Overwhelming Global Warming Consensus

The 928 papers were divided into six categories: explicit endorsement of the consensus position, evaluation of impacts, mitigation proposals, methods, paleoclimate analysis, and rejection of the consensus position. Of all the papers, 75% fell into the first three categories, either explicitly or implicitly accepting the consensus view; 25% dealt with methods or paleoclimate, taking no position on current anthropogenic climate change. Remarkably, none of the papers disagreed with the consensus position.

Admittedly, authors evaluating impacts, developing methods, or studying paleoclimatic change might believe that current climate change is natural. However, none of these papers argued that point.

The whole article is worth reading, but that kind of sums it up. However, as long as we're told that there is a contreversy and fair and balanced news (no, not really a jab at just Fox News) tells us that we must hear from both sides, we'll keep getting fed the same line: there's no consensus. I suppose it doesn't matter that the scientists all agree so long as the public doesn't.

Governments rarely respond to hypotheticals. Proactive government policies are hard to come by. Look at Katrina, 9/11, etc. etc. Governments are reactive, responding _after— a critical event has occurred.

Doug, thanks for the link. I enjoy reading Chris Mooney (I haven't gotten to The Republican War on Science yet, though, although it's sitting on my bookshelf).

The article is rather old, and actually it helped Michael Crichton realize that scientist were all engaged in a conspiracy. (All articles in peer-reviewed publications disagree with him.) BTW, while Bush may not know it, our official government policy recognizes anthropogenic global warming; it simply refuses to do much of anything about it. Go figure!

There really isn't all that much that you can do about it. Go figure.

I think it's interesting that this article on global warming 247 million years ago is at the top of the vine at the same time. I have a very healthy respect for nature- I'm pretty sure that anything we try to do to mess things up will eventually be naturally counteracted. I will concede, however, that perhaps "naturally counteracted" could include entirely wiping out all life and starting over again;).