10 Questions for climate change deniers

Everyone is entitled to their opinion. Even on a proximal danger such as anthropogenic global warming. As it is our prime assumption at LSS that most people are not fools, we will assume that those who doubt the climate crisis have arrived at their opinions by careful reasoning and an exhaustive consideration of the evidence. In which case they will be happy to answer the following questions (we have put the answers below)

1 How do you explain the fall in the C¹³/C¹² ratio in atmospheric CO₂ since 1850?

2 Why has the ratio of C¹⁴ in the atmosphere also fallen since 1850?

3 In which case, where has all the extra C¹² come from?

4 Taking the figures from 1850 to 2023 as a baseline, does the increase in CO2 match the increase in observable global temperatures?

5 Why is Venus so hot?

6 If the data suggesting global warming is manufactured by scientific institutions as part of a conspiracy, are the same institutions conspiring in areas such as cancer research, astronomy and cardiac medicine?

7 If you believe in conspiracies, is it equally possible that other bodies, such as certain energy companies and media outlets may also be distorting facts and manufacturing opinions to suit their agendas?

8 If the sudden increases in warmth are due to natural cycles, how long are these cycles? Has the length of them changed. What is their amplitude? Do we see the same cycles across a range of natural phenomena, and how closely do your figures coincide for each?

9 Can you suggest any natural phenomenon which accounts for the rise in global temperatures since 1850?

10 Please explain your criteria for choosing between fact and opinion

Answers

1It has fallen as the amount of atmospheric CO₂ has risen

2 There is no measurable C¹⁴ in the carbon in ancient coal and oil, as its half life is only a few thousand years

3 fossil fuels

4 very closely

5 Very high levels of carbon dioxide in atmosphere

6 or do you just pick and choose which conspiracy is convenient to believe

7 yes- and the same thing happened with tobacco fifty years ago

8 E.g. are the cycles in sunspots, ocean temperature, fluctuations in earth orbit, atmospheric temperature, or what?

9 No

10 This one is up to them 

#climate change #global warming #carbon dioxide