There is considerable disagreement among scientists regarding the extent to which global warming, or anthropogenic climate change, is real. While the majority of scientists accept that climate change is real, some hold the position that it is not caused by human activity, while others hope that the effects can be managed through intelligent policy and management. In terms of the prevalence of belief among scientists, it is difficult to obtain accurate figures due to the storied nature of the debate and the complexity of opinion among researchers.However, as research and data showing the dire environmental effects of global warming continue to mount, the vast majority of scientists and researchers now recognize global warming as a real phenomenon driven by human activity.
The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) is the most widely cited source of scientific data related to global warming. The IPCC, an organization of global scientists convened by the United Nations, reports that the Earth’s temperature has risen 0.9°C since the preindustrial age, and that this warming is primarily driven by increasing carbon dioxide levels, a by-product of burning fuel and other human activities. In its 2018 report, the IPCC predicted that the Earth’s temperature could rise another 1.5°C as early as 2030, which could have catastrophic consequences for the environment. In other words, the data is indicative of a strong scientific consensus that global warming is real and driven by human activity.
A survey conducted by the American Association for the Advancement of Science found that 97% of those who actively publish papers related to climate science accept the fact that the climate is being altered by human activities. However, this number is only a small portion of the overall scientific community, and more widespread polls of scientists of all backgrounds have yielded similar results. For instance, a survey of 10,000 scientists from around the world showed that 92% of respondents “strongly agreed” or “agreed” that human activity was playing a role in global warming. Statements from leading scientific organizations such as the National Academy of Sciences and the Greenpeace Research Laboratories further confirm this sentiment.
Given the overwhelming scientific consensus on the reality of global warming, any challenge to this position is mostly put forward by those with a clear ideological agenda.The fact is that scientific data overwhelmingly supports the notion that global warming is real and includes evidence of the wide-ranging effects, from floods and droughts to rising sea levels and extreme weather events. Scientists around the world are in agreement that the earth is facing a rapidly changing climate, and any attempts to deny its reality would be in defiance of the data.
Now that the science is understood, it is up to world governments and people to come together to craft policy and develop strategies to effectively mitigate and adapt to the climate crisis. Moving forward, it is important for all individuals to understand the gravity of the situation, and to begin taking steps to reduce their contribution to global warming. Severe impacts are already being felt around the world, but together, the global community has the power and the responsibility to ensure a livable planet for future generations.
