How can we stop global warming?

From Bulletin of Science, Technology and Society

By James Powell

People who accept science have been asking that question for years, to no appreciable effect. The lack of action has already ensured that global temperature will exceed the 2°C goal of the Paris Climate Agreement. We can still limit the rise to 3°C, but time is running out.

The issue of global warming requires a global response. All world leaders need to be on board.  The reluctance of some important leaders (e.g. America's Trump, Australia's Morrison, Brazil's Bolsonaro) convinces large numbers of the public that there is no consensus among scientists on human-caused global warming and therefore it may be false, or at least we need to wait until scientists agree before acting. Lobbying for leaders to adjust their attitude and policies or wait to vote in new leaders who believe in the science may never happen, at best they may take precious time.                                                                                                                                                     

Of course, the 100% consensus is not likely to convince those whose minds have long been made up about global warming. Surveys have shown that presenting contrary facts to those with strong opinions only causes them to double-down, a most depressing result for us scholars. Even so, there may be enough who have not yet made up their minds and who have witnessed the extreme weather events of the last few years. If they knew that research exists showing that publishing scientists are now unanimous on human-caused global warming, they might be moved to vote with their conscience.

One thing is certain: if we fail to act in time, the only thing that our grandchildren will want to know about this generation and its elected leaders will be how hard we tried to prevent global warming.

Article details

Scientists Reach 100% Consensus on Anthropogenic Global Warming
James Powell
First Published November 20, 2019 Research Article 2
DOI: 10.1177/0270467619886266
From Bulletin of Science, Technology and Society