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11-02-2008 18:17
When scepticism is irresponsible
I find it hard to reconcile global warming scepticism with the overwhelming, authoritative scientific consensus on the matter (see for example the opinions of the world\'s most eminent scientific bodies on the global warming emergency listed and linked in post #6).  
 
Now it is fine to be sceptical about everything (that indeed is fundamental to scientific inquiry) but unsubstantiated and uncredentialled public expression of bald scepticism in the face of such an overwhelming scientific consensus about (A) GLOBAL WARMING, something that threatens the lives of 6-9 billion people this century (see report by the prestigious UK Royal Society on a Royal Society lecture by Professor James Lovelock FRS lecture report: Humans at war with Earth on climate changge says Lovelock )is akin to denying the overwhelming scientific evidence for (B) SMOKING (something that kills 5 million annually and is set to kill 0.5 billion people in the next 100 years at current rates). 
 
Public scepticism about (B) that has the effect of damaging public health campaigns against SMOKING (and which are aimed at saving 5 million lives annually and 0.5 billion lives in the coming century) can be seen as highly anti-social and irresponsible. 
 
How then should one regard unsubstantiated, uncredentialled public scepticism about (A) that has the effect of damaging collective advocacy by an overwhelming majority of scientists and directed to saving ecosystems, species, the biosphere and the lives of over 6 billion people?  
 
Further if ignorant, uncredentialled scepticism impacted only upon a solitary and blinkered SMOKER sceptic it would be sad and unfortunate - but when it publicly detracts from the safety of 6 billion fellow human beings in contradiction of an overwhelming scientific consensus then it is highly irresponsible. Ditto for unsubstantiated, uncredentialled scepticism about global warming that is regarded as a major threat to humanity (6.5 billion people currently, over 9 billion by 2050) by an overwhelming scientific consensus.
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