Skeptical Brits Doubt Global Warming Even as Evidence Grows

Apparently the percentage of people in the Uk who believe that climate change is exaggerated, or not caused by people is growing.  Which is odd really, as the scientific debate is all but over. The reality is the Science works on the basis of peer vetting.  A hypothesis, gains observable evidence and a mechanism, then becomes a theory.  Theories compete with one another, stronger ones float, weaker ones are destroyed by scientific review.

Simply enough then, the mainstream scientific is in no doubt.  The evidence points overwhelmingly to global warming, and that humans are the primary cause.  This is really no longer up for dispute.  There are scientists who disagree, but then if graduation from a degree in biology you are scientist.  So, given the vast number of scientists on the planet, with interests in different areas, it would be truly bizarre if they all agreed on something.  I suspect that if posted the question to everyone in the world: “is killing children for no reason wrong” that 99.8 of people would say it was wrong.  However, it would be in error to say that the world was divided over senseless children killing.  A similar thing could be said about global warming and science. 

So, an interesting question is, why do people think that there is still an active debate?  Well, one reason may well be that they fail to understand what science is and how it works.  If this is the case, read above.  You should expect dissent, but Global warming as a human causes  process is  a very strong very well supported theory. 

Perhaps, also people mistake questions over if global warming will happy, with question over what the effect will be.  Given the warming involves giving more heat, and heat creates volatility you have to say that it doesn’t seem like good things will happen. 

It will also it will create rapid change.  This isn’t good at all.  Think about if your  monthly income went down by £1 a month for ten years.   You’d hardly notice the change; it is only an pound after all.  You’d also get used to it, buy less coffee, cut down on beer, whatever you can save on.  But what if you lost all £120 off your income in one month?  The shock would be considerable.  Maybe you’d go into debt,  or fail to pay your rent, or worse not have enough money to take your girlfriend out on her birthday!   You get the picture, rapid change is bad, things can’t adapt to it. 

Maybe, its because people don’t want to change their lives.  This is fair I guess.  But I think its important to realize that not changing your life now will cause pretty drastic damage to you in the future and your children.  Realistically it just makes sense to take action. 

Science is not supposed to be a coherent single  theory that everyone agrees on.  Some theories are better than other, but we really need to balance theories.  On balance Global warming, as human caused, seems very probable.