Lie #3: The Scientific Consensus

The undeniable fact is that the vast majority of scientists endorse the consensus that anthropogenic climate change (ACC) is a genuine and serious fact. It is undeniable, but Mr. Rick Cina denies it anyway, and he has come up with a pile of statistics guaranteed to confuse the reader.

For example, just about every relevant scientific organization on the planet has published a statement endorsing the reality of ACC. There have been numerous studies showing how strong the consensus is; there’s a great collection of this information at a blog called Skeptical Science. This is the best general blog for non-scientists to see the evidence for ACC. Deniers hate it. Mr. Cina claims that, since it is “merely” a blog, it cannot be trusted. He ignores the fact that Skeptical Science documents its assertions with citations of the scientific literature. 

But Mr. Cina will tell you that there was intense disagreement at the American Physical Society about their statement endorsing ACC. He’ll quote you a statement that appeared in their publications questioning ACC. What he won’t tell you is that all of this brouhaha was created by a single physicist. The other physicists permitted him to enter his denials into the official literature. They have not retreated from their endorsement of ACC. Mr. Cina won’t tell you that.

He’ll tell you that a majority of members of the American Meteorological Society disagreed with the official endorsement of ACC by the Society. What he doesn’t mention is that the AMS is not strictly a scientific society; many of its members are television weathermen with only a bachelor’s degree in meteorology and zero training in climatology.

The Academies of Science from 80 different countries all endorse the consensus.

13 countries have signed a joint statement endorsing the consensus position:

  • Academia Brasiliera de Ciencias (Brazil)
  • Royal Society of Canada
  • Chinese Academy of Sciences
  • Academie des Sciences (France)
  • Deutsche Akademie der Naturforscher Leopoldina (Germany)
  • Indian National Science Academy
  • Accademia dei Lincei (Italy)
  • Science Council of Japan
  • Academia Mexicana de Ciencias (Mexico)
  • Russian Academy of Sciences
  • Academy of Science of South Africa