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The last four years have been the hottest since records began in the 19th century.
Most of the leading scientific organizations worldwide have issued public statements endorsing a position that says that global warming is 97% certain to have been caused by man-made activities.
For example:
American Meteorological Society
"It is clear from extensive scientific evidence that the dominant cause of the rapid change in climate of the past half century is human-induced increases in the amount of atmospheric greenhouse gases, including carbon dioxide (CO2), chlorofluorocarbons, methane, and nitrous oxide." (2012)
Science achieves a consensus when scientists stop arguing. When a question is first asked – like ‘what would happen if we put a load more CO2 in the atmosphere?’ – there may be many hypotheses about cause and effect. Over a period of time, each idea is tested and retested – the processes of the scientific method – because all scientists know that reputation and kudos go to those who find the right answer (and everyone else becomes an irrelevant footnote in the history of science). Nearly all hypotheses will fall by the wayside during this testing period, because only one is going to answer the question properly, without leaving all kinds of odd dangling bits that don’t quite add up. Bad theories are usually rather untidy.
But the testing period must come to an end. Gradually, the focus of investigation narrows down to those avenues that continue to make sense, that still add up, and quite often a good theory will reveal additional answers, or make powerful predictions, that add substance to the theory.
So a consensus in science is different from a political one. There is no vote. Scientists just give up arguing because the sheer weight of consistent evidence is too compelling, the tide too strong to swim against any longer. Scientists change their minds on the basis of the evidence, and a consensus emerges over time. Not only do scientists stop arguing, they also start relying on each other's work. All science depends on that which precedes it, and when one scientist builds on the work of another, he acknowledges the work of others through citations. The work that forms the foundation of climate change science is cited with great frequency by many other scientists, demonstrating that the theory is widely accepted - and relied upon.
In the scientific field of climate studies – which is informed by many different disciplines – the consensus is demonstrated by the number of scientists who have stopped arguing about what is causing climate change – and that’s nearly all of them.
The last four years have been the hottest since records began in the 19th century.
Most of the leading scientific organizations worldwide have issued public statements endorsing a position that says that global warming is 97% certain to have been caused by man-made activities.
For example:
American Meteorological Society
"It is clear from extensive scientific evidence that the dominant cause of the rapid change in climate of the past half century is human-induced increases in the amount of atmospheric greenhouse gases, including carbon dioxide (CO2), chlorofluorocarbons, methane, and nitrous oxide." (2012)
What a bunch of crap. 1936 is the hottest year on record. When you "adjust the data", you could make the early part of the 20th century temperatures near absolute zero.
When every year becomes "the hottest on record", how come the temperatures aren't rising?
What a bunch of crap. 1936 is the hottest year on record. When you "adjust the data", you could make the early part of the 20th century temperatures near absolute zero.
When every year becomes "the hottest on record", how come the temperatures aren't rising?
Now for a bit of truth... Nine of the 10 warmest years have occurred since 2005, with the last five years comprising the five hottest.
Since China is the biggest offender, which one of you liberals are willing to go over there and take over China... Step right up people.... That's weird, no liberals want to save the planet...
Since China is the biggest offender, which one of you liberals are willing to go over there and take over China... Step right up people.... That's weird, no liberals want to save the planet...
I have an idea; propose a tax or fee that will be used to fund "doing something about China" but whose proceeds can be spent on other agendas while we are deciding what to do.
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