97 Percent Of Scientists Believe In Man-Made Climate Change

Science Friday

An overwhelming number of scientists in countries around the planet believe the science behind anthropogenic climate change. Although this is not reflected in the attitudes of many in the non-scientific general public, there is consensus among the experts who study the Earths climate.

According to a Pew Poll in July 2009, there is a bit of a discrepancy in America between what the public believes and what scientists do. While only 49 percent of the public believe that man-mad activity is causing global warming, 84 percent of all scientists do.

This of course reflects an even wider variance when we look at natural evolution. Again, in America a mere 32 percent of the public believe that evolution is caused by natural processes, whereas in the scientific community, that number is 87 percent according to this Pew Poll.

In both categories of science, the numbers are even more bleak for Republicans and conservatives. A mere 30 percent of Republicans, and only 21 percent of conservative Republicans believe the science behind man-made global warming. Views on evolution similarly drop, with only 23 percent of Republicans and 9 percent of white evangelicals believing the science.

When we examine another poll on the subject, this one from Gallup, the number of scientists who believe in anthropogenic climate change even greater. Their poll taken in January 2009 found a total of non-publishing, non-climatological Earth Scientists believe in the science at a rate of 77 percent, with an overwhelming 97 percent of publishing Climatologists believing in it.

Why the discrepancy? There are obvious gaps in education between upper level scientists and the general public, which would account for a large share of the difference. An additional portion could be attributed to the deliberate campaign of confusion brought forth by the fossil fuel industry and conservative politicians who are more inclined to believe that the Earth was created 6000 years ago.

These groups try to dispute consensus using thoroughly debunked pseudo-science like the Inhofe 400 list and the Oregon Petition. Despite this, there polls above demonstrate that the vast majority of our climatological experts and scientists in general tell us that anthropogenic climate change is a reality. There is huge compilation of endorsements if you want further proof, or you can investigate the huge number of organizations that have endorsed the IPCC Third Assessment Report.

Regardless, one has to ask who they believe about the science behind climate change: the scientific experts or someone else?

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