Global Warming: The Importance of Relying On Facts
Environmentally-sound policies are important to pursue to ensure that the earth is left safe for future generations. However, in constructing policies that affect the environment, it is also imperative to base decisions on the best facts available rather than on scare-tactics or fear-based hysteria. Many times the policies employed by nations can be influenced by the human trait of over-reaction to myth and propaganda. This tendency can skew both public awareness of fact-based investigations and the decisions of policy-makers. In the case of global warming, while many indicators point toward cautious environmental policies, the human tendency to skew the truth for political purposes may override true scientific fact-finding. This can have negative consequences for the very mission that such scientific endeavors are pursuing: to protect against maladaptive environmental policies. When facts are not acquired rigorously, the scientific underpinnings of assessments come into question. In the case of global warming, it is important to present the correct information upon which to base policy decisions. However, politics may influence which facts regarding global warming are highlighted by the media and perceived as pivotal by the general public.
In order to understand how politically-biased perspectives may be presenting an overly-negative picture of global warming, it is important to first review the current image of global warming relayed to the public (ô'Global warming' hypeàö). Global warming is a phenomenon of increasing atmospheric temperatures on the earth (Kaw and Batra). Natural global warming has occurred throughout history as a consequence of warming and cooling cycles on various time scales. The ice ages are one such example, leading to long-term cold periods interspersed with warming periods that have resulted in temporary tropical climates over large landmasses. Small...