I think it's true

Climate change goes mainstream. But not everyone is happy. One commenter at a blog I read once in a while writes:

I’m beginning to wonder if this is the new big lie. Blair’s espousing it, the mainstream media are decrying it and I’m certain the solution will be further decimation of civil liberties and new taxes.

He is correct. If we do nothing and remain in a state of denial, then the possible catastrophes of climate change will definitely call forth authoritarian government which restricts civil liberties.

That's exactly the reason why we should be starting to take some action now -- to at least admit that there is an issue, Georege Bush -- before the only measures left are extreme ones and we have no choice but to adopt them.

And to the "denialists" out there — don't worry. Once you accept the fact that climate change is happening there is still plenty of legitimate disagreement about what to do and/or how rapidly to do it.

Comments

[Gomez]

Sadly, authoritarian measures will likely be what it takes. Societies obsessed with maintaining their comfort zones will just refuse to adapt. When you're struggling with the wills of the people in the more environmentally conscious Seattles and NYCs of the world, you can rest assured that efforts in other parts of the country are next to impossible.

[Glen Raphael]

I've been following climateaudit.org and realclimate.org for the last six months, and I find the folks at CA far more convincing. Strong skepticism still seems indicated. The warmers are far too prone to bad rhetoric and bad science to take them too seriously.

The Stern report is curiously quiet on the subject of /how much/ benefit one gets for the investment being advocated. As a later CT commentator asks, when's the break-even point?

Saying "we have to act now" assumes what is as yet not demonstrated - that we know of a specific course of action that has a high probability of doing much more good than harm.

[Glen Raphael]

Here's a good example of what I mean:

http://www.climateaudit.org/?p=885