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The AAPG/Datapages Combined Publications Database

GCAGS Transactions

Abstract


Gulf Coast Association of Geological Societies Transactions
Vol. 68 (2018), Pages 51-56

What if Climate Skeptics are Wrong? Best Policy Responses in the Face of Anthropogenic Climate Change

H. Sterling Burnett

Abstract

Climate change is occurring. The climate is constantly changing both in large increments and small. The extent to which humans are contributing to the present rate and direction of climate change and whether any climate changes influenced by human fossil fuel use will be catastrophic or might even produce positive changes are open questions. What is indisputable, however, is that proposals for government to severely restrict the use of fossil fuels to prevent future temperature rise and associated climate changes for both scientific and political reasons, will in fact have very little impact on climate. Climate change is not expected to create new or previously non-existent problems but rather, to the extent it has negative effects it is expected to exacerbate already existing problems. A fundamental principle of public policy that any government should adopt is to address the most important problems that can in fact be ameliorated first, and to do so in through the most efficacious means at the least cost to society. Climate change is neither the most immediate, nor most important problem confronting humanity. And restrictions on fossil fuel use to fight it are likely to impose greater harms, especially to the most vulnerable, most impoverished members of society, than the harms reasonably expected to be exacerbated by climate change. To take a few problems climate change might exacerbate, drought, hurricanes, sea level rise, and wildfires, the best approach to reduce the harm caused by such events is to confront them directly through a concerted program of wealth creation and focused adaptation. Poverty is the biggest killer and wealthier societies are better able to respond to changing climates, regardless of the direction or cause, than poorer societies. Using more fossil fuels to encourage development, combined with policies to improve crop yields, and decrease the costs of hurricanes, droughts, floods, and wildfires will do more to improve the lot of present and future generations than any program to restrict the use of coal, natural gas, and oil.


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