Steven Murov: Recognizing a change that is far beyond a reasonable doubt

Scientific evidence that negative health effects, deaths and environmental damage resulting from human use of fossil fuels is already happening and will disastrously increase in magnitude goes far beyond a reasonable doubt; it even exceeds a jury-trial criteria for finding of guilt.

Without action, catastrophes such as ocean acidification, air pollution, water pollution, mining accidents, oil rig and gas line explosions and leaks, coal ash releases, melting glaciers, habitat migrations, wildfires, sea level increases, wars and droughts will severely lower the quality of life.

I have been accused of being a very “naive” scientist, but I have real problems trying to understand how and why an overwhelmingly supported scientific finding – usually quoted as over 97 percent of scientists – has become a partisan issue. People view the dangers described above through a partisan lens instead of by using logic.

The scientific discussion is no longer about if but how fast and extensively these things will occur; many scientists are now concerned that the future consequences of climate change are being underestimated.

I congratulate the Modesto City Council for recognizing the issue and making the wise and courageous move of passing a resolution in support of the Citizens’ Climate Lobby resolution for introduction of a nationwide, revenue-neutral carbon fee and dividend. Modesto joined Salt Lake City, Philadelphia, Essex County, N.J., and many more in endorsing the plan.

For most of the population, the carbon fee will not increase the cost of living. However, if adopted nationally, the goals of the resolution should be a huge positive step toward solving the fossil-fuel issue.

Unfortunately, none of the remaining Republican presidential candidates currently promote proactive action to confront the issues; the leading candidates actually advocate disbelief. Some go so far as to call climate change a hoax, a direct insult of scientists.

This issue alone is so important that unless the Republican nominee – whoever it becomes – changes his views, there will only be one conscientious choice on the November ballot.

On the positive side, a small but growing group of influential Republicans – including George Shultz (who served as secretary of labor, secretary of treasury and secretary of state), Carlos Curbelo, R-Fla., and 10 other Republican members of Congress – now accept the reality of the threat of climate change. They are working for bipartisan cooperation to combat the issue and its impacts.

While it is possible to argue that some governmental regulations inhibit progress, environmental regulations generally do not go nearly far enough. On a significant number of days of the year, without environmental regulation, regions such as Los Angeles would be uninhabitable.

The common societal approach of “wait until there is a crisis” will not work in this case as it will take decades to significantly alter our energy use and reverse the extensive threats already in place. We all need to understand the urgency for action to protect the future of our children. Education can and should play a much bigger role in stimulating action on the phase out of fossil fuels.

I strongly encourage you to attend a free MAPS presentation titled “Everything You Always Wanted to Know about Climate Change but Were Afraid to Ask” on tax day, April 15, at 6:30 p.m. in the MJC West Campus, Mary Stuart Rogers Student Center.

This story was originally published March 4, 2016 at 4:48 PM with the headline "Steven Murov: Recognizing a change that is far beyond a reasonable doubt."