Your textbook notes that nearly all climate scientists are in agreement that global warming is occurring and that it is caused by human activities that emit greenhouse gases, with catastrophic results predicted. In fact, scientists estimate that if all of Greenland's ice sheet were to melt, the global sea level would rise by 23 feet. Ominously, in 2012 satellites revealed that 40 percent of the ice sheet's surface had melted, and that by July 12 a shocking 97 percent of the ice sheet had turned to slush. But sea levels did not rise more than 1 or 2 millimeters in 2012, not the several feet predicted by the scientists. With so much of the scientific community in agreement about this issue, why might significant doubt about climate change persist among the general public?

Question

Your textbook notes that nearly all climate scientists are in agreement that global warming is occurring and that it is caused by human activities that emit greenhouse gases, with catastrophic results predicted.  In fact, scientists estimate that if all of Greenland's ice sheet were to melt, the global sea level would rise by 23 feet.  Ominously, in 2012 satellites revealed that 40 percent of the ice sheet's surface had melted, and that by July 12 a shocking 97 percent of the ice sheet had turned to slush. But sea levels did not rise more than 1 or 2 millimeters in 2012, not the several feet predicted by the scientists.   With so much of the scientific community in agreement about this issue, why might significant doubt about climate change persist among the general public?

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The Answer of Your textbook notes that nearly all climate scientists are in agreement that global warming is occurring and that it is caused by human activities that emit greenhouse gases, with catastrophic results predicted.  In fact, scientists estimate that if all of Greenland's ice sheet were to melt, the global sea level would rise by 23 feet.  Ominously, in 2012 satellites revealed that 40 percent of the ice sheet's surface had melted, and that by July 12 a shocking 97 percent of the ice sheet had turned to slush. But sea levels did not rise more than 1 or 2 millimeters in 2012, not the several feet predicted by the scientists.   With so much of the scientific community in agreement about this issue, why might significant doubt about climate change persist among the general public?

Your Textbook Notes That Nearly All Climate Scientists Are in Agreement