by Frank Sinbeans

Created on: March 03, 2010

Human-affected climate change is more than just a scientific hypothesis, it is a political tool. Billions, even trillions of dollars are at stake and if the public is not inclined to accept the predictions of climate science, or the beliefs that humans are responsible for, and capable of changing climate change by modifications in behavior, then consumer dollars will continue to flow into the old standard forms of energy, especially fossil fuels.

However, if the public accepts the conclusions mentioned earlier, then it will call for research dollars to be poured into new forms of energy that are considered to be less risky for the environment.

How do these facts make the climate change/global warming debate a political one? Because when so much money and so many business opportunities are up for grabs, pressure and funds are offered to those in the political realm who are willing and able to sway the debate into a favorable direction.

For example, if a politician depends on Big Oil, or coal mines, or other forms of traditional energy, for support, then that politician has plenty of motivation to press for a more skeptical attitude toward man-made climate change.

Alternately, the adversaries of such a politician will, by default, tend to fall at the other end of the spectrum, because if his supporters are weakened, then he too, will be weakened.

The result: the climate change debate is no longer about science - and has not been about science for some time. The debate is now about politics and this is a shame.

Everyone can agree that humans have long affected the environment, often to its detriment. If human-made climate change is authentic, then this could be the proverbial nail in the coffin for our stay on Earth.

If however, it should be conclusively determined that we humans are not capable of changing the environment to such an extent, then placing our focus on a non-existent problem would be a complete waste of time. Certainly, such a concept is worthy of investigation.

Yet, unfortunately, the truth has been buried under a mound of politics. Lies have been told on both sides. The question has become obscure. It may be that no answer is in sight, until, perhaps, it's too late.

The reason for these dire circumstances is that the climate change debate has simply become far too political. While they struggle for power, the health of the planet may hang in the balance.

Learn more about this author, Frank Sinbeans.
Click here to send this author comments or questions.