Editorial
The Policy of Strong Opinion
EDscienceclimatechange191/200
By Sally Carnevale
This summer will have plenty of opportunities for trips to the beach, hanging at the pool, and soaking up the sun because, like the past 10 summers, the summer of 2018 is projected to be hotter than average. Globally, temperatures are rising, and rising rapidly, yet the Trump administration has taken a hands-off attitude when it comes to climate change. In 2017, President Trump withdrew from the Paris climate agreement, an agreement within the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change dealing mostly with greenhouse gas emissions. For the first time in the United States (US) since 1941, President Trump has not named a science adviser to the White House.
Scientific expertise is important for a multitude of issues. Whether dealing with foreign policy in global warming, cybersecurity, or nuclear weapons, going into negotiations without a scientific adviser puts the US at a disadvantage when compared to its international counterparts. Science is integral for protecting our planet, for the present and for future generations, although it seems like it has been substituted for strong convictions and attitudes. No matter how strong or convincing, opinions and gut feelings do not overtake facts.
EDscienceclimatechange191/200
By Sally Carnevale
This summer will have plenty of opportunities for trips to the beach, hanging at the pool, and soaking up the sun because, like the past 10 summers, the summer of 2018 is projected to be hotter than average. Globally, temperatures are rising, and rising rapidly, yet the Trump administration has taken a hands-off attitude when it comes to climate change. In 2017, President Trump withdrew from the Paris climate agreement, an agreement within the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change dealing mostly with greenhouse gas emissions. For the first time in the United States (US) since 1941, President Trump has not named a science adviser to the White House.
Scientific expertise is important for a multitude of issues. Whether dealing with foreign policy in global warming, cybersecurity, or nuclear weapons, going into negotiations without a scientific adviser puts the US at a disadvantage when compared to its international counterparts. Science is integral for protecting our planet, for the present and for future generations, although it seems like it has been substituted for strong convictions and attitudes. No matter how strong or convincing, opinions and gut feelings do not overtake facts.
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