From Union of Concerned Scientists




For centuries science has made our world a better place. But recently, organized interests are attempting to turn science, especially climate science, into a political football. Those who seek to delay desperately needed action to reduce global warming pollution have manufactured controversies and misrepresented the facts. Why? Because they're scared. In the last few years we've made substantial progress towards reining in harmful emissions and establishing a cleaner approach to our nation's energy system. Change is coming, and these attacks on science are a last ditch attempt by polluting industries and their cronies to continue to operate business as usual. We can't let them get away with it. We must challenge those who distort the truth, and give the public the real facts about global warming. —Karla		  

What is the scientifically accurate response to those who claim that global warming is not man-made, but is only related to natural changes in Earth's climate? 
-C. Ortiz, Ivyland, PA.

The climate can be influenced by a number of factors from both natural causes to human activities. So how do scientists know which of these factors are actually causing the climate to change? One way is to tease apart the atmospheric concentration of carbon dioxide to see how much is from natural sources and how much is from human activity. Another way is to use computer models to track which factors match the changes in global temperature that we have seen over the last century. MORE

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