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Jeff Dozier

FYS100

June 20, 2014

Harold Blanco

Climate Change and the Skepticism that Ensues

We all know that climate change is affecting us all and is an immediate harm to life on Earth as

we know it, right? Well wrong, there happen to be many skeptics in the United State of America that say

either climate science is not happening or that humans are not causing it. Either way, we need to look

into these reasons and give the people a chance in sharing their opinion. Yes, there may be a scientific

consensus that climate change is manmade, but according to some of our politicians and fellow citizens

that means nothing.

Firstly, someone studying the deniers need to look at not only the people the denying it and

their backgrounds, but why someone is claiming it does not exist in the first place. If you take a peek

into the book “Climate Confusion” by Roy Spencer, you may find claims that “Science isn’t Truth” or that

climate change does not affect the human population on earth. However, when looking into why one

might say these things you start to empathize with the people who support the skepticism on climate

change. If we look at politicians, the majority of the reason for them denying anything to do with climate

change is that it hurts jobs and the economy to reduce emissions; they want to keep their constituents

happy, who actually refuse to believe in climate change at all and so they vote this way to keep their

seat. If you look into scientists, such as Roy Spencer, who has a PhD in meteorology, you find that he

believes climate change has been happening forever and that man has nothing to do with it. He seems

credible, correct? Well he is fair in his skepticism, however when you look into what he does and where

his funding is coming from, you start to understand why he might be trying to persuade someone

against believing in climate change.

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A large part of skepticism comes from the fact that there is a correlation between the terms

“global warming” and “climate change”. Skeptics like to point out the term “global warming” whenever

a supporter of climate change initiatives takes to the press expressing concern when we have extremely

cold weather events. However also appears that the term “climate change” is perceived to be a natural

occurrence (Schuldt, 2). Basically, anytime it conveniences someone, most notable political figures, they

will be used in a way that may be scientifically inconclusive by nonetheless have an effect on the minds

of the people listening to said politician.

Most skeptics may hold the opinion that climate change is real, however they believe it not to

be manmade, but a naturally occurring process over long periods of time: “Many see warmer

temperatures as part of the normal fluctuations that occur over long periods of time. They also cite the

ability of naturally-occurring volcanic eruptions to cause temporary changes in weather patterns and

levels of gases in the atmosphere.” (Driscoll). From hearing reasonably explained arguments it is easy to

see how someone unmotivated by money may be skeptic, these things seem as though they make

sense, and in a lot of ways they do, there just isn’t any scientific evidence showing that that is how it is.

If anything, climate change initiative supporters need to understand this side of things and empathize

with the people who are generalizing this subject: it is either easy to believe it is natural and we cannot

do anything about it, and for others opposition puts food on the table. This is something everyone needs

to understand.

People are going to hear what they want to hear, and they are going to believe what they want.

There have always been skeptics and there always will be. The only thing you can do is wait for the good

information to rise to the top and then once proven we will know what is and what isn’t scientific fact.

The biggest thing to take from climate change and other polarizing topics is that we are all human;

nobody in support or denial of climate change should undergo any scrutiny for what they believe, it just

needs to be explained a little better in some cases, and in others just need a better understanding.

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Works Cited

"Climate Change." CQ Researcher 15 June 2013. Web. 20 June 2014.

Driscoll, SallyFlynn. "Global Warming: An Overview." Points Of View: Global Warming (2014): 1. Points of View

Reference Center. Web. 20 June 2014.

POWLEDGE, FRED. "Scientists, Policymakers, and a Climate of Uncertainty." Bioscience 62.1 (2012): 8-

13. Academic Search Premier. Web. 20 June 2014.

Schuldt, Jonathon P., Sara H. Konrath, and Norbert Schwarz. "“Global Warming” Or “Climate

Change”?." Public Opinion Quarterly 75.1 (2011): 115-124. Business Source Premier. Web. 20

June 2014.