From the beginning, there has been an organized “disinformation” campaign that has used the complexities of anthropogenic global warming and the inevitable uncertainties involved in scientific research to generate skepticism and denial concerning anthropogenic global warming (Dunlap, 2013). Notwithstanding the fact that climate scientists over the years have established firmly anthropogenic contribution to climate change, there are some who are still skeptical about human involvement in climate change and whether carbon dioxide (CO2) has been a great contributor to global warming or not. A phenomenon known as climate change skepticism. This blog attempts to bring to light why beyond the clear evidence, some people deny climate change. A few of the skeptics’ argument would be highlighted; Climate change is natural and normal, there is no consensus among climate scientists that climate change is real, climate change is not caused by carbon dioxide (CO2), climate models do not work, it is too late to try to stop climate change.
Perhaps the most common mantra of skeptics is that climate change is natural and normal. They argue that the earth has been warming since and refer to the medieval warm period. Scientists over the years say that there is no good evidence that the medieval warm period was a global phenomenon. Although regionally some places were relatively warmer than other regions, global temperatures are rising faster now than any other time. “The period from 1983 to 2012 was likely the warmest 30-year period of the last 1400 years in the Northern Hemisphere, where such assessment is possible (medium confidence)” (IPCC, 2014).
There is also the argument that there is no consensus among climate scientists on climate change. This is not true. There has been a number of scientific institutions set up to advance research on the environment. A few internationally acclaimed institutions are; Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), National Aeronautics and Space Administration, National Academy of Sciences (NAS), The Royal Society of the UK (RS), American Meteorological Society (AMS), American Institute of Physics (AIP). These institutions constantly produce reports of research on the environment and one thing is common, that is, temperature is rising faster than ever greatly owing to anthropogenic CO2 emissions.
Again, climate change skeptics maintain that rising temperature cannot be associated to CO2 emissions. They argue that water vapor is the most abundant greenhouse gas yet climate scientists blame surging temperature on anthropogenic carbon emissions. Climate scientists recognize water vapor as a greenhouse gas but the cataclysmic effects anthropogenic carbon emissions have on our climate cannot be overemphasized. “If you artificially increase the level of H2O in the air, it rains out immediately, (in terms of climate response times), similarly, due to the abundance of ocean on the earth’s surface, if you somehow removed all the water from the air, it would quickly be replaced through evaporation” (Beck, 2007). Anthropogenic CO2 emissions on the other hand stays in the atmosphere for centuries. Enough time for the environment to feel the impact of the mutations caused.
In addition, climate change skeptics argue that climate change models are mere computer simulations and do not actually tell the real story. “Scientists rely on computer models to better understand Earth's climate system because they cannot conduct large-scale experiments on the atmosphere itself. Climate models, like weather models, rely on a three-dimensional mesh that reaches high into the atmosphere and into the oceans” (NCAR, 2010). Climate models rely on past data to make inferences about future variations and have long been used to predict atmospheric changes to help us understand our atmosphere better.
Moreover, climate change skeptics argue that it is too late to curb climate change. Despite surging temperatures, a lot could be done to keep warming within the 1.5C target set by the Paris agreement. There have been high levels of commitment by countries and other relevant stake holders to address climate change. The Kyoto Protocol adopted on 11th December 1997 and entering into force on 16th February 2005 for instance, charges industrialized countries to transition to renewable energy to reduce greenhouse gases (GHG) emissions with respect to individual targets set. With targets like these, and individual due diligence, global warming could be controlled.
In conclusion, climate change is real and mainly driven by anthropogenic forcings. There is massive consensus among scientists that humans are the cause. Climate scientists over the years have been able to assess the rise in global atmospheric CO2 emissions and with the help of models, predict future scenarios. It is however not too late to take action against climate change. Adopting innovative ways of energy generation and strict adherence to global warming targets, 1.5C is achievable.
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