Willfully ignorant on next century's climate

The Boston Globe editorial staff takes GOP gubernatorial candidate Charlie Baker to task for what they term his “willful ignorance” about climate change. When pressed by a reporter to declare a position on global warming, Baker apparently replied, “I absolutely am not smart enough to believe that I know the answer to that question.” One might quibble with his choice of words, but it’s sensible and appropriately modest for a non-scientist (and a scientist as well) to admit that something as complex as predicting the Earth’s climate centuries in the future should be approached with skepticism.

The Globe will have nothing of it: “A governor who has not informed himself on the science that links carbon dioxide to global warming is going to be an unconvincing proponent of [green] technologies.”

Which science would that be? The stuff about Himalayan glaciers melting by 2035?

The Globe continues:

Baker would do well to listen to fellow Republican Arnold Schwarzenegger. “I say the debate is over,’’ the California governor said in 2005. “We know the science, we see the threat and we know the time for action is now.’’ Terminator, we have a student for you.

Given California’s impending financial implosion, I hope Mr. Baker doesn’t enroll.