Earth Day rant

[sarahmichigan]

If I'm feeling the urge to write, "Your willful ignorance astounds me!" to someone online, I should probably just back away slowly, right?

The thing is, people, THERE IS NO CONTROVERSY ABOUT GLOBAL CLIMATE CHANGE.

In the news and general public? Sure. But time after time, when working scientists are polled - depending on the way the questionnaire is worded and whether they're working in a field related to climate change - between 80 and 90 percent agree that a) the earth is getting warmer and b) humans are at least part of the cause of it.

That's practically a consensus. The remaining 10 percent who don't agree? Well, there are always disagreements in science, as there should be. Those dissenting opinions could be the result of a) the scientists not being experts in climate-related science or b) not liking the way the poll question was worded or c) having some kind of pet theory or hidden agenda.

This amounts to a near-consensus with a few dissenting whack-jobs... not a controversy.

Comments

[dionysus1999.livejournal.com]

Tell us how you really feel. ;)

[shadbolt75.livejournal.com]

As one of the working scientists, thank you.

I am curious to know where you found the range of 80-90 percent? I honestly would have guessed that the percentage was even higher than 90 percent. There are many skeptics and denialists out there, but the actual number of them who are truly climate scientists is very small. For example, TV weather forecasters are not climate scientists; however, they frequently spout off about climate change and TV viewers blindly believe them assuming that their TV weather guy is the all-knowing local weather (and climate) expert. Forecasters and meteorologists rarely look beyond 7-10 days ahead. What occurs within the next 7-10 days is weather, not climate. There is a big difference.

[sarahmichigan.livejournal.com]

Both an article from CNN.com and the Skeptical Enquirer quoted those 80-90 percent figures. It depends on a) how the question is worded and b) how closely the scientists polled are involved in science related to climate change. Agreement was stronger on a) it's really getting warmer and weaker on b) human causation. Agreement with both propositions was stronger (90+ percent) in those working in fields most closely related to climate change.

[sarahmichigan.livejournal.com]

Here's one link:

http://www.cnn.com/2009/WORLD/americas/01/19/eco.globalwarmingsurvey/index.html

I wish I had the Skeptical Enquirer article, but it's in the print edition only and isn't available online.

[shadbolt75.livejournal.com]

From the article above:

"The strongest consensus on the causes of global warming came from climatologists who are active in climate research, with 97 percent agreeing humans play a role."

This is much more like what I expected. Thanks for sharing.

[seifaiden.livejournal.com]

Thank you for posting this, it's one of my "things". Also, we should get together and do something sometime, now that I'm free of classes.

[sarahmichigan.livejournal.com]

Cool! Could I take you out for a drink (or lunch, if you don't drink- I can't remember) to celebrate the end of the semester?

I'm free both Saturday and Sunday evening (though busy on Fri).

[seifaiden.livejournal.com]

I would like that! I'm booked Friday and Saturday with obligatory TESOL department celebrations but Sunday sounds good. When/where do you recommend?