Skeptics’ Skeptics’ ArgumentsArguments

A guide to counter the arguments of global warming skeptics

Argument #1Argument #1 Climate has changed before (change Climate has changed before (change

is natural)is natural)

Earth’s climate has its natural Earth’s climate has its natural warming and cooling trendswarming and cooling trends

The warming that is occurring now The warming that is occurring now has nothing to do with human has nothing to do with human activitiesactivities

AnswerAnswer

The warming now is far beyond the The warming now is far beyond the natural cyclenatural cycle

Why has climate changed in the Why has climate changed in the past?past? Climate changes because it is forced to Climate changes because it is forced to

changechange Human activities is the force that is Human activities is the force that is

causing climate to warm nowcausing climate to warm now

AnswerAnswer

Argument #2Argument #2 The Sun is causing the warmingThe Sun is causing the warming

The Sun naturally changes in The Sun naturally changes in intensity, therefore when the Sun intensity, therefore when the Sun outputs more energy, the climate outputs more energy, the climate gets warmergets warmer

AnswerAnswer

Solar intensity has actually decrease Solar intensity has actually decrease over the past few decades while over the past few decades while temperatures still go uptemperatures still go up

AnswerAnswer

Argument #3Argument #3 A warmer Winter? I’d love a warmer A warmer Winter? I’d love a warmer

Winter!Winter!

The positive effects from global The positive effects from global warming will far outweigh the warming will far outweigh the negative impactsnegative impacts

AnswerAnswer

In 2011 so far, there have been 11 In 2011 so far, there have been 11 billion dollar weather disastersbillion dollar weather disasters Deaths from heatwaves will skyrocket, Deaths from heatwaves will skyrocket,

crops will fail due to the heatcrops will fail due to the heat

AnswerAnswer

Argument #4Argument #4 There is no consensus that climate scientists There is no consensus that climate scientists

believe global warming is caused by humansbelieve global warming is caused by humans

How can the public believe in How can the public believe in global warming is the scientists global warming is the scientists can’t even agree?can’t even agree?

AnswerAnswer

97% of climate scientists agree that 97% of climate scientists agree that humans are causing the climate to humans are causing the climate to changechange A study of all peer-reviewed articles A study of all peer-reviewed articles

from 1993 – 2003 showed that NOT from 1993 – 2003 showed that NOT ONE paper rejected the consensus that ONE paper rejected the consensus that humans are causing climate change.humans are causing climate change.

The myth is specifically portrayed by The myth is specifically portrayed by skeptics and placed in the mediaskeptics and placed in the media

Argument #5Argument #5 The climate is actually coolingThe climate is actually cooling

Data shows that the climate has Data shows that the climate has actually cooled recentlyactually cooled recently

AnswerAnswer

The decade from 2000-2009 was The decade from 2000-2009 was actually the warmest on recordactually the warmest on record 2010 was the warmest year on the 2010 was the warmest year on the

recordrecord Recently, the top ten warmest Octobers Recently, the top ten warmest Octobers

have all occurred since 1997have all occurred since 1997 This October, 2This October, 2ndnd warmest on land, 8 warmest on land, 8thth

warmest overallwarmest overall

AnswerAnswer

Argument #6Argument #6 The temperature record is unreliableThe temperature record is unreliable

Thermometers are not maintained Thermometers are not maintained properly and are in places that properly and are in places that record abnormally high record abnormally high temperaturestemperatures

AnswerAnswer

BEST project set out to prove the BEST project set out to prove the skeptics correctskeptics correct Dr. Richard Muller studied the Dr. Richard Muller studied the

temperature record to prove that temperature record to prove that thermometers were not accurate due to thermometers were not accurate due to the urban heat island, in partthe urban heat island, in part

Opposite was found. Muller turned Opposite was found. Muller turned from skeptic, to global warming from skeptic, to global warming proponentproponent

AnswerAnswer

Argument #7Argument #7 Plants and animals can adapt quicklyPlants and animals can adapt quickly

Even with global warming plants Even with global warming plants and animals will adapt to the and animals will adapt to the changes and thrivechanges and thrive

AnswerAnswer

We may be experiencing a mass We may be experiencing a mass extinctionextinction Extinction rate - 100 to 1000 times Extinction rate - 100 to 1000 times

higher than “background”higher than “background”

AnswerAnswer

Source: Sodhi, N. S., Koh, L. P., Brook, B. W. & Ng, P. K. L. 2004

Argument #8Argument #8 It’s cold outside!It’s cold outside!

How can global warming be true if How can global warming be true if it is snowing outside my house?it is snowing outside my house?

AnswerAnswer

Day-to-day variations have little to Day-to-day variations have little to do with global warmingdo with global warming In fact, extreme events such as Winter In fact, extreme events such as Winter

storms may increasestorms may increase Northeast has snowiest Winter on record in Northeast has snowiest Winter on record in

2010-20112010-2011 Two things needed for big snowstormsTwo things needed for big snowstorms

Lots of water vaporLots of water vapor Temperatures below freezingTemperatures below freezing Both are possibleBoth are possible

Argument #9Argument #9 We are actually heading into an ice We are actually heading into an ice

ageage

If you look at the natural cycle, we If you look at the natural cycle, we should be heading into an ice age should be heading into an ice age soonsoon

AnswerAnswer

Perhaps, but not for another 10,000 Perhaps, but not for another 10,000 yearsyears Global warming due to humans is Global warming due to humans is

happening NOW, not in 10,000 yearshappening NOW, not in 10,000 years

AnswerAnswer