Lorrie Goldstein is a conservative columnist for the Toronto Sun who likes to rant and rave against the “hysteria” and “myths” surrounding global warming. According to him, “there is no consensus among scientists that man-made climate change represents an imminent, existential threat to humanity.”
Statements like that suggest Goldstein doesn’t think those who disagree with him have compelling fact-based argument. That alleged assumption seemed all the more apparent in this tweet from December 8:
Next time a Social Justice Warrior tells you “science is settled” on global warming, ask them to explain the science. Then watch the fun.
— Lorrie Goldstein (@sunlorrie) December 9, 2016
Taking into account Karen Geier‘s writing for HuffPost and the Guardian (among others), one could see how from Goldstein’s perspective she fits the description of a “social justice warrior.” That’s what makes her response to Goldstein’s assumption so perfect.
.@sunlorrie Greenhouse gases in the atmosphere (methane, carbon dioxide, etc.) let visible light pass through, but absorb infrared light
— Holiday Li’l Tree🌭☃ (@karengeier) December 10, 2016
,@sunlorrie this causes the earth to heat up.
The warmer atmosphere emits more infrared light, which tends to be re-absorbed— Holiday Li’l Tree🌭☃ (@karengeier) December 10, 2016
@sunlorrie
Since the industrial age began around 1750, atmospheric carbon dioxide has increased by 40% and methane has increased by 150%.— Holiday Li’l Tree🌭☃ (@karengeier) December 10, 2016
.@sunlorrie
such increases cause extra infrared light absorption, further heating Earth above its typical temperature range— Holiday Li’l Tree🌭☃ (@karengeier) December 10, 2016
.@sunlorrie
(even as energy from the sun stays basically the same).Energy that gets to Earth has an even harder time leaving it— Holiday Li’l Tree🌭☃ (@karengeier) December 10, 2016
.@sunlorrie
causing Earth’s average temperature to increase–– producing global climate change.— Holiday Li’l Tree🌭☃ (@karengeier) December 10, 2016
.@sunlorrie emissions are measurable. Temperature changes are measurable. The effects are measurable.
— Holiday Li’l Tree🌭☃ (@karengeier) December 10, 2016
.@sunlorrie they lead to the same conclusion. 97% of scientists agree. The standouts have ties to fossil fuel industries.
— Holiday Li’l Tree🌭☃ (@karengeier) December 10, 2016
.@sunlorrie there you go, you colossal donut.
— Holiday Li’l Tree🌭☃ (@karengeier) December 10, 2016
After the one-sided exchange got some attention, Goldstein attempted to clarify that he’s never been a climate change denier:
Sigh. I’ve been saying for, oh, almost a decade, that climate change is real, specifically man-made climate change. Go back to sleep now https://t.co/rOesLnioMD
— Lorrie Goldstein (@sunlorrie) December 12, 2016
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