Brrrrr….It’s freezing. So much for global warming, huh?
We heard this kind of thing a lot during the early January cold snap when everyone was talking about the Polar Vortex (a.k.a. the jet stream)—along with claims far more outlandish and sensationalized. And we’re hearing it again this week as temps dropped and snow blanketed the East Coast.
Global warming is a scary prospect; it’s no wonder lots of people jump at the chance to explain it away when the weather gets cold. (I’d sure like the whole big, gnarly problem to disappear in one cold snap too. But, alas…) It’s important to understand where they’re coming from and empathize (rather than villainize—perhaps excepting the likes of Rush Limbaugh and Donald Trump).
So how do we tactfully clear up the misunderstandings and advance a productive conversation about climate change? Here are three strategies for talking about climate disruption and cold weather with your “polar-vortexted” friends.
