was based “on expert judgment” and not formal studies.”
While a general consensus exists that humans are contributing to global warming, the scientific evidence that distinguish to what extent it is manmade has been dubious to say the least. The claim that global warming poses a “substantial threat” according to the EPA should be taken seriously, but it should also be carefully scrutinized. It’s important to take into consideration the burden to the economy that global warming legislation would impose as well as the fact that a unilateral policy would be for naught if countries like India and China do not follow suit. Overall, Congress and the administration should be sure that the benefits to curb global warming are well worth the massive costs.
