I am not anywhere close to being able to know whether global warming is happening or not. Taking the weather in Lund of southern Sweden, it is definitely not (coldest winter in 23 years or so). One thing seems to be clear, however: Some scientists and researchers trying to find answers on how our climate changes, tend to exaggerate their results. Together with such in the end counter-productive behavior, news on evidence of accelerating global warming are usually followed by public outcry and met with apocalyptic fears. Those two developments go somewhat hand in hand. Why are we so afraid of a warmer planet? Why are some researchers nourishing those fears further?
A simple explanation of the latter question can be traced back to general human behavior. Scientists are just human beings that seek attention and recognition for their work. In few other areas of modern science there is a similar bias towards going in one direction. In climate questions, the more that’s supposed to change the more interesting the research becomes to the wider public. Naturally, some members of the discipline (just to stress this, not all) cannot resist the temptation to fiddle with some of their results. Those are often equally convinced their “small adjustment” is for the good of humanity as it sends a strong warning signal and will potentially prevent further environmental havoc. The reason why such dramatic predictions do not fall on deaf ears is people’s inherent fear of change. Climate has always been changing if admittedly usually at a very slow pace. It is hard to predict what will exactly happen if the planet becomes a hotter place, but it is certain that huge areas would be transformed in dramatic ways. People might have to migrate to formerly colder areas and their base of living be eroded. Such uncertainty creates fear and explains why this has become such a heated debate.
Don’t misunderstand the point I’m making. I do believe all efforts should be focused on reversing environmental destruction and stopping the depletion of our earth’s natural resources. There are enough clear cut arguments to do so, if it is just that our children need to live off something. Therefore, it should not be the focus of the debate to what extent climate change is precisely happening. Exaggerating the whole scenario of climate change will only backfire, as it has of lately.
