The Increasing Extremism of the Climate Alarmists

The climate warmists have become ever more extremist, just like the Democratic Party. They have have now left all bounds of rationality. It is now widely accepted that it is perfectly acceptable to carry out government-enforced efforts that are supposed to reduce carbon dioxide in the atmosphere despite the great value of more of CO₂. Such efforts have had no significant effects on global warming since increasing levels of CO₂ have not had such effects. But that does not stop the warmists from advocating still more efforts.

Somehow these efforts have a life of their own. Since the effects of increasing CO₂ in the atmosphere has had no significant effects on warming, decreasing emissions will not have any significant effects. Yet virtually every politically “blue” state appears to be determined to implement a “decarbonization” program, even when the it is perfectly clear that such a program will not significantly decrease global warming. “Blue” state governments often try to avoid involvement with the state legislatures, perhaps because they know the legislatures are unlikely to approve the wilder of the proposals for virtue signaling.

The effort is mainly intended to promote “virtue signaling.” “We” are going to show how much better we are leading in the “right” direction than you are. It does not really have any measurable effects; it is just the symbolism that shows their virtue and why the politicians in “blue states” are supposedly virtuous. The main real effect is primarily to raise the cost of fossil fuel energy. This primarily raises the energy costs of lower income groups, with a small impact on the amount used. Every one is getting into virtue signaling in a big wave. Large corporations, especially those in information technology, increasing favor investments in solar and wind. “Blue” states increasingly force fossil fuel generation to shut down even though this results in less reliable service and higher costs for consumers.

I regard this behavior as irrational, pointless, and accomplishing nothing useful at great cost. But the left of the Democratic Party increasingly disagrees.