Reasons to be Optimistic About Climate Change Fight #4: Deniers are Being Exposed

by Mike Smith · 2009-12-29 11:07:00 UTC
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Arguing with climate skeptics isn't easy: the science is complicated and ignorance is easy. Every "the sun is getting hotter" or "it is a natural cycle" requires a comprehensive rebuttal that needs to be longer than than a five word allegation. But scientists and the media are getting better at quickly dispatching these ignorant claims. And governments pay little attention to incoherent ramblings.

Al Gore recently explained "the special pleading of the carbon polluters and the existence of ideological deniers is probably an example of the so-called sunset phenomenon, where we have a spectacular display just before the subsiding."

The New Scientists has little trouble debunking all of the deniers' spectacular claims, going through the first 50 of them quite swiftly. The first might just be the best:

There is "no real scientific proof" that the current warming is caused by the rise of greenhouse gases from man's activity.

Technically, proof exists only in mathematics, not in science. Whatever terminology you choose to use, however, there is overwhelming evidence that the current warming is caused by the rise in greenhouse gases due to human activities.

The hacked email case called into question a couple of graphs from a couple of lines of evidence amongst dozens. An subsequent in-depth investigation by the AP revealed no fraud. Few deniers noted that the hack proved no widespread conspiracy; nothing of substance was found amongst thousands of emails. There is no international cabal plotting to free us from our addiction to oil, trying to covertly install renewable and clean energy sources, forcing through frightening regulation on the sly that will might make the environment for our children safer and cleaner. Wouldn't that be terrible!

Seriously though, most worrying is that for many this is becoming an issue of politics. Increasingly Republican don't believe in climate change. Why are conservatives ignoring the science? And where are the conservative solutions to climate change? Despite this turn, I'm optimistic. Governments are smart enough to trust the science and trust the vast majority of scientists, rather than give any time to a few noisy skeptics.

Photo credit: Matt From Londond (Graffiti by Banksy)

Mike Smith
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