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How does the political climate affect the progress of climate science?

Jeannie Pawsey

Well, as a user of social media, I can definitely say that the political climate has a massive effect on the progress of climate science! Unfortunately, there are too many politicians out there who don't believe in climate change, or who think that it's a low priority compared to other issues. This attitude can lead to a lack of funding for research, and a lack of attention given to important discoveries.

For example, did you know that in the US, the majority of Republicans (60%) don't believe in climate change? And that number is even higher among conservative Republicans (79%). This means that when a Republican administration is in power (like the current one), it's much harder to get funding for climate research or to get attention paid to the issue. In fact, the current administration has cut funding for climate science and has rolled back many important environmental regulations.

But it's not just Republicans who are at fault. There are plenty of politicians on both sides of the aisle who don't give climate change the attention it deserves. And that's a real shame, because there are so many important discoveries being made in the field of climate science right now.

For example, researchers recently discovered that the rate of ice loss in Antarctica has tripled in the last decade. This is a terrifying finding, because it means that the sea level could rise even faster than previously predicted. But if politicians aren't willing to listen to these kinds of discoveries, then we're not going to make any progress in fighting climate change.

So, to sum up: the political climate definitely affects the progress of climate science. When politicians don't believe in climate change or don't prioritize it, it can lead to a lack of funding and attention for this crucially important issue. But if we want to make progress in fighting climate change and saving our planet, we need to keep pushing for more research and more attention to be paid to this issue.