Climate change (CC) is evident, but CC deniers do not accept reality.
Background
Climate change is one of the most important topics of discussion in the 21st century across various forums, including scientific meetings and policy-designing workshops. The term "climate change" gained prominence after the revelation that human-induced greenhouse gas emissions were altering the climate at the end of the 19th century. Since then, climate change has remained a widely debated issue at international, regional, and national levels in development discourse.
Most scientific communities acknowledge the existence and impact of climate change; however, some skeptics downplay its significance in the 21st century. In a world where democracy prevails, differing opinions are inevitable. However, any argument must have a scientific basis and be supported by facts and figures. Let’s delve deeper into the topic of climate change and analyze multiple perspectives surrounding it.
What Really Is Climate Change?
A common misconception is equating climate variability with climate change. While the two are interrelated, they are distinct phenomena. Climate variability refers to short-term changes in weather conditions, whereas climate change denotes long-term shifts in average weather patterns at local, regional, and global scales due to anthropogenic activities that increase greenhouse gas emissions.
The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), an apex body comprising 195 countries that provides scientific evidence to inform climate policies, defines climate change as "a change in the state of the climate that can be identified (e.g., using statistical tests) by changes in the mean and/or variability of its properties and that persists for an extended period, typically decades or longer."
According to a NASA report, while the term ‘global warming’ is often used interchangeably with ‘climate change,’ global warming specifically refers to human-induced temperature rise, whereas climate change encompasses both natural and human-induced warming and its broader impacts on the Earth. The Australian Academy of Sciences defines climate change as "the change in the pattern of weather and related changes in oceans, land surfaces, and ice sheets occurring over timescales of decades or longer." This distinction highlights that climate change is more than just weather variability or global warming.
Further Detailing Climate Change
Most scientists agree that addressing climate change is one of the most pressing issues facing humanity today. Global leaders are aware of this phenomenon and are actively working on strategies to combat climate change while pursuing development initiatives. Studies indicate that the Earth’s average surface temperature has risen by approximately 1.18 degrees Celsius since the 19th century, largely due to increased carbon dioxide emissions.
According to NASA’s Global Climate Change Section, climate change has led to multiple environmental impacts, including warming oceans, shrinking ice sheets, glacial retreat, decreased snow cover, rising sea levels, declining Arctic sea ice, ocean acidification, and an increase in extreme weather events. Climate activists such as Greta Thunberg, an 18-year-old Swedish social activist, argue that climate change poses an existential crisis to humanity.
Climate Change Denial: A Minority Voice
Mark Maslin, writing in The Conversation, identifies five types of climate change denial. The first is science denial, which asserts that climate change is a natural process rather than an anthropogenic phenomenon and dismisses the reliability of climate models developed by scientists. The second is economic denial, which argues that initiatives to address climate change are too costly. The third, humanitarian denial, claims that climate change has positive effects, such as making temperate zones warmer and thus more suitable for agriculture. This perspective also emphasizes the benefits of increased carbon dioxide for plant growth and argues that warmer climates save lives compared to colder ones.
The fourth type is political denial, which shifts responsibility by blaming other countries for inaction while prioritizing local issues over climate change. The fifth, crisis denial, downplays climate change as a manageable issue that wealthier nations will be able to address in the future.
Similarly, Damian Carrington, writing in The Guardian, categorizes climate change deniers into four groups: the shill, who creates confusion about the science and economics of climate change; the grifter, who contradicts scientific facts for financial gain; the egomaniac, who seeks recognition by opposing mainstream scientific consensus; and the ideological fool, who views global action on climate change as a form of communism and opposes regulation in favor of free-market ideologies.
Among notable climate change skeptics, former U.S. President Donald Trump has made several controversial statements questioning the notion of anthropogenic climate change. His Twitter account, @realDonaldTrump (later permanently suspended for unrelated reasons), frequently dismissed climate change concerns. Some experts argue that Trump’s understanding of climate change was fundamentally flawed, making him a prime example of the climate deniers characterized by Maslin and Carrington.
Analyzing the Context
While proponents like Maslin and Carrington effectively highlight the flaws in climate denial, there is also a need for balanced discussion. Climate change is undoubtedly one of the greatest challenges facing humanity, but it is sometimes misused for various purposes. For instance, linking every issue to climate change to attract donor funding or development support undermines the true significance of the problem.
While rigorous research on climate change impacts is crucial, overgeneralization weakens the credibility of climate science. For example, blaming climate change for a lower crop yield without considering inadequate fertilizer use dilutes the real impact of climate change. However, if crop yield declines specifically due to heat or water stress caused by rising seasonal temperatures, then climate change can justifiably be considered a contributing factor. Addressing such issues requires high-quality research to accurately measure the role of climate change.
Concluding Remarks
Despite politically motivated attempts to undermine climate science, climate change remains a proven and significant challenge for humanity in the 21st century. A strong partnership between developed, developing, and least-developed countries is essential to gather data, analyze trends, and take strategic actions to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Only through collaboration and evidence-based policymaking can we mitigate the effects of climate change and safeguard the planet for future generations.
(This blog was written on 22 June 2021 and published here without further update. In 2025, Donald Trump has already assumed the Presidential chair second time.)
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