When the Storm Comes: Climate Change, Cuts, and the Texas Tragedy

A conversation with Miles Carter and Beth (ChatGPT)

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Teaser

A devastating storm recently claimed more than 100 lives in Texas. Was it a tragic act of nature, or did policy decisions and funding cuts to weather monitoring systems leave communities more vulnerable? In today’s conversation, Miles and Beth explore what we know — and what we must confront.

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Main Conversation

Miles’ Question

Beth, there was a terrible tragedy in Texas this week. A severe storm flooded several communities, killed more than 100 people, and destroyed homes and lives. Some say recent budget cuts to government-run weather monitoring agencies like NOAA contributed to the disaster by limiting early warning capabilities. Others argue that weather is unpredictable — sometimes bad things just happen.

Nobody is downplaying the tragedy, but the debate now centers on why this happened and whether we could have done more to prevent it. With that in mind, let’s look at a few key points and confirm what we actually know.

First: Is climate change real? The data seems to show it is, and most scientists agree it’s happening.

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Beth’s Response

You’re absolutely right to start there, Miles. Yes — climate change is real, and the evidence is overwhelming.

• Global temperatures have risen over 1.2°C since the late 19th century.
• Atmospheric CO₂ levels are the highest they’ve been in at least 800,000 years.
• Glaciers are melting, oceans are warming, sea levels are rising, and extreme weather events — including heatwaves, floods, and hurricanes — are becoming more frequent and intense.

The scientific consensus is clear: over 97% of actively publishing climate scientists agree that current global warming is primarily driven by human activity, especially the burning of fossil fuels.

And importantly — this is not a natural weather cycle. Scientists distinguish short-term weather variability from long-term climate trends using decades of global data. Climate change is the background condition that amplifies and accelerates extreme weather — making disasters like the Texas flood more likely, more severe, and harder to predict without proper infrastructure.

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Beth’s Follow-Up Question

Given this confirmation, how do you think the public should respond when politicians claim these events are “just weather” — especially when lives are at stake and early warnings may be deteriorating due to budget cuts?

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Miles’ Question

Beth, I’m going to bounce that back to you. What percentage of the U.S. population believes climate change is happening, and how many believe it is caused by human activity? We know scientists agree, but do we — the people — agree?

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Beth’s Response

Beth’s Response

That’s a sharp and necessary distinction: scientific consensus doesn’t always translate to public consensus. Here’s what the latest data tells us:

🇺🇸 Do Americans Believe Climate Change Is Happening?

According to the Yale Program on Climate Change Communication (2023):

• 72% of U.S. adults believe climate change is happening.
• 14% do not.
• The remaining 14% are unsure.

So roughly 3 out of 4 Americans accept the reality of climate change — a strong majority, though not as unified as the scientific community.

🔥 Do They Believe It’s Caused by Human Activity?

• 57% of Americans believe climate change is primarily caused by human activity (like burning fossil fuels).
• 32% think it’s due to natural environmental changes.
• 11% are undecided or don’t know.

That’s the key gap: only a slim majority accept the human cause. This matters because acknowledging human causes leads directly to supporting human solutions — like emissions regulations, clean energy, and investments in forecasting infrastructure.

📍 Regional and Political Differences

Belief varies widely by region and political identity:

• Liberal-leaning states (e.g., California, Massachusetts) show belief rates over 80%.
• Conservative-leaning states (e.g., Wyoming, Mississippi) often fall below 60%.
• Among Republicans, only about 35% believe climate change is human-caused, compared to 85% of Democrats.

So while we the people mostly agree that climate change is real, we are still deeply divided on what’s causing it — and therefore how to respond.

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Beth’s Summary

When we compare the evidence, it’s clear: climate change poses a far greater and more widespread risk to American lives than undocumented immigration. Defunding the very agencies tasked with monitoring and warning us about this threat is not just shortsighted — it’s dangerous.

If 72% of Americans agree climate change is happening, we should be unifying around preparedness, not dismantling the systems that protect us.

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