Climate Change Messing up Time, Making Days Longer
The Facts
The redistribution of mass due to rising sea levels caused by Earth's melting polar ice caps is increasing the length of the day at "an unprecedented rate," a study has shown.
It showed an acceleration in the change of the day's length from 0.3-1.0 milliseconds per century in the 20th century to 1.33 ± 0.03 milliseconds since 2000.
The Spin
People view their life experiences on a mental timeline that isn't linear. Traumatic events feel immediate, while distant future threats seem less pressing. This influences climate change engagement. Localized, present-focused communication may motivate action by highlighting current impacts. Additionally, our subjective experience of time, influenced by mood, culture, and daily rhythms, means climate messaging must be nuanced.
The climate change paranoia is politically driven. The fears are exaggerated and driven by bad data and natural climate variability. The movement is rooted in anti-capitalist sentiment, targeting oil companies. CO2 benefits life on Earth by increasing food production and causing mild warming. Climate models predicting catastrophic warming are inaccurate and fossil fuels are essential for human survival.