record cold

Record cold threatens climate. “Climate change” substituted for "global warming" after a decade of no rise in overall temperature, is understood as code for warming. But what if climate is not warming?

In the 1970s, climate change was cooling - several severe winters pressed the point. “Energy crisis” drove fear there would not be enough petroleum-based fuels to keep people from freezing to death in their recliner chairs.  Luckily with fracking, and war, more liquid fuels flooded the market, price sank; more people drove more. Global temperature rose. Whew! Dodged a glacier that time!  But wait a second! What about runaway warming? If current trends continue, by 2020 people will be cooking in their recliners.

Well, that didn’t happen. Under lockdown people did not drive at all. Now severe winter weather has killed citizens and destroyed property in southern states. Not unprecedented, extreme cold conditions pose a greater hazard amid urban congestion, decaying infrastructure, cultural complacency. Human-cause climate change must be really sensitive to traffic counts. More people should drive more. Stop climate change!

Yolanda Ruth-Leslie

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