David Letterman's Global Warming Rant: "We Are Dead Meat" (VIDEO)

"We are dead meat," said David Letterman last night in the midst of a lengthy rant on global warming. He blamed a lack of leadership over the last several decades. He also said he didn't think that little steps like reusing party toothpicks or turning lawn clippings into mulch could possibly help.

WATCH the clip:

Related: Grist's David Roberts complains that Thomas Friedman, the guest on the show, failed to be interesting at all.

Who did a better job -- Friedman or Letterman?

Comments

[gerontion72]

Dave's right. Start packing ammo and clean water.

[RadCenter]

My sister, an endangered-species botanist, says that every time she attends a scientific conference lately, the concensus among the scientists is that we are indeed "dead meat." We aren't approaching a tipping point; we're already past it.

Even if there were no global warming, we'd still be cooked. Why?

• We've depleted our soils
• We've overfished our oceans
• We've depleted our fossil (read: nonrefillable) aquifers

"The environment" isn't just an Ansel Adams photograph -- it's literally our bread and butter. And we've toasted it.

[crazylikeafox]

What is an endangered-species botanist?

I know how bad this 6th extinction is. But I don't understand you're title for her.

[Shashi0224]

Truth, again, comes to the American people via COMEDIANS!!

The MSM should be very ashamed.

[RichCru]

Actually David forgot about Carter. Except for Gore, Carter is the only one that saw the need for things to fundamentally change.

[Decipherer]

Slight correction to your statement which is true as far as it goes. There have been many others besides Carter and Gore sounding the alarm for a number of decades, but they've been ignored, ridiculed, or laughed at. Now, unfortunately, it may be too late.

[RadCenter]

He said "since 1980." Carter left office in January 1981.

[cmg717]

Whether you believe in climate change or not, I think we can all agree that we need to lessen our dependence on foreign oil. If alternative energy sources lessen this dependence and slow down global warning, we all benefit.

[NicoleAnon]

I agree with that. And also just try to recycle what you can and walk if possible instead of driving and maybe encourage your company to have a carpool or give people money to take public transportation if possible.

But don't preach to other people about it while you're flying around in private jets and living in mansions - the hypocrisy is what I can't handle.

[MonoApe]

I don't 'believe' in global warming - I accept that it is true because every national science academy of every major industrialised country on the planet confirms recent climate change is due to human activity.

I pay no attention to the opinion of journalists, talk show hosts, or ex-VPs - but if they say something that sounds very serious, I go and check the science. Turns out Gore didn't pull global warming out of his arse - it's real and it's deadly. We need to act - NOW.

[11Xray]

Then perhaps you weren't alive in the '70s when we were warned by all of the scientists about The Coming Ice Age. Hilarious.

[Disband RNC]

I think it's funny how people say "do you believe in climate change?".
As if it were Santa Clause.

[paulcanning]

Thanks for making this exclusive/cannot syndicate. Result? Goes nowhere!

[oasisdrl]

Go David!
he's got it! someone with a voice has got it!
-unfortunately, like David said, "we are screwed!"

[nikky]

AS SOON AS SHE GOES ON HIS SHOW THAT WILL CHANGE

[sonshine]

That's what you think. The polls are lying. There are more of us (thinking people) than you guys (impressed with a simpleton).

BO/JB '08

[Woodfella]

Why does everyone ignore the multitude of scientists that say global warming is cyclical and not caused by humans.

Man made global warming has never been proved it's only a theory.

[JoshD]

Gravity is theory too, how do you feel about that one?

[Beowoof]

It's that great leap to "theory as fact" that many are in denial of. I just wonder if everyone's returns are so high that they don't want to believe.

[stardawn]

When did the law of Gravity change into a theory???

[gplain]

Because there aren't a 'multitude of scientists' saying that. Scientists tend to bicker over details, but most still agree that climate change is real. The fact is, if you read the IPCC reports (like, actually read them), the case is pretty much conclusive.

Gravity is a theory. Evolution is a theory. They've also been proved. Something can be both a theory and proven.

[legalclubs]

Actually, doesn't a proven theory become a "law". For example, don't people refer to gravity as the "law of gravity" now?

[stardawn]

gplain

and evolution is still a theory.

[Forester]

The real question for you to ponder Wood is this:
Since it is fact that the amount of CO2 emitted by human activities in the past 100 years is measurable and significant - do we not have an ETHICAL responsibility to mitigate this effect? If your answer is no, then are making a choice between earth stewardship and human greed. Humans are a part of this system, and (as far as I know) are the only sentient beings capable of understanding cause and effect.
comment?

[AddictedToHope]

Yes, it's cyclical. But humans are definitely swinging the pendulum farther.

[MonoApe]

Yup. We're swinging it further and faster than possibly any other time in the history of the planet. Keep pushing and it will come back at us with a vengeance.

[realpolitic]

"Why does everyone ignore the multitude of scientists that say global warming is cyclical and not caused by humans?"

Because the multitude of scientists who claim that global warming is cyclical and not caused by humans does not exist, except for in your own mind. Unless you are speaking of those famous scientists Rush limbaugh and Bill O'Reilly.

[msfisk2008]

9/9/08
2:23pm
UofO

Thanks. I enjoyed that.

[obamanation31]

We are screwed. I totally agree with Dave.

[emmaspeaks]

Agreed

[lboucher]

Letterman owns two race car teams, a personnal jet and numerous cars and motor cycles!

Letterman is full of ****. Let me keep my house heated!!

