Climate change is a human issue
Thank you, ADN, for sponsoring a poll on Alaskans' viewpoints about climate change. It is encouraging to hear that the majority of Alaskans recognize that climate change is happening. But it is very discouraging that so many people still think humans are not the cause. According to a NASA/Duke University study, "large, sustained changes in global temperature like those observed over the last century require drivers such as increased greenhouse gas concentrations."
According to Dr. James Hansen, former head of the Goddard Institute for Space Studies, the amount of carbon in the Earth's atmosphere needs to be at or below 350 PPM (parts per million). That's the threshold to keep Earth as the place we know and love and rely on.
Well, we passed that mark a while ago. In March 2015, we surpassed 400 PPM. We do not currently have the technology to reduce the amount of CO2 in the atmosphere once it's out there.
And so, things are changing. We are on a constantly rising slope, and as the carbon goes up, temperatures go up. Understanding the cause and effect of this is critical to seeking solutions.
While this issue became politicized years ago, we need to un-politicize it. For those readers who doubt we are responsible for it, or that we can do anything about it, I urge you to open your hearts and minds to the possibilities out there, as well as to the wealth of research that has come out.
There are signs that the parties can work together on this. A group of 11 Republicans in the House of Representatives has supported the Gibson Resolution, which says basically that Congress has an obligation to work on solutions to mitigate climate change.
Also in the House, two representatives (a Republican and a Democrat) from Florida have joined together to start a bipartisan Climate Solutions Caucus. Those two developments in the House are great steps forward, showing that this is not a liberal or conservative issue. It is a human issue.
— Sandy Henschel
Anchorage
Fat-bikers need to share trails
Wow, have "fat bikes" really taken off in Anchorage! And with so little snow, it's been a great winter for this new sport.
I would just like to remind you fat bikers that there are two-legged and four-legged hikers and walkers that also enjoy the trails. We would be more than happy to clear the trail for you to pass, but please remember common trail courtesy. Announce your approach with a polite "on your left" with enough time for us to get our dogs under command and move over. I often don't hear you until you go whizzing by at top speed.
Remember, we all share the trails.
— Melissa Boyette
Anchorage
The Dunning-Kruger Effect
With reference to the Charles Wohlforth column, "Facts about human impact on climate could help bridge political differences" (Feb. 14). It would appear the writer may suffer from a phenomenon called the Dunning-Kruger Effect.
To sum it up, the Dunning-Kruger Effect states that people who know nothing about a subject realize they know nothing. People who know a little bit of information about a subject have a tendency to drastically overestimate their level of expertise. Experts, however, will underestimate their breadth of knowledge because they comprehend how broad and complex a subject really is, thus being aware of their own limitations.
I would encourage Mr. Wohlforth to be humble with regard to his knowledge of climate change and be aware of how much there is still to learn.
— Mark Rivenbark
Anchorage
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