The Global Warming Debate
Kenneth P. Cohen
VICE President, Public Affairs
ExxonMobil Corp.
Irving, Texas
Your article on global warming was very well crafted, but ultimately failed to come to grips with the debate it describes. The dilemma it failed to address is that of “risk assessment.” If we do everything that is needed to lessen the threat, and we are wrong, then there has been no real harm done. For those who believe that man-made global warming is real, the consequences of being wrong are that we will have spent some money and affected the way we live to some extent. On the other hand, if we follow those who deny that global warming is not man-made, then we will have disrupted the world in ways that can only have very negative consequences. Elementary risk analysis suggests that we pay attention to the danger, for the consequences of not doing so are truly frightening.
David Feldstein
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Member Comments
Posted By: ak_in_AZ @ 10/18/2007 3:02:55 AM
Comment: I am not a subscriber, but have come across the issue of the magazine in my doctor's waiting room. This article makes me believe even stronger that global warming IS the convenient untruth, i.e. a hoax. The entire article talks about politics of global warming, rather than about the scientific facts, and its tone ridicules the opponents. This is an example of bad journalism, yet a few pages later you berate Fox for setting up an alternative.