Climate Scientist Argues Against Labeling Climate Change as an Existential Threat, Calling it ‘Unreasonable’

MIT Professor Richard Lindzen has stated that the idea of climate change as an existential threat is the result of propaganda. While acknowledging that there is a real rise in global temperature due to a greenhouse effect, he emphasized that the increase is minor and not a significant threat. According to Lindzen, the greenhouse effect is mainly caused by water vapor and clouds, with carbon dioxide, methane, and nitrous oxide as minor contributors. He stated that doubling CO2 would result in minimal warming, and even the highest estimates of three degrees are not considered substantial.

NASA defines the greenhouse effect as a process in which heat is trapped near Earth’s surface by greenhouse gases. Organizations and political figures have described climate change as an existential threat to humanity. However, Lindzen contended that even the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) does not describe it as an existential threat. He also drew parallels between current global temperature increases and major climate changes in history, arguing that current warming is not comparable to these events.

The MIT professor highlighted that carbon dioxide is often treated as a pollutant, but it is essential for plant life. Lindzen cautioned against regulating CO2, emphasizing that it is a natural component and that a reduction in CO2 levels would be dangerous. He also criticized the use of science to promote climate change policies, attributing the misrepresentation of scientific findings to government officials. Lindzen concluded that the portrayal of climate change as a major existential threat is unreasonable.



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