Listen to the experts not phoney sceptics

Sometimes a person who rejects the science of climate change self-identifies as a sceptic. This is problematic because they are not using the 'tools of scientific scepticism to arrive at their position.' The word sceptic gives an 'unwarranted veneer of scientific thinking' to their claims, claims which undermine evidence found using the scientific method. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) is the highest standard when it comes to information about climate change. It embodies a process where peer-reviewed evidence is summarised for policy makers which includes "the scientific, technical and socio-economic information relevant to understanding the scientific basis of risk of human-induced climate change, its potential impacts and options for adaptation and mitigation".

The IPCC is self-correcting because it is based on evidence, therefore, it embodies scientific scepticism. People who reject, with a wave of their hand, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change findings, and other credible scientific evidence are not sceptical, they are scientific Luddites that deserve no platform for their views that are indeed dangerous because they only serve to stop action on climate change. While it appears there is debate over whether or not climate change is happening, it is. The Liberal and National Party can keep stalling on taking real action to cut carbon and methane emissions, from coal and gas burning, and subsidising industries that are destroying the planet. The experts say that we need to have deep cuts in emissions now to get close to 2 degrees warming let alone the target of 1.5 degrees.

Tony Goodfellow, Ballarat