The Obama administration wants to establish a new agency to study and recommend ways to deal with climate change.
The proposal is bound to elicit howls of opposition from Flat Earthers who seem to prefer to hide from the scientific data that shows the planet rapidly headed for serious problems from growing levels of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere. More knee-jerk howling no doubt will emanate from those who believe government officials can't tie their shoes, let alone successfully deal with climate change.
Instead of howls, the newly proposed Climate Service should inspire a stampede of support. The nation has to face the facts and find ways to deal with potentially devastating impacts that could include population dislocation and disruption of food production.
The collapse of the climate talks in Copenhagen last year took with it any immediate worldwide plan to slow down or reverse climate change.
Doing nothing while climate change shapes life and landscapes isn't an option unless the nation wants to invite distress.
Australia, for example, is in the midst of a withering drought that scientists say is likely the result of global warming. After looking at Antarctic ice core data, they're calling it a once-in-5,400-years event. The drought has left ranchers desperately hand-feeding livestock for the past eight years to keep their operations alive. No one can predict if or when the drought may end.
If we Americans have any brains at all we will make the effort to avoid becoming ignorant victims of climate change by supporting the proposed Climate Service.
