Despite a seemingly illogical idea to argue against the facts, Republican and conservative politicians continue to ignore the effects of climate change, let alone its existence. In Brad Plumer’s New York Times article, “A Climate Science Report That Changes Minds? Don’t Bet on It,” the author argues that the climate science report published on November 3 by the Trump Administration has not deviated from a similar report published in 2014. Yet, people’s minds have not changed. Despite the fact that these two reports address the same concerns and share similar scientific data, policymakers and the public are unlikely to shift their views. Research has shown that most people are biased due to political beliefs or concerns on the solutions for the problem, rather the actual science of the matter. Republicans believe that global warming is a way for liberals to strong-arm their way of implementing renewable energy and shutting down the coal-mining and domestic oil industries. Similarly, the Trump administration is most likely to ignore the climate report especially after their repeal of regulations on greenhouse gases, a big contributor to global warming.

Another problem involved in the climate change argument includes the idea that the public does not really feel connected with the problem and do not feel like they will be affected by its changes.  The Yale Program on Climate Change Communication surveyed Americans and found that only a small minority believed that they would actually suffer. In a similar NYT article, “Your Race Against Time: How Climate Affects the Marathon,” Michael Greenstone places the effects of climate change in a seemingly privileged perspective in which he argues that rising temperatures have actually decreased the race times for runners. Although the gravity of the situation is not dire in comparison to other problems rising temperatures may cause, it allows a certain group of people, marathon runners, to understand the effects of the climate change and hopefully encourage them to support the cause. Similarly, the businesses that benefit from these races and marathons would be more inclined to provide assistance just so they would not lose profits. In this way, making the problem relevant to the public allows for increased awareness and potential support. Therefore, the public’s opinion on climate change is not set in stone. Politicians that are against climate change, like Gov. Scott Walker of Wisconsin, are beginning to change whether they truly agree with the matter, in order to prepare for changing climates. Therefore, the change is coming, even if increasing efforts are set in place to stop it, however, the ability to take action is the real concern.

Works Cited