[Anastasia]

All you have to do is turn your thermostat down a few degrees and put on a sweater. Regardless of whether it makes a huge difference in carbon emissions or not, you'll save money and help to preserve a valuable resource that is finite.

Even if you don't believe that climate change is man-made, there are lots of good reasons to save energy, your pocketbook being one of them.

[genia]

What?? you done...you sure you don't want to add a couple speed boats to that list? oh... how about how about three race teams...why stop the lie at 2?
I know that he owns some horses and some land in Montana, I think?

[11Xray]

Just like Al Gore...whining about the environment, then living like the king of a small country with a 'carbon footprint' the size of a third world nation. Brilliant. What a bunch of hooey.

[stardawn]

It just proves that algore believes his own hipe.

[saltpeter]

HIS POINT is that individuals can't do it alone and thinking that recycling toothpicks will solve the problem is self-congratulatory BS that effects very little. ONLY governments can REDUCE CAFE STANDARDS, encourage more reasonable and effective mass transportation; give tax breaks to those who engage in GREEN building standards (double-pane windows, effective ventilation systems) and help invest in the development of alternatives and in the necessary infrastructure needed for those alternatives to get to people's homes. This makes a much bigger difference than people bitching about someone who lives in a slightly larger house than someone else. OUR LEADERS have failed. They were warned about these problems decades ago but they keep letting big oil set the energy agenda for this country giving undue access to people like Ken Lay over energy policy instead allowing CLIMATE EXPERTS have a say. We need a MANHATTAN PROJECT for the environment and we need to act like the FUTURE safety and well-being of our nation depended on it because it DOES.

[NelsonC]

Whenever a celebrity opens his mouth, comes the response, "Why should we take him seriously?"

I don't understand that argument because it assumes that we have ever taken celebrity opinion seriously. What election, or historical turning point has ever pivoted on celebrity opinion?

There is some obvious exceptions, like Cronkite talking about Vietnam, or when that Hollywood actor Ronald Reagan ran for office.

I think Dave is one of the smartest guys in show business but I don't think his opinion is going to sway anyone on this topic. The opposing positions are far too firmly rooted for anyone's opinion to have an effect.

Gee. If only the scientists would publish their position on this subject. Maybe that would settle the debate.

[MikeDu]

You need to listen closely to the global climate change deniers. What they're REALLY saying is "I've got mine and everybody else can go screw - keep your hands off my stuff." There was a report recently saying avoiding resource-intensive beef for just one meal a week would cut overall global energy demands by a measurable percentage. The deniers howled like stuck pigs at that suggestion. And lets remember how they howled like stuck pigs at the suggestion that they check the air pressure in their tires! If that gets them incensed what wouldn't they howl like stuck pigs over?

[Sparhawk]

Revisionism.....It used to be Global Warming...no traction...now it's Global Climate change...

wonder why so many people don't believe it? And there is the whole carbon credit thing...a blatant transfer of wealth without any true benefit of the problem it was created to fix....

[RaraAvis17]

Go ahead and ignore it - If it makes you feel better just go ahead and deny it and ignore it. It's kind of like your teeth - just ignore them and they will go away some day.

[RadCenter]

Republican spinmeister Frank Luntz recommended that Republicans use the term "climate change" because it was less threatening than "global warming."

As a matter of science, there is no contradiction between these two terms. A global average increase in temperature will result in "global warming," which will manifest itself in climate disruption -- extreme rainfall events, droughts, etc. -- or "climate change." Some parts of the globe may actually be cooler. If, for example, the Greenland Ice sheet were to melt, the influx of frigid water would cause the temperature of the North Atlantic to drop, disrupting the trans-Atlantic weather currents and possibly causing a new Ice Age in Europe. But the fact that parts of the globe are cooler does not negate the rise in global average temperature.

[MonoApe]

You're mistaking your deep ignorance of the subject for the reality of what has been known for over 100 years. Do some reading and educate yourself - it's almost painless: http://www.aip.org/history/climate/summary.htm

[joshuahmcdonald]

When the sh*t hits the fan, the poor and starving won't be killing other poor and starving people. Those who are saying "I've got mine and everybody else can go screw - keep your hands off my stuff." are also those who most adamantly support the continued right to own AK-47s. And rightly so.

I'm voting Obama and HOPE that he can make a difference. If McCain get's elected the bloodbath will start sooner than any of you can possibly imagine.

Our society seems so solid that my ranting seems insane...but mark my words, when the Himalayan glaciers which feed the Yellow and the Yangtze melt away and the world's entire rice production is undermined we will see just how unstable our top-heavy non-agrarian aristocracy really is.

Ironically, the ones who may last the longest? Those loony polygamists in Northern Arizona who are already living in a nearly self-sufficient compound.

[LouisianaLiberal]

Wow! I’m amazed at all the ignorance gathered right here on this particular entry. I’m going to bookmark this page for balance when I spend too much time with people who actually reason every day.

Listen to yourselves. A man with a significant audience is making an intelligent point in a George Carlin or Chris Rock comedic way (a spoonful of sugar, et al) and you people have jumped on him like white on rice. What is the matter with you? Did you not understand it was his late night TALK show that he was making a valid point on? Why is his commute and reclusive lifestyle in question when he points to a bipartisan flaw?

He said, rightly, that since 1980, when Jimmy Carter tried to wake us up to the global warming crisis WE HAVE HAD NO LEADERS LEADING US OUT OF THIS MESS. We even have one blow brain below who is saying global warming is a myth. OH, THE HUMANITY!!!!!!!!!