Recent conversations with a meteorological scientist have reignited my interest in why some scientists deny that human activities are accelerating global climate change. I tend to think of the “climate-change deniers” as those with a vested interest in the fossil fuel industry, but this particular scientist lives a very “green” life by most standards—he bikes to work (even in the middle of December in Wisconsin), uses public transit, keeps his thermostat low in the winter, maintains a mostly vegetarian diet, etc. Yet his meteorological research causes him to be skeptical of claims that humans are hastening the rate and effects of global climate change.
I am the first to admit that I am no meteorological scientist, and the “hard” scientific information with which I am equipped to defend my position—that global climate change is an imminent threat to the planet that has been exacerbated by human activities—is limited. But I was recently referred to a fascinating site called “Information is Beautiful,” a site on which David McCandless seeks to visualize information to help people better understand issues, ideas, data, and other information. His recent post titled “The Climate Deniers vs. The Consensus” has helped me to get my head around the debate. Check it out at http://www.informationisbeautiful.net/2009/the-climate-deniers-vs-the-consensus/. Sure, McCandless is biased and certainly has an agenda, but I applaud his effort to “simulate what it’s like for people trying to learn about climate change online.” He’s transparent about his methods and presents his findings in an accessible point-counterpoint format.
My hope is that the debate over scientific evidence does not continue to prolong inaction. Reaching universal consensus within the scientific community on the interpretation of inherently messy climatic data is unlikely, at best. And unfortunately, policymakers generally find scientific uncertainty unacceptable in drafting and implementing policies. Yet another reason to think globally and act locally, I suppose. Perhaps the best thing we can do to put pressure on our leaders is to demonstrate our commitment to addressing climate change at the local level.
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