Attempt to Manipulate and Confuse Public Thinking on Climate Change

Andy Ho, Senior Writer of The Straits Times wrote an article on Reasons for Singapore to be cool on global warming – Emissions cap will slow growth while scientific evidence is not clear-cut, published on 30 Oct 09. This is not the first time that he has debunk global warming, read his 2007 article: Who or what is the real culprit? and Eugene’s reply: The real culprit of global warming? Human activities.

This is Eugene’s reply to the Straits Times Forum on his article:

I refer to the article, “Reasons for S’pore to be cool on global warming” by Andy Ho (ST Oct 30).

As a compulsive reader of The Straits Times, I am disappointed and appalled by Mr Ho’s attempt to manipulate and confuse public thinking on climate change and the urgent actions needed, based on misleading claims and references in his article. This is a serious dent in this most widely-read national newspaper’s reputation, neutrality and journalistic integrity.

Mr Ho suggested that Singapore should be slow to sign up to any emissions cap, and attempted to show that the scientific evidence on man-made global warming is not clear-cut and that an emissions cap is not supported and is costly. I would like to refute the following eight points in his article:

1. Singapore should be slow to sign up to any emissions cap

Minister Mentor Lee Kuan Yew spoke at the Singapore Energy Lecture last year and discussed about Singapore’s green efforts over the years and the need to maintain the efforts because:

The point is, if we don’t do this, we lose our status as a clean, green city and we’ll lose our business and lose our extra premium for being an unusual city.

Singapore is beginning to lose that extra green premium in the coming low-carbon world. Asian countries like Japan, South Korea and even China are taking proactive steps to become a low-carbon economy, to sign up to emissions cap, and to be recognised as green leaders. It is no longer enough just to be “clean and green” in this new carbon-constrained world.

Singapore has to fundamentally and holistically look at its economy and consider whether a business-as-usual economic development is possible and competitive. In the light of climate change, a real green country has to take the lead in setting emissions targets and reducing its emissions, ensuring energy and food security and sufficiency, and creating a green economy and green jobs.

Climate change represents crisis and also opportunities. There are great and challenging opportunities to make the change now and lessen future impacts and costs of climate change. The cost of taking action on climate change is high but the cost of not taking action is even higher. The Stern Review published in 2007 concluded that the earlier effective action is taken, the less costly it will be. Read more

Launch of Low Carbon Singapore

Green Future Solutions is launching our 5th website, Low Carbon Singapore, today.

Low Carbon Singapore is an online community dedicated to help Singapore reduce her carbon emissions and move towards the goal of a low carbon economy. Our aim is to educate individuals, communities, businesses and organisations on issues relating to climate change, global warming and clean energy, and to help them take action and reduce their carbon footprint through useful information, news, tips and resources.

Do take some time to browse around our site at http://www.lowcarbonsg.com. If you have any suggestions to make the site better or to report any bugs, do let us know. Thanks.

Gallup Polls on Public Awareness of Global Warming

Gallup conducted polls in 127 countries in 2007 and 2008 to understand the level of public awareness on global warming. The results show that about 38% of the world’s population have never heard about global warming or did not have an opinion. There are 2 key findings:

Public awareness of global warming tends to be higher in highly developed countries and lower in less developed countries.

Their responses reveal that public knowledge of the concept of global warming is not the same thing as the public belief that global warming is a result of human activities.

Here’s a selection of the countries in Asia and their responses: Read more

350 is the safe limit to avoid runaway climate change

350 ppm (parts per million) is the safe upper limit for the amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere that we need to achieve to prevent runaway climate change. The world’s leading climate scientist, James Hansen, says: “If humanity wishes to preserve a planet similar to that on which civilization developed and to which life on Earth is adapted, paleoclimate evidence and ongoing climate change suggest that CO2 will need to be reduced from its current 385 ppm to at most 350 ppm.” Spread the number.

Book: The Hot Topic by Gabrielle Walker and Sir David King

The Hot Topic: How To Tackle Global Warming And Still Keep The Lights On by Gabrielle Walker and Sir David King, discusses the problems and solutions of climate change in a clear and straightforward way. The authors explain the science of global warming and describe the possible changes that could take place due to climate change. Despite the serious problem of climate change, the authors believe that this “is neither a time for pessimism nor for denial. It is a time for constructive, determined action.” What we need are a combination of technological and political solutions.

Technological solutions are about using energy more efficiently, reducing carbon emissions from transport and switching to cleaner sources of energy generation. But technological solutions are not enough, what we need too is the political willpower. Political solutions require the involvement of industrialised nations and rapidly developing nations, working together and moving beyond the Kyoto Protocol.

The book ends with how we can change the world through the choices we make to influence companies and politicians to embrace sustainability. As the authors say, “We are all part of the problem, and each of us will need to be part of the solution.”

Borrow it from your local library or buy it from our AsiaIsGreen Bookstore.

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