Global Warming Controversy

The controversy over the science of global warming is mainly over the extent of human contribution to warming, as well as a dispute over predictions of near-future warming and its effect on human beings and the environment.

Among registered U.S. voters, opinion is split neatly down the middle, with 75% of Democrats believing that "the science is settled" in favor of the view of the IPCC, and 73% of Republicans believing that there is no scientific consensus. Both main party candidates for president in 2008 election, John McCain and Barack Obama, have stated publicly that the issue is real and urgent.

In any event, it is important to remember that public opinion does not change the physical reality. Even if 100% of people of both parties believe don't believe climate change is primarily caused by human emissions of greenhouse gases, if the reality is that this is the case, then public opinion to the contrary does not change that fact, and vast amounts of money could be spent in dealing with the consequences of climate change. The Stern Review, commissioned by the UK Government to look into the economic effects of climate change, concluded that if left unchecked climate change would cost 5% of GDP per year. "In contrast, the costs of action to reduce greenhouse gas emissions to avoid the worst impacts of climate change can be limited to around 1% of global GDP each year."

Links

• Global Warming: A Divide on Causes and Solutions - public opinion poll by Pew Research Center
• Senate Minority Report lists four hundred (400) scientists who disagree with the current state of climate alarmism