Climate Change and the Integrity of Science
On Thursday, 255 members of the US National Academy
of Sciences wrote an
open letter in defence of climate research, and I think it is very important for everyone to read it. Please pass this
link on so the truth about the climate crisis can rise to the top of the minds of people around the world.
The letter opens with "We are deeply disturbed by the recent escalation of political assaults
on scientists in general and on climate scientists in
particular. All citizens should understand some basic scientific facts.
There is always some uncertainty associated with scientific conclusions;
science never absolutely proves anything. When someone says
that society should wait until scientists are absolutely certain
before taking any action, it is the same as saying society should
never take action. For a problem as potentially catastrophic as
climate change, taking no action poses a dangerous risk for our
planet."
This is their list of basic conclusions that aren't arguable:
(i) The planet is warming due to increased concentrations of heat-trapping
gases in our atmosphere. A snowy winter in Washington does
not alter this fact.
(ii) Most of the increase in the concentration of these gases over
the last century is due to human activities, especially the
burning of fossil fuels and deforestation.
(iii) Natural causes always play a role in changing Earth's climate,
but are now being overwhelmed by human-induced changes.
(iv) Warming the planet will cause many other climatic patterns to
change at speeds unprecedented in modern times, including increasing
rates of sea-level rise and alterations in the hydrologic cycle.
Rising concentrations of carbon dioxide are making the oceans
more acidic.
(v) The combination of these complex climate changes threatens
coastal
communities and cities, our food and water supplies,
marine
and freshwater ecosystems, forests, high mountain environments,
and
far more.
Although we are already late, we cannot ignore the consensus and need to start believing the real scientists and not the climate deniers with thir spin doctoring and distortions.