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Dead_Parrot

(14,478 posts) Thu Feb 23, 2012, 05:32 PM Feb 2012

Climate Change Consensus: A Simple Table for Comprehension

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/a-siegel/climate-change-science-_b_1290259.html
(xposted in E/E)

There is a strong scientific consensus supporting the scientific Theory of Global Warming and these key points:
There is warming.

Humanity is contributing to that warming.

This warming will create significant harm if left unchecked.

While scientific "debate" always continues and there are debates over many elements within and around climate science (How fast will the Arctic Ice melt? Is there a point of no-return where humanity will no longer be able to avert catastrophic climate chaos? Is Global Warming fostering more tornadoes? Etc ...), the scientific community has a very solid understanding of and agreement about the basics. That strength of agreement, if truly understood by the political elite and public, creates serious challenge for those seeking to forestall action to mitigate climate change. Thus, when hearing of "consensus," we often hear from self-proclaimed "climate skeptics" that there is great uncertainty and that we should teach the "scientific debate" (here). Here is a rather simple table to use to consider the extent of that "debate."

Table 1: Professional Societies and Major Relevant Research Institutions on whether humanity is driving climate change

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