By Vijay Jayaraj
Europeans are bracing for what is forecast to be a tough winter, with some likely choosing between paying their heating bills or leaving food on their plates. The main drivers of this dismal energy situation known as green policies have weakened the energy sector by displacing significant amounts of dependent energy sources such as oil, coal and natural gas. with expensive, intermittent wind and solar technologies.
Justifications for green energy are often given with fear of impending wildlife extinction. Al Gore shocked the world with false claims about polar bears in his 2007 documentary. Since then, it has become the trademark of climate hysteria perpetuated by the mainstream media.
However, these claims are often unequivocal, sometimes supported by selective data on populations in the area but without serious analysis.
Polar bear populations have largely remained stable over the past few decades and are even increasing in some areas. The Bengal tiger in India has doubled in population in recent decades.
Likewise, some sea creatures have increased in number. Whales across the world’s oceans made a comeback after conservation efforts began in the 1970s. It turns out that hunting, not climate, is the biggest influence on animal populations.
Blue whale, the largest of the giants, was hunted to near extinction in the last century. More than 95% of the 350,000 whales hunted for almost nothing between 1904 and 1967.
Since the 1970s, however, blue whale populations have partially recovered from 10,000 to 25,000, increasing by 7-8 percent annually. During a recent 23-day survey around the UK sub-Antarctic island of South Georgia, 55 blue whales have been sighted.
Speaking of sightings, Dr. Trevor Branch from the University of Washington speak, “Think over a period of 40 or 50 years, I only have records for two blue whale sightings around South Georgia. So to go from zero to basically 55 in a year is an amazing thing. “
Humpback whale – a favorite place for whale watchers – has seen a staggering population increase, growing from about 8,000 to about 50,000 over the past five decades.
It turns out that certain types of whales are thriving. “All Southern Hemisphere whales, populations for which we have data, are increasing,” Branch Dr..
The good news is surprising given the widespread notion that whale food is declining globally. Some media and scientists talk about climate change leading to a decline in the number of krill – a shrimp-like crustacean that is a particular favorite of blue whales. However, scientists survey blue whale populations Speak that an increase in numbers occurred although there was no significant increase in molluscs.
Ironically, whaling pressure dropped after petroleum replaced whale oil for lighting.
Robert McNamara, in A brief history of whaling, noting that “the 19th century whaling industry was one of the most prominent in America… With oil extracted from the ground being refined into kerosene for lamps, demand for Whale oil has plummeted. And while whaling continues, as whale bones can still be used for some household products, the era of great whaling ships is slowly going down in history.”
The same is true for polar bears and tigers: Past overhunting, not climate change, is the dominant factor determining their population trajectories. Polar bear populations are growing to the point that the Inuit in Canada are demanding an increase in hunting quotas. In Asia, recent conservation and warming efforts have increased forest cover in tiger habitats.
This commentary was first published at Real clear marketOctober 28, 2022 and can be accessed here.
Vijay Jayaraj is a Research Associate at CO2 Alliance, Arlington, Virginia. He holds a master‘degree in environmental science from the University of East Anglia, UK, and resides in India.
Card: climate change, Vijay Jayaraj, Ocean life
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