Climate Change Debates in Literature and Real Life
To begin, debates on climate change have massive economic implications. Climate scientist in the United States have reported that the government and oil industries hide scientific data. According to Jennifer Jacquet, an associate professor of environmental studies at New York University, “when the blame for climate change began to shift from individuals in general and instead towards industries and corporations for their impacts on the environment, the industries began to undermine climate polices.” For example, the fossil fuels lobby has been identified to discredit the scientific consensus on global warming. Moreover, “e-mails from one of ExxonMobil’s own scientist showed that ExxonMobil knew about climate change in the nearly 1980’s, years before it became a public issue, but spent the next three decades funding and promoting climate denial”. Climate change is settled science, however because of attempts to reverse climate change can inflict heavy costs on industries, they will try to do anything to fight for their survival. Promoting denial was a type of strategy performed by the tobacco industry. They organized denial of the hazards of smoking and we all know how detrimental smoking is. Thus, we must proceed debating on the subject if not they will continue organize climate change denial campaigns to disseminate public disinformation.
Furthermore, in the Parable of the Sower, by Octavia E. Butler, Lauren talks about changes she states, “They were slow changes compared to anything that might happen here, but it took a plague to make some of the people realize that things could change”. This goes to show that debate may make a small, slow change towards the bettering in the environment, but it can show people that things can change. Debating and going against those who desperately trying to deny climate change can make a huge impact because on the other hand it would not be good if it took all the effect of climate change to occur for people to see that they have changed the climate of the world.
Although I believe that it is beneficial to proceed with debating some people argue that arguing will not do anything. However, if we continue to pay attention to climate change, many will continue to demand action. Climate change is a widely observed public issue, however that does not eliminate the fact that most people will still debate about it. I acknowledge that some people may not see the reasoning behind continuing to argue over the subject, but even in science fiction literature we can find a climate change topic. Understanding the topicality of this problem people can not only reading specific literature, but see the true value of debating over climate change. Debate will be able to combat those who are denying the fact that climate change is occurring and bring about a change in the environment.
