In his article "Why Apocalyptic Claims About Climate Change Are Wrong," Michael Shellenberger attempts to discredit the gravity of climate change, claiming that there is no real evidence to suggest that it will have a significant impact on billions of lives. He also argues that the changes in the environment and the extinction of animals are not connected to climate change, and that the earth does not require these animals to survive. Although the author admits that climate change exists, his lack of understanding of the consequences of climate change is quite apparent.

Shellenberger claims that climate change does not have a direct impact on severe weather changes or droughts. This assertion is far from the truth. When fossil fuels are used for electricity, transportation, and heating, the greenhouse gas carbon dioxide captures radiation, which is released back into the universe. The concentration of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere has risen dramatically over the years, causing an increase in the planet's temperature. This spike in temperature has resulted in extreme climate disasters that will only get worse without decisive action. For example, the California wildfires in 2020 burned more than 4 million acres, making it the state's largest fire season in history. The five most massive fires on record have all occurred in the last three years. Furthermore, hurricanes have become more perilous than ever before. As global temperatures increase, these storms draw energy from warm ocean waters. Major hurricanes hit Puerto Rico and Florida in September 2022, leaving Puerto Rico without electricity or drinking water. This debunks the author's claim, as there is ample evidence that climate change is the cause of extreme weather phenomena.

The author also ignorantly claims that crops and food supplies will not be impacted by climate change and may even increase. However, the climate change crisis could have existential consequences for our crops. Climate change can have a significant impact on food supply, leading to reduced access to food and lower food quality globally. Changes in temperature and extreme weather events can result in decreased agricultural productivity. Increased carbon dioxide levels can impact nitrogen and protein levels in alfalfa and soybean plants, resulting in lower quality products. Reduced grain quality can result in less livestock pasture support, which ultimately leads to a decrease in livestock. Groundbreaking temperatures can result in crops failing to grow altogether. Catastrophic events such as floods and droughts can devastate crops, significantly reducing yields. High nighttime temperatures affected corn yields across the US Corn Belt in 2010 and 2012, while a warm winter causing premature budding resulted in $220 million in cherry losses in Michigan in 2012. These statistics show the significant losses we could incur in our crops and food supply if we fail to act on climate change.

These facts discredit the author's claim that crop failure, famine, and mass death are science fiction. Essentially, we produce enough food for 10 billion people presently, 25% more than is necessary. However, scientific bodies anticipate an increase in this share, not a reduction.

To sum up, climate change is an incredibly significant issue that our world faces today. It has various harmful effects on our environment, including crop depletion and severe weather conditions. To tackle this problem, it is vital that we unite and educate ourselves on the topic. We must prevent the spread of misinformation, like the claims made by the author, which give us a false sense of reality.

Sources:

Shellenberger, Michael. "Why Apocalyptic Claims About Climate Change Are Wrong." Forbes, 25 Nov. 2019, www.forbes.com/sites/michaelshellenberger/2019/11/25/why-everything-they-say-about-climate-change-is-wrong/?sh=10f83ac812d6.

"How Climate Change Is Fueling Extreme Weather." Earthjustice, 29 Sept. 2022, earthjustice.org/features/how-climate-change-is-fueling-extreme-weather.

"Climate Impacts: Agriculture and Food Supply." City of Chicago, climatechange.chicago.gov/climate-impacts/climate-impacts-agriculture-and-food-supply.