Climate Science: If We Are Not Confused We Don’t Understand the Situation

Famous journalist and broadcaster Edward R. Murrow said:

“Anyone who isn’t confused doesn’t understand the situation.”

It was painted as a mural in the tiny town of Edison where I lived in beautiful Skagit Valley, Washington. I saw it looking out the window of the Longhorn Tavern, a favorite watering hole.

Murrow was raised near there in a hamlet of a few houses called Blanchard and graduated from Edison High School.

When I read two completely conflicting stories from New Scientist on the state of climate change, this lovely quotation came to mind.

On January 11, an article titled “The Worst Case Scenarios Are No Longer Plausible Today,” written by staff writer Graham Lawton. The worst case scenario folks of the climate science community must have become unglued, for on January 16 a very different article appeared. It was titled: “The First Breach of the 1.5C Will Be a Temporary But Devastating Failure.” It was written by Madeleine Cuff, a climate science reporter for New Scientist.

First, let me say that I applaud the editors of this science channel for presenting varying points of view. The publication has exceptionally high scores for credibility. It is refreshing and this approach is sadly missing from our polarized media outlets which have determined that their profits are best earned by appealing to those holding very specific viewpoints. This is…