A call to challenge the newly elected Brexit Party MEPs on their reckless rejection of climate change evidence(Newham Recorder Opinion Piece 26.6.19).
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“Belief in man-made climate change is no different from religion. So said Lance Forman, newly elected Brexit Party MEP for London, writing for this column in 2015. \u00a0His scepticism is widely shared by other members of the Brexit Party, including new MEP\u2019s Ann Widecombe and Nigel Farage. Climate change is potentially a life or death issue which dwarfs even Brexit. Their new won power makes it more important than ever to scrutinise their dismissal of the evidence.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Like Trump, they argue in effect that for 30 odd years we have been the victims of a vast hoax. Those out to hoodwink us include top scientists and politicians around the globe. Just one apparent trickster is the US space agency NASA, perhaps best known for sending men to the moon, unless of course you believe this was a studio-filmed scam (another conspiracy theory!)\u00a0 <\/p>\n\n\n\n
NASA\u2019s website points out that the greenhouse effect of carbon dioxide has been known since the mid-19th century. Using their tried and tested expertise they have taken extensive measurements and evaluated them together with over 100 years\u2019 worth of data. \u00a0Their conclusion is that man-made C02 pumped out since the industrial revolution has adversely affected the climate. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
An estimated 97% of climate scientists reach the same conclusion. Strong evidence that this puts planetary life at imminent risk persuaded every country in the world to sign up to the Paris Climate Agreement in 2015. It\u2019s hard to think of any other international agreement which has met such universal support<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Contrary to Lance\u2019s assertion, belief based on measuring and evaluating evidence is not religion. It\u2019s science. Of course there is, as on other issues, a handful of contrarians who don\u2019t accept evidence even when it becomes overwhelming. The Flat Earth Society is still going strong and even has its own website.\u00a0 <\/p>\n\n\n\n
The stakes are too high not to act on scientists\u2019 warnings, even if the risk turns out to be less than estimated. Trump\u2019s US is so far the only country aiming to pull out of the Paris agreement. Any of our politicians inclined to follow suit must be challenged.” <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Paul Kaufman
Chair East London Humanists
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