Posted by David Morrill Schlitt, Legislative Assistant

Tired of all the upbeat stories in the news? Optimism getting you down? Well, you’re in luck! The last few weeks have seen a bumper-crop of positively gloomy stories with regard to new developments in the ongoing global warming crisis.

The March 24th New York Times reports on a number of new studies that suggest that sea-levels are already on the rise, and any changes in sea-level due to climate change will likely be irreversible. This should come as no surprise to anyone who has melted an ice cube and then sat stunned as the ice cube failed to refreeze itself of its own accord, but the study is harrowing, nonetheless. A lead author of one of the studies, Jonathan Overpeck, was quoted as saying: "If we don't like the idea of flooding out New Orleans, major portions of South Florida, and many other valued parts of the coastal U.S. we will have to commit soon to a major effort to stop most emissions of carbon to the atmosphere."

A recent New York Times Book Review article echoes Dr. Overpeck’s concerns., In the review, New York Times science writer Carl Zimmer reviews “The Weather Makers,” by Tim Flannery, and “Field Notes From a Catastrophe,” by New Yorker staff writer Elizabeth Kolbert. Both books offer a long view of climate change, and both chronicle current challenges and prospects for civilizational collapse.

Zimmer asserts that these “passionate, well-researched books” could not have come at a more important time. Dealing with climate change, writes Zimmer, is a “ complex political puzzle, and there may not be much time to decide how to act. Some leading climate scientists warn that we might be as few as 20 years away from a ‘tipping point,’ after which it will be too late to reverse catastrophic change.”

In the scientific community, there is a clear consensus forming: we need to change both government policy and our personal consumption habits if this world is to remain inhabitable for our descendents. Unfortunately, the month’s other major climate change news indicates that no such change is forthcoming—at least, not from Congressional leadership.

On March 6th, Senate Energy and Natural Resources Chairman Pete Domenici (R-NM) said that no climate change legislation will be coming out of his committee this year. According to Congressional Quarterly, when asked about legislation that could effectively reduce greenhouse gas emissions, he responded "Frankly, I don't know how to write it, and I don't think anybody does." Tell that to Senators McCain (R-AZ) and Lieberman (D-CT), who last year reintroduced their Climate Stewardship and Innovation Act (S. 1151), which sets up a market-based system for reducing emissions and is widely regarded as a reasonable first step toward slowing the effects of climate change. As of March 6 th, it looks like their bill might be languishing in committee for the foreseeable future. But, really, who would you trust with your energy policy? A bunch of nerdy scientists, with their sinus infections and graphing calculators? Or the one-time pitcher for the Albuquerque Dukes, minor league affiliate of the Brooklyn Dodgers??