rooster, 40 years ago, scientists predicted climate change. And hey, they were right
July 23, 2019 6.00am AEST Updated July 29, 2019 1.48pm AEST
It’s been four decades since the first credible, global report on the effect of carbon dioxide on the global climate. Shutterstock
This month the world has been celebrating the 50th anniversary of Neil Armstrong setting foot on the Moon. But this week sees another scientific anniversary, perhaps just as important for the future of civilisation.
Forty years ago, a group of climate scientists sat down at Woods Hole in Massachusetts for the first meeting of the “Ad Hoc Group on Carbon Dioxide and Climate”. It led to the preparation of what became known as the Charney Report – the first comprehensive assessment of global climate change due to carbon dioxide.
It doesn’t sound as impressive as landing on the Moon, and there certainly weren’t millions waiting with bated breath for the deliberations of the meeting.
But the Charney Report is an exemplar of good science, and the success of its predictions over the past 40 years has firmly established the science of global warming.
"None of the dire predictions have come close to being accurate"
In what other area of human endeavor today do you believe the science isn't the best we have?
In 2016 Trump said he would give you 6% economic growth per year. After elected he dropped it to 3.5% - 4%, yet you still believe in him, but not in climate science. Do you see how your logic looks wildly inconsistent to curious people?
It was Plato who said, “He, O men, is the wisest, who like Socrates, knows that his wisdom is in truth worth nothing”