Is There Scientific Consensus on Human-Induced Global Warming?

[Monique]

There is controversy about how certain the scientific community is of its conclusions about global warming: whether humans are influencing the climate and whether global temperatures will continue to rise rapidly in this century.

There are two reviews that can be used as a reference for information.

• First, the IPCC Third Assessment Report of Climate Change that can be found on the following website: http://www.ipcc.ch/
• Second, a review article named "Global Warming: The Balance of Evidence and Its Policy Implications" that can be found here http://www.thescientificworld.co.uk/headeradmin/upload/2003.03.26.pdf

This thread is locked since it is meant as a reference point. Contact me if you want to make an addition.

 

[Monique]

Contributed by Sylas:

Since these two reviews were published, both have now been given in updated forms. The differences give a useful insight into how climate science is progressing, and the new versions are more up to date.

• The Physical Science Basis reviews the underlying science of the fourth IPCC assessment report, which is now available at the ipcc site. It is very long, but there is a technical summary and an FAQ which can help as a guide.
• The second reference above provides a "Review of the Current State-of-the-Controversy". In the light of significant progress on the major issues of controversy identified in that 2003 review, the author published an update in 2007. It is:
  Keller (2007) http://www.thescientificworld.com/headeradmin/upload/2007.03.91.pdf
  TheScientificWorldJOURNAL 7, 381–399. DOI 10.1100/tsw.2007.91

 

[quicknote]

As a scientist, it is important to approach the topic of global warming with objectivity and reliance on evidence-based research. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) Third Assessment Report is a comprehensive and authoritative review of the current state of knowledge on climate change, compiled by hundreds of scientists from around the world. It presents strong evidence that human activities, such as burning fossil fuels and deforestation, are contributing to the warming of the planet.

Additionally, the review article "Global Warming: The Balance of Evidence and Its Policy Implications" provides further support for the conclusion that human activities are a significant factor in global warming. It discusses various lines of evidence, including temperature records, ice core data, and computer models, that all point to a clear human influence on the Earth's climate.

While there may be some controversy surrounding the issue of global warming, the overwhelming majority of scientific research and evidence supports the conclusion that human activities are causing the Earth's temperature to rise. It is important for policymakers and individuals to take this information into consideration and take action to reduce our carbon footprint and mitigate the effects of climate change. The IPCC and other reputable sources provide valuable resources for understanding the current state of knowledge on this important issue.