Your Opinion: Movie, program slated on climate change

Dear Editor:

As a volunteer for Citizens' Climate Lobby, I spend a lot of time with people who are highly concerned about climate change. Like most of them, I'm often perplexed that nearly all climate scientists see climate change as a threat to humanity, but only about 60 percent of the U.S. population believes it will harm future generations. While it is a complex issue, I'm convinced that much of the doubt about climate change is the result of well-crafted American spin.

In their 2010 book, "Merchants of Doubt," science historians Naomi Oreskes and Erik Conway provide a thorough investigation into misinformation campaigns designed to deceive the public on threats ranging from tobacco smoke to climate change. The book inspired "Merchants of Doubt," the film by Robert Kenner, which will be showing for free on March 16, at 6 p.m. and 8:15 p.m. at Capitol City Cinema, 126 E. High St., Jefferson City.

While the book provides more impeccably researched detail than most people will read, the movie is highly entertaining and illuminating.

What I find most challenging about addressing climate change is that most people don't want to join the conversation, even though their own children or grandchildren will see dire consequences if the United States doesn't lead efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Many fear that addressing it will require financial ruin or world domination by socialism. Neither is true.

Citizens' Climate Lobby will host the program, "Climate Change Solutions: Placing a price on carbon," on March 23, 7 p.m., at Missouri River Regional Library, 214 Adams St. in Jefferson City. Participants will learn how a revenue-neutral carbon fee that returns all revenue collected back to citizens can dramatically reduce emissions that threaten our climate, health and economy.

For questions about either the March 16 movie or the March 23 program, please email me at [email protected].