Everybody's Got An Opinion On Climate Science.

       The New York Times has a couple of questions for you this morning. First question: What Does Today Owe Tomorrow? Second  question: What have future generations done for us? The first is the title of an article in the Science section and the article mentions the second as having been a banner hanging from a highway overpass.
       So who asks these kinds of questions? Turns out economists are some of the folks that do. But before they have anything to say, they consult with physical scientists to come up with likelihoods of various possibilities. Then the economists try to figure out the best way to treat climate change. As you might guess, the final recommendations vary from do nothing to stop everything. Although either way is not recommended by many. Mainly the outlooks range in the middle and do suggest placing a price on carbon emissions, but a small price.
       Of course there are those who answer the second question first. Future generations have done nothing for us, so far. That answer makes it easy for those folks to answer the first question. If future generations have done nothing for us, then we don't owe them anything either. That's a self fulfilling approach to the questions. If we don't bother to help future generations, then if those generations are still around in the future, they won't treat us too kindly.
       For many people, how some future society talks about us is of little interest. But most people would still prefer to do the right thing. For their neighbors and for their heirs. Anyway, it's a thought provoking article and unless you don't plan on doing anything for the generations of the future, I highly recommend this short article. Just allow a little time, then, to give it some thought.