Former Obama administration science advisor John Holdren has written an excellent OpEd in the Boston Globe about the process by which we evaluate the evidence about man-made climate change.
Rather than questioning the evidence (which scientists constantly do and which leads to a better current understanding), discuss at your next dinner party the 'discount rate'. In other words, accept the scientific consensus and discuss who should pay and when.
Is it ethical for us to suffer now for future generations?
Is it ethical for us to not suffer now for future generations?
How much change in our current behavior is acceptable to support future generations?
And, what changes do you personally feel comfortable implementing.
If you want realistic scenarios of sea level rise in the US, have a look at this scary simulator published in Wired. Predictions like this explain why the US military views climate change an existential threat to our national security.
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