Climate change
Climate change denialists like to point to the record cold temperatures like we had in the Midwest the past few weeks as well as the disastrous snowstorm in Texas as proof that global warming isn’t really happening. As someone who is familiar with the facts regarding climate change on Earth, how do you effectively dispute these anecdotal arguments? Be sure to use examples from the films to support your key points.
Sample Answer
Climate change denialists often point to extreme weather events, such as record cold temperatures or snowstorms, as evidence that global warming is not real. They argue that these events are simply part of the natural weather cycle and that there is no long-term trend of warming.
However, this argument is flawed. While it is true that the Earth’s climate has always fluctuated, the current warming trend is unprecedented in the past 1,000 years. This is supported by the overwhelming scientific evidence, including:
- The average global temperature has increased by about 1 degree Celsius since the late 19th century.
- The Greenland and Antarctic ice sheets are melting at an alarming rate.
- Sea levels are rising, which is threatening coastal communities around the world.
- Extreme weather events, such as heat waves, droughts, floods, and wildfires, are becoming more frequent and severe.