LETTER: Several factors in addressing global warming

Editor:

While I agree with Bob Sandford’s OpEd “More needed to protect glaciers, changing climate” in the June 26 edition of the Outlook that carbon capture technology has completely failed in its promise, and that decarbonization is a massive con-job by big business, he still appears to believe that there is a climate crisis and that we can do something about it by eliminating fossil fuels.

Carbon dioxide (CO2) is not responsible for current warming.

One independent researcher, Dr. Javier Vinós, recently stated, “the maniacal focus on CO2 as the “control knob” of the earth’s climate is a profound delusion. CO2 is not a pollutant but an essential component of life whose presence in the atmosphere has minimal effect on global warming.” The U.S. Department of Agriculture noted that the extra CO2 has resulted in higher crop yields, a bonus for those in developing countries living on the brink of starvation.

So, what does cause Earth’s climate to change?

Humans have very little control over the Earth’s climate. A very small percentage of the current warming may be due to human-induced increases in atmospheric gases, but most of it is due to natural causes.

The sun heats the Earth using electromagnetic radiation and re-radiates energy back as infrared heat, warming the atmosphere from the ground up. Here are some of the factors that affect Earth’s climate:

Tectonic activity is a very long-term change occurring over millions of years. An example is the opening up of the channel between South America and Antarctica, enabling the Antarctic Circumpolar Current.

Earth’s orbital changes (Milankovitch Cycles) are long-term changes in Earth’s position relative to the Sun. There are three basic changes:

• Eccentricity (shape of Earth’s orbit): 100,000-year cycle.
• Axial tilt: 41,000-year cycle.
• Precession (wobble of Earth’s axis): 26,000-year cycle

These changes alter how much sunlight different parts of Earth receive, driving ice ages and warmer interglacial periods.

Solar variability: The sun’s energy output fluctuates due to sunspot cycles, which is about every 11 years. When the sun emits more energy, Earth warms slightly; less energy produces slight cooling.

Ocean Circulation Patterns. Ocean currents move heat around the planet. 

Natural changes like El Niño or La Niña can temporarily warm or cool global temperatures.

To conclude, rather than spend billions sequestering carbon dioxide, and trying to eliminate fossil fuels – which is not going to happen – we should spend the money on cleaning up the awful environmental mess that humans are making of Earth by:

• Reducing the amount of toxic gases and particulate matter we release into the atmosphere. 
• Continuing with clean energy initiatives, including nuclear energy. 
• Reducing the dumping of plastics and raw sewage into oceans and lakes. 
• Limiting deforestation and planting more trees.
• Helping build climate-resilient communities by reducing dependence on coal. 

Just doing the above will help reduce any anthropogenic contribution to global warming.

Tony Daffern,

Canmore