● What is the debate about?

● Why is there a debate?

● Does terminology matter?

● Who stands to gain on each side of the debate?

● Does it matter whether humans are responsible

for climate change?

●Does climate change denial exist in your country? Why/Why not?

Answers:

1. The debate here is about whether climate change is a prevalent issue in our times, or not. We will
also debate about climate change denial.

2. There is a debate as there are some states, for example, the USA, which are actively participating
in climate change denial. President Trump during his term of office openly participated in climate
change denial. If the key leaders of the world put up such a front, the masses follow. Climatologists
and scientists are being attacked for bringing up climate change, and publishing quantitative signs of
said change. This is sure to become a major political issue in the long run, if it has not already
manifested itself so.

3. Terminology DOES matter. When we say climate change, we mean changes in the Earth’s weather
patterns and climate in the long run. When we say global warming, we mean the heating of the
Earth’s surface and waters, which is a contributor to climate change. The problem here is climate
change as a whole, not just global warming. Climate change also includes varying wind patterns,
shrinking glaciers, and rising sea levels, among other things. All these issues are required to be
assessed, not just global warming.

4. In my opinion, no one really stands to gain anything, regardless of which side of the debate they
are on. Those who say that climate change is not a prevalent issue, act against the planet’s current
needs, and those who do believe that climate change is an issue end up not being able to accomplish
much, as there is only so much an individual can carry out. What we need is cooperation and a
common ground of understanding in order to fight this spectre, which is climate change.

5. Yes, it does matter whether humans are responsible for climate change or not. Studies have
shown the inflation of greenhouse gases IS real, with fossil fuels and chemical emissions have
contributed to. It is the human race which makes use of these fuels and chemicals. We need to
address the root of the problem and first fix that, before moving on the larger things.

6. Yes, climate change denial indeed exists in my country. I have personally seen people brush off the
idea of climate change and global warming casually. Even our politicians disagree with or brush off
the concept of climate change. “We should also ask is this climate change or have we changed. We
have battled against nature. That is why we should live with nature rather than battle it,” said Prime
Minister Narendra Modi, in one of his interviews with The Hindu. This is slightly in contradiction to
what he said when he was the Chief Minister of Gujarat, that climate change is prevalent, and is
bound to affect future generations.1 If our country’s leaders follow a path of scepticism, what are we
to do? Who do we believe? Who do we follow? Hence, climate change denial exists at the grassroots
level, and also the higher levels in our country.

Citation

1. Is Narendra Modi a climate sceptic?

https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2014/sep/09/narendra-modi-india-prime-minister-
climate-change-sceptic