I grew up in West Texas with a geologist Dad who supported our family with a career in the oil industry.
This has always led to some dissonance for me re: global warming and environmental stakes generally. He’s told me since I was young that climate fluctuations are a natural phase in our planet’s long history.
This is definitely true- geologists know that earth has been much warmer and cooler than today. Here are some examples, today’s avg temp is 59 degrees:
- Paleocene-Eocene Thermal Maximum (PETM): 56 million years ago, 73-82°F
- Cretaceous Period: 145-66 million years ago, 70-73°F
- Eocene Epoch: 56-34 million years ago, 66-73°F
- Mid-Miocene Climatic Optimum: 15-17 million years ago, 64-70°F
- Holocene Climatic Optimum: 9,000 to 5,000 years ago, 60-63°F
- Medieval Warm Period: 950-1250 AD, 59-60°F
Still, it minimizes human impact on climate a ton, which seems to be in opposition with general scientific consensus. I haven’t done much research to become more informed on the topic. I think part of the concern today is the rate at which it’s increasing?
Also, side note- i haven’t asked my dad if he still believes this.