Science — from the traditional knowledge of ancient peoples to the esoteric quantum mechanics of Nobel laureates — is the most powerful method ever devised by humans to understand the natural world and the universe. Science has blessed us with the comforts and technical achievements of our society, yet when abused, has also produced threats to our very existence. Certainly, no one and no society can long survive by ignoring or abusing science.
Unfortunately, Donald Trump repeatedly denies and disparages perfectly good science in ways that are truly dangerous. This sad situation is especially true of climate science. He has called climate change “bull****” via Twitter on Jan. 1, 2014 [editor’s asterisks], and a “hoax” on Twitter on Nov. 2, 2012. Wrong — dangerously wrong!
His pending federal appointments include Scott Pruitt as administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency, who characterizes himself as “a leading advocate against EPA’s activist agenda” (Pruitt’s web page), and who asserts that the “debate [about global warming] is far from settled” ( National Review, Nov. 17, 2016). Absolutely wrong!
Trump wants Rex Tillerson, who has spent his entire career working for the oil giant Exxon, to be our secretary of state. Exxon has spent $33 million funding climate science denial since 1998, even though their own scientists concluded in the 1970s that climate change was real and caused by human activities (source: Union of Concerned Scientists).
The list of Trump’s climate science deniers goes on and on.
As author and philosopher Aldous Huxley warned us: “Facts do not cease to exist because they are ignored.”
Climate disruption is real, is caused by our activities, and is affecting us all.
Here in Hawaii, research at the University of Hawaii has shown:
>> Rainfall patterns are shifting, affecting everything and everyone.
>> Avian malaria is spreading to higher elevations, driving our native birds extinct.
>> Coral reefs are stressed and will likely die as the ocean warms and acidifies.
>> Hurricanes are intensifying and sea level is rising, increasing coastal erosion.
>> Waikiki, Kakaako and other low-lying areas will be underwater within decades.
>> The costs to tourism and our economy will be immense.
Importantly, these and other threats are accelerating exponentially — worsening at a faster and faster rate.
We cannot afford four years of denial of science, especially climate science — our future and that of our children and grandchildren is at stake. The issue is not politics; the issue is how we wish to survive and what we choose to leave to future generations.
I ask all my fellow scientists to become activists, defending science at every opportunity. We can no longer hide in the ivory tower behind the so-called “wall of science,” perpetuating the falsehood that scientists should not engage in policy debates that involve science. I did not abdicate my citizenship when I became a scientist.
I ask all my fellow citizens to reject “fake news” and the entire “post-truth” world. Please, get your science from reputable peer-reviewed sources rather than media personalities, unsubstantiated blogs and the like. For climate science, I recommend three web pages: Climate Central, Real Climate, and Skeptical Science.
To quote others’ words of wisdom: If not us, who? If not now, when? All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is for the good to do nothing.
Please, for the sake of ourselves, our children, and our grandchildren, get your scientific facts straight and defend science from denial and abuse.
Dr. Mark Hixon is the Hsiao Endowed Professor of Marine Biology at the University of Hawaii at Manoa. The thoughts expressed here are his own.
