The Global Warming 'Hoax'

From time to time, I come across articles on the Web claiming that Global Warming is a hoax or a global conspiracy.

I for one would love these conspiracy theories to be true so that I can stop worrying the planet. Sadly though, these skeptics have got it wrong.

Their ideas have had their chance: Once upon a time they were the 'majority' view or, at least, the view of those that talked the loudest (like those companies and governments with a vested interest in keeping business-as-usual). "Where's the evidence?" they all shouted.

Then, of course, the evidence came flooding in (No pun intended). From retreating glaciers to thinning polar ice caps to rising sea levels to acidification of the oceans to data showing rising temperatures, the scientists demonstrated that climate change was happening and that it was very likely our fault.

To believe the 'hoax', we have to accept that thousands of scientists, all over the world, have conspired to falsify this data. In other words: Lie. To what end?

One theory is that it's to secure funding for their projects. Really? Surely there'd be more available if they took the opposite view? All those oil producing companies and countries, the car manufacturers, and the coal industry would love for global warming to go away.

Another theory is that western governments want to keep the people scared for some reason now that we're no longer threatened by nuclear war.

This all smacks of desperation to me.

No, as far as I'm concerned, when the scientific community speak with one voice, as they are on this issue, we should all listen.