There have been some strident observations made recently regarding the $2 million the Legislature has appropriated for a conference on polar bears and climate change. The Anchorage Daily News has gone so far as to discredit the proposed conference and encouraged Gov. Palin to veto the money.
The money should not be vetoed, and here's why.
Credible science requires more than a cursory glance at competing viewpoints. Indeed, the whole foundation of the scientific process is to establish truth and facts on which most everybody agrees. While some scientists and policymakers may believe there is a consensus that global warming is being driven by human actions, there are other scientists who claim otherwise. This raises the question as to what is scientific, verifiable fact and what is not.
Science should provide factual data on a particular subject or problem. The policymakers then need to weigh that information against a whole host of other variables, such as impacts on the economy or the practical feasibility of the solution, before making their decision.
As for the conference itself, it would involve presentations by individuals from both sides of the climate change controversy. The administration and legislators could then determine for themselves how they should deal with the diverse views among scientists and whether it merits further investigation.
The key would be to invite the competing viewpoints and allow for a credible outcome. It is not our position at this time to take one side or another on the issue of climate change; however, we are concerned that the best possible attempt be made to find viable solutions to provide the right conservation effort needed to mitigate impacts on polar bears.
The conference itself would not take up all the proposed funding. The majority of the funding would be set aside for follow-up work to provide the public with the results of the conference.
It is important to remember that climate change is occurring, but then it has occurred continuously for millions of years. And, so far, there are too many dissenting opinions to state matter-of-factly that it is being caused by humans.
Polar bear populations appear to be fairly robust at this point in time, but we are concerned about their ability to adapt to what appears to be a warming trend at this time in earth's history. Now that Secretary Kempthorne has listed the polar bear as threatened, it is imperative we understand the reasons behind the discrepancies between scientists on the issue of climate change. That makes this particular conference more important than ever for state policymakers.
Sen. Lyda Green is president of the Alaska Senate. Rep. John Harris is speak of the Alaska House of Representatives.
By SEN. LYDA GREEN and REP. JOHN HARRIS