How to Talk to a Global Warming Skeptic

Been wondering how to bring up climate change with your skeptical uncle? Want to talk to that co-worker who just can’t bring herself to believe the Artic is melting? I’ve got the icebreaker for you: ocean acidification, aka “the other carbon problem.”

TAKE ACTION: Tell the EPA to protect our oceans from acidification.

Although not all global warming skeptics and deniers are as extreme as Sarah Palin — who calls studies supporting global climate change a “bunch of snake oil science” — what deniers lack in overzealous folksy phrases, they make up for in numbers. A study this year found two in five Americans don’t believe global warming is happening.

You and I know the science of global warming is sound, but we also know that some of it is pretty complex and that global warming deniers are used to punching (imaginary) holes in it. The trick about ocean acidification is that, compared to global warming, the science is easier to grasp and the consequences are easier to picture. Unfortunately the solution is essentially the same.

Here are some talking points about the science of ocean acidification. It’s nearly as simple as it devastating (very):

The ocean absorbs about a quarter of all carbon dioxide emissions
This has caused the acidity of ocean water to rise by 30 percent over the last 250 years
At this rate, the acidity of the ocean is expected to more than double by 2100

Next, some ideas to get you started on the risks ocean acidification poses:

Increasing water acidity lowers the levels of the mineral carbonate
Shellfish and corals need carbonate to form their shells and skeletons
As ocean acidity rises, shells and coral skeletons are more fragile and slow-to-develop
High enough acidity would actually cause shells and corals to dissolve.

Coral reefs, of course, provide homes to countless animals, and shellfish are an integral part of the food chain. If we can’t get our act together on carbon dioxide emissions, it’ll be a devastating blow to marine ecology — not to mention industries like fishing and tourism. Here’s a self-propelling cycle to ponder: coral reefs, which can be damaged by carbon dioxide emissions, offer coastal communities protection against storms and hurricanes – storms and hurricanes expected to get worse as global warming worsens.

Carbon dioxide, ocean acidification, and global warming are intricately related. But whether or not everyone believes in global warming and worsening storms and hurricanes, ocean acidification is an issue we can all stand behind. Beautiful oceans cover about 70 percent of our gorgeous planet, and saving them means reducing our carbon dioxide emissions.

Want to protect our oceans against acidification? Sign the Care2 petition.

Photo by Matt Kieffer

Disclaimer: The views expressed above are solely those of the author and may not reflect those of
Care2, Inc., its employees or advertisers.

Laura E.

11:13AM PST on Feb 14, 2012

It is getting time to do personal daily actions to preserve our planet. Thanks. Petition signed.

send a green star

Emma S.

10:14AM PST on Nov 20, 2011

Thank you. Now, has anyone got any ideas of how you can persuade someone to stop wasting water?

jeanie j.

7:44AM PDT on Jun 2, 2011

Talking with climate deniers is a tough proposition. Thanks to Sarah H for a cogent response. I also try to take the issue down to basics for a start. Look at all the paper, waste, plastic, etc, blowing around in streets, trees, roadways, in our own yards; looks at the garbage floating around in rivers, streams, lakes, big waters - we recently took the high speed ferry across Lake Michigan - the amount of refuse bobbing along in the middle of the Lake was shocking; look at the number of cars on the roads, the number of trucks clogging the interstate system, spewing exhaust; drive through areas of high agricultural activity and smell the toxic chemicals being applied to the fields or watch crop dusters spilling tons of dangerous pesticides and herbicides on the land; take a look at before and now pictures of glaciers - my personal look is at Glacier National Park where I spent much time as a young person - the glaciers there are in massive decline. These personal, first-hand observations aren't influenced by money - they are the real deal because you can see them yourself. Being good 'stewards' of planetary resources is not a money thing, it's a moral thing. Understanding our role as another species on the planet with deep relationships with all of life is not a money thing, it's a connected thing. Global Climate Change science is not a scam, it's a paradigm shift - this is the only home we have.

Philippa P.

10:58PM PDT on Aug 11, 2010

Interesting article.

rene p.

2:44PM PDT on Aug 2, 2010

Theresa L...you say climate change is a scam....so you are a denier.Well here is one thing that can't be denied....the physical evidence....the on-site in your face up close and personal visual observation of the rapid melting of ice caps,glaciers,etc.Have you been on an expedition w/ scientists to personally observe and see the damage that has been done so far at either ends of the Earth and in our oceans?Perhaps you are the one who has been scammed.

Beng Kiat L.

9:06PM PDT on Jul 22, 2010

thanks

Sarah H.

8:54AM PDT on Jul 15, 2010

@Theresa L. Indeed - follow the money. You'll see that at the moment, due to the lack of funding from government to spur private investment, the current lack of alternative sources of fuel, energy, etc. has left the US & the world with a severe lack of options. Because of this, business as usual is the talking point because THAT is where the money is. Business and corporations, and in turn consumers, don't want to change to methods of manufacturing or alternate fuel sources because of the fact that it is more costly. But only as it stands currently. Think of the PC in the early 80s, or even the VCR. Those were costly and only a few people had or could afford them. They weren't necessary, but they slowly became more popular, people began to buy and use, and soon found that they made life easier. Costs went down, manufacturing went up, and here we are today with a high number of people owning a PC and VHS, now DVD, player. It doesn't take a lot, but it does take some initiative, and yes, it means following the money. It means realizing that the people/corporations with the choke hold are those that don't want to lose out in the marketplace because at the moment they're making the money and can't find a way or a market that will make a change cost effective. So they fund lies and misinformation to maintain the status quo. Follow the money, and you'll indeed see that it has been driving the system in favor of the polluter & the lack of development.

Theresa L.

10:10AM PDT on Jul 14, 2010

Global Warming is a scam. Follow the money. Follow the special interest groups. Please watch these videos. Here are is the first. I am begging all of you to watch it.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_zmi74qtACY
I love the enviorment. I do things every day in my life to help it. However, often times most of us do not take the time to dig into the story...its just easier to listen to the very biased media(it seems its either far left or far right at this point). I am not a global warming denier. IN FACT-I did research-and this is what I found. When I dug even deeper, I found that it was way beyond Global warming(or the lack of proof for it) but it was really about money. It was about eugenics. Please take the time to look at it, look at the players. Look at who is getting the money, look who is being taxed and losing. AT LEAST take the time to look, and you will be shocked by the truth. I deeply believe we are being taken advantage of. I challenge all of you really look at the other side of the coin.

Maria G.

6:21AM PDT on Jul 12, 2010

Interesting article. Petition signed, thanks!

Luis J.

9:13AM PDT on Jul 11, 2010

How they can't see our ugly and destructive way are killing our planet?, it's not enough with all that it's hapen in our enviroment, the most hot summer in the history of the planet every year, the most cold winter in the history of the planet every year, the most destroyer hurricanes in the history of the planet every year and the list continue. Every year the phenomena nature is most destructive and ¿why? because we are change the weather, we are killing the planet.
It's not a powerfull reason to change our conduct, change our life's style and our energy matrix.
¿When all people will see our horrible death if we do not change?. May be when we can't turn back.