Not long ago, fellow Louisianians were sweltering and dreaming of a mild Christmas.
As record high temperatures broke across the state, social media posts abounded with proclamations decrying the heat as a symptom of global climate change.
There is a global warming trend, but attributing one seasonably warm Christmas to a decades-long process gives credence to the fanatical beliefs held by climate-change deniers.
Last winter, Sen. Jim Inhofe, R-Okla. and chairman of the Environment and Public Works Committee, once again boldly argued for why climate change was “the greatest hoax ever perpetrated on the American people.”
His reasoning? A snowball existed outside the Capitol steps.
It bears repeating again. The daily or weekly circumstances of the weather has little or nothing to do with global climate change. Weather is temporary and climate is the prevailing environmental conditions of place over a long period of time.
To use LSU football as a metaphor: our lack of national title contention has nothing to do with any short-term dearth of great athletes but our long-term drought in attracting above average quarterbacks.
Climate change is a serious issue requiring all of us to do our parts to reverse or end it. But our policy makers should dutifully study the issue and formulate the best practices to end our oil addiction.
Slow your roll, petroleum engineering major. I’m not trying to ruin your chance at a stable livelihood.
I’m simply pointing out the prudence to look around and take stock of what’s going on around us.
According to the Gulf States Renewable Energy Industries Association, 2,000 full-time green sector jobs were created in Louisiana from 2008 to 2015. The jobs created from 2008-2012 “added an estimated $35 million in earnings (including wages and salaries) to the State of Louisiana’s taxable income.”
Many are high-earning jobs requiring the skills taught in LSU’s Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, which already has a curriculum necessary for a growing energy sector.
Don’t feel attacked when someone mentions the idea of transitioning away from oil and natural gas. As we dismantle pipelines crisscrossing our nation, workers who made oil their trade need job security with training courses and actual employment opportunities.
Some claim America can install half a billion solar panels by 2021, creating clean energy construction and full-time jobs to manage the upkeep and operation of these panels.
Instead of holding onto outdated oil fields, Louisiana should lead and fight to manufacture and produce every green energy job possible. If we’re not, then we don’t stand a snowball’s chance in Hell, regardless of the day-to-day weather.
Garrett Hines is a 21-year-old political science senior from Monroe, Louisiana. You can reach him on Twitter @GarrettH_TDR.