The evidence has been available for years: climate change is real and is worsening at an alarming rate.
Humidity, record-breaking temperatures, sea level rising along with a number of other signs have been proving that the Earth is warming – and quickly.
Not only this, but the evidence is clear that the heat-trapping emissions we produce, the diets we choose and lifestyles we lead are the main causes for the change in our climate.
While it’s apparent that the time to act is now, there are many powerful figures and leading industries which have been hindering this immediate action for financial gain.
This has been done by creating confusion among the public by promoting studies that misrepresent the evidence from thousands of published peer-reviewed articles, climate scientists’ reports and scientific journals that climate change is happening and is caused by human-induced activities.
How do we know this?
The scientific consensus is in: 97% of scientists are in agreement that climate change is real.
The 3% are the scientists that leading figures and industries use as their scapegoats. However, the more threatening the repressions of climate change become, the less convincing this 3% seems.
In this article, we outline the facts of climate change and information from climate scientists so that you can make up your own mind as to whether or not climate change is real.
Is Climate Change Real? If it is, Then Why Are There So Many Skeptics?
While there is no shortage of published research or articles on the consensus of climate scientists on the topic of human-induced climate change, there are still people who choose to turn a blind eye.
A wide range of different scientific societies in the US and many national academies of science on a global scale have released statements, supporting the claims of human-induced warming.
However, when it comes to skeptics and deniers, when they read or hear the word, “scientific uncertainty” it is misrepresented as an opportunity to undermine these findings.
It’s therefore vital to elucidate what type of uncertainty is being mentioned.
For example: it is with strong certainty that climate scientists are aware of the types of global warming impacts, but there is less certainty as to the precise timing and strength of the impacts.
The reason that these uncertainties are present is because there are some future stats that are difficult to predict.
For example: it is known with certainty that sea levels will rise (since it’s already occurring) and there are projections that give a range of how high they will rise, but it’s uncertain as to how high they will rise in the future since the future rate of emissions is unknown.
What’s clear is that if we continue to emit CO2 and methane at the rate we have been, our sea levels will be higher than predicted, as will the long list of other predicted repercussions of climate change.
Climate Change Consensus Worldwide
As we mentioned earlier, 97% of climate scientists are in agreement that global warming is real and is mainly caused by human activities.
This stat is based on a peer-reviewed study which evaluated 10,306 scientists throughout the world.
There have been more recent examinations and studies done in regards to this peer reviewed study which has confirmed that indeed, 97% of climate scientists believe in anthropogenic climate change and that it’s happening now.
On top of scientists, the public is also becoming increasingly aware of global warming and in agreement that it is happening. In fact, according to a recent poll, 70% of American believe in climate change while 12% deny it.
In response to the demand for honesty and clarity in this topic, scientific societies and academies released studies and statements highlighting the consensus on the science behind climate change.
Climate Scientists’ Consensus: Final Thoughts
In truth, at this point, it’s hard to deny its existence and effect on our species.
One only needs to be aware of the happenings around the world, the increase in floods and disappearing cities, the severity and unpredictability of weather patterns or the melting ice caps just to name a few.
As the signs of climate change grow more severe, the debate on the issue becomes even more redundant.
The only questions worth asking at this point are: how we are going to act, and how fast can we do it.