We expect our students to learn science and facts, and if they don’t put in the effort, they get a bad grade. So how are they supposed to feel when President Donald Trump spouts wildly inaccurate information to millions of people?
That’s what happened Jan. 26, when TV host Piers Morgan interviewed Trump and asked the president if he believes in climate change — a fact that 98 percent of the world’s scientists agree is happening.
What Trump said next defies common sense: “There is a cooling and there is a heating and I mean, look — it used to not be climate change — it used to be global warming. That wasn’t working too well, because it was getting too cold all over the place. The ice caps were going to melt, they were going to be gone by now, but now they’re setting records, so OK, they’re at a record level.”
The Pulitzer-Prize winning fact-checking operation, Politifact, gave Trump’s odd claim its harshest ranking — “Pants on Fire” — meaning it’s plain false. If this were science class, the President of the United States would get an F.
Politifact ruled: “Trump said that the ice caps are at record levels. They are not. The numbers show that the extent of the ice at both poles is smaller than it was decades ago. The shrinkage is more striking in the Arctic, but the overall trend is downward at both ends of the earth.”
They concluded, “By no means are the ice caps at record high levels.”
Trump pulls out the old playbook that fossil fuel interests, tobacco companies, and makers of harmful products have used for years — in the face of scientific consensus; just pretend there is scientific doubt. In the face of measurable rising seas, just ignore it and say nobody knows for sure — even as neighborhoods flood and cities scramble to keep streets dry.
We all know that Florida has more to lose from rising seas than any other state.
If our coastal real estate market collapsed because of sea level rise, counties and cities would have fewer tax dollars available right when we most need money to improve infrastructure to deal with the problem. South Florida’s sea level rose about 8 inches during the past century — and predictions are that it will rise 3-7 inches by 2030, and as high as two feet by 2060.
We cannot let irresponsible rhetoric like Trump’s continue at any level of government. It’s time to take a stand.
Fortunately, South Florida’s local governments and business leaders are clearly seeing the reality that’s in front of us — and taking action to protect citizens. Kudos to the Broward, Miami-Dade, Monroe, and Palm Beach county commissions, which participate in the Southeast Florida Regional Climate Compact, along with dozens of municipalities.
These local governments have joined together to forge a Regional Climate Action Plan, which includes strategies to minimize the current damaging impacts from rising seas — things like retrofitting drainage systems, raising roadways, making sure new development takes rising waters into account, and protecting fresh water supplies. The Action Plan also identifies proactive steps to adapt for our future reality — such as cutting carbon emissions — so we don’t make our problems worse. The Climate Compact also calls for the counties to develop annual legislative programs and jointly advocate for state and federal funding.
It is encouraging to see support for The Compact growing with business groups like the Greater Fort Lauderdale Chamber of Commerce, the Miami-Dade Chamber of Commerce, the Beacon Council, and the Broward Workshop joining the Climate Compact’s mission. As the Sun Sentinel reported, “The first meeting attracted a few dozen people. This year’s meeting filled the Broward County Convention Center.”
When national leaders fail us, it’s locals leading the way by creating solutions on the ground, in the real world. Too bad the White House still has its head firmly in the sand.
Susan Glickman is Florida director of the Southern Alliance for Clean Energy.
