Merchants of Doubt author Erik Conway presented a short history of climate science, along with an analysis of prominent detractors who happen to be the same people who obscured the truth about the harms of tobacco smoke, when he spoke at the Glendale library last Wednesday.
Instead of attributing financial motives or industry ties to climate change detractors, Conway suggested they are motivated by “free market fundamentalism,” and act in the belief that they are defending the U.S. against its enemies. The irony, said Conway, is that delays in addressing climate change means future solutions could be more draconian.
The research he and co-author Naomi Oreskes completed for Merchants of Doubt is a fascinating look at 20th century science, and made for an interesting evening of questions and discussion at the library.
For those who missed it, read Merchants of Doubt, and be sure to follow the city of Glendale on Twitter to learn about upcoming author events at the library. Better yet, become a member of the Friends of the Glendale Library, to support free community programs like this.