by Gabe Mouer
Over the last two decades the earth
has seen its 10 hottest years since records began in 1873.1
We can no longer deny it; global warming is a fact. As the evidence
continues to manifest before our eyes, arguments have gradually
shifted from denial to who, or what, is to blame. This battle of
“man-made” vs “naturally occurring” has become the paramount
debate as the issue continues to hinder the development of possible
solutions to the problem.
In a recent poll published in March, 2012, Gallup reported that an astounding 41% of Americans remain skeptical of anthropogenic, or man-made, climate change.2 While this number is down from a previous high of 46% reported in 2010, the number of Americans that believe in anthropogenic climate change too has dropped progressively from a high of 61% in 2007 to only 51% in 2012. What can account for this lack of consensus among the public? Over the next several weeks I will be listing 5 common misconceptions of climate change in an attempt to address why we have yet to reach a consensus. These articles act as an attempt to address concerns of both global warming deniers, as well as those who are skeptical that we should be held accountable.
In a recent poll published in March, 2012, Gallup reported that an astounding 41% of Americans remain skeptical of anthropogenic, or man-made, climate change.2 While this number is down from a previous high of 46% reported in 2010, the number of Americans that believe in anthropogenic climate change too has dropped progressively from a high of 61% in 2007 to only 51% in 2012. What can account for this lack of consensus among the public? Over the next several weeks I will be listing 5 common misconceptions of climate change in an attempt to address why we have yet to reach a consensus. These articles act as an attempt to address concerns of both global warming deniers, as well as those who are skeptical that we should be held accountable.
#5 “Scientists do not agree on the
cause of climate change.”
A great deal of money has been spent
by oil-companies and think-tanks
to convince the American public that there is a rift among scientists
with regards to the cause of global warming.3
Although there is a small handful of scientists who have yet to be
convinced, this minority is markedly exaggerated. Several independent
inquiries have shown that 95-99% of climate scientists agree that our
current climate change is anthropogenic.4
More so, in a separate investigation of all peer-reviewed studies of
climate change between 1993-2003 zero
opposed human-induced climate change.5
For experts, the evidence points solely to one conclusion; human
beings are the primary cause.
Although number 5 is fairly straightforward, as we move down the list these misconceptions will become more nuanced and engrossing. Please check back in the coming weeks for more answers to popular climate myths.
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REFERENCES
1http://blogs.nicholas.duke.edu/thegreengrok/2008temps/
2http://www.gallup.com/poll/153608/global-warming-views-steady-despite-warm-winter.aspx
3http://www.nytimes.com/2012/02/16/science/earth/in-heartland-institute-leak-a-plan-to-discredit-climate-teaching.html?pagewanted=all&_r=0
4http://tigger.uic.edu/~pdoran/012009_Doran_final.pdf
5http://www.sciencemag.org/content/306/5702/1686.full
Post has actually been done by Gabe Mouer..
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