Robert Brulle, an environmental sociologist at Drexel University, recently published a paper disclosing the existence of a well-funded climate change counter-movement in the United States, whose sole mission is to confuse the public on the reality of climate change, and thus slow or stop action to address carbon emissions.

Remember the horrible drought of 2012, when the U.S. corn crop was decimated? More than 27,000 high temperature records were either broken or matched by August of that year.

Incidentally, there is evidence that shows that the recent cold snaps may be attributable to changes in the path of the jet stream, caused by global warming-driven loss of Arctic sea ice. Let’s be clear here: Climate change and its lesser-known twin, ocean acidification, are real and ongoing threats to our security (particularly food security) and need to be addressed aggressively.

However, conservative foundations, including the Pittsburgh-based Scaife Affiliated Foundations, and the fossil fuel industry, have been funding authors and think tanks that put out propaganda that serves only to confuse the public.

Environmental security is a fundamental right. Apparently, the need of those who fund these efforts to die wealthy trumps our (and our children’s) need for a reasonable future. If you doubt the existence of climate change (ocean acidification is proven and irrefutable), it may well be someone paid for you to do so. It should not be tolerated.

TIM KELLY
Aleppo

First Published: January 13, 2014, 5:00 a.m.