May 17 Socrates Cafe: Climate Change

Library Socrates Cafe

Join us with facilitator Robert Rubin, former Library Board President and seasoned discussion leader, for our Socrates Cafe program.

Wednesday, May 17 at 10:30 am in the Friends Learning Lab.  RSVP Today. Open to all, including walk-ins.

Bob wants to help us give philosophy back to the people with discussions about truth, justice, and moderation.

All political, economic and social points of view are welcomed and encouraged. 

The only ground rule is that we will be polite to those opinions that differ from our own.

For May, the question is:

Climate Change – Crisis, Hype, or Who Knows?

Global Warming, which has morphed into Climate Change, has become one of the most talked about, and emotional, topics of this young century. What was once a dialogue among scientists now impacts elections and multi-national accords.

Advocates of the imminent danger of global warming and those who view the issue as overblown and unproved each have presented their cases. The major media has come down firmly supporting those who believe global warming is a crisis that requires swift action. Here are what both sides say as proof:

  • The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has identified the rapid decline of sea ice as “the primary threat to polar bears” and said Arctic warming driven by the human emission of greenhouse gases into the atmosphere was the single most important threat.
  • According to data from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the U.S. is enduring a stretch of abnormally warm weather unsurpassed in the record books, and it shows no immediate sign of ending. The latest one-, two-, three-, four- and five-year periods — ending in March — rank as the warmest in 122 years of record-keeping for the Lower 48 states
  • One statistical projection states that continuing to burn fossil fuels at the current rate could bring atmospheric carbon dioxide to its highest concentration in 50 million years.
  • According to NASA satellite data (the most reliable temperature reading obtainable), 2016 wasn’t warmer than 1998, despite there being 10% more carbon dioxide and 4.5% more methane (20 times the warming potential of carbon dioxide) in the atmosphere.
  • There has been no statistically significant change identified by NASA and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration in atmospheric warming in 18 years. Computer model projections have been significantly higher than historic observations, calling into question the validity of the computer models.
  • Large swings in temperatures over centuries aren’t unusual. No agreed upon evidence has been put forth to separate the human impact on the overall climate from cyclic temperature effects over the centuries.

What, if anything, are the appropriate actions to take now, and what would be their impact on us?

Handout for May.

Philosophy discussion groups such as SOCRATES CAFÉ are forming in libraries, in bookstores, community centers, and in coffee shops, bringing together people with diverse experience, beliefs, and backgrounds.  Currently there are over 300 Socrates Cafes® throughout the world.