Argument #1Argument #1 Climate has changed before (change Climate has changed before (change
is natural)is natural)
Earth’s climate has its natural Earth’s climate has its natural warming and cooling trendswarming and cooling trends
The warming that is occurring now The warming that is occurring now has nothing to do with human has nothing to do with human activitiesactivities
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The warming now is far beyond the The warming now is far beyond the natural cyclenatural cycle
Why has climate changed in the Why has climate changed in the past?past? Climate changes because it is forced to Climate changes because it is forced to
changechange Human activities is the force that is Human activities is the force that is
causing climate to warm nowcausing climate to warm now
Argument #2Argument #2 The Sun is causing the warmingThe Sun is causing the warming
The Sun naturally changes in The Sun naturally changes in intensity, therefore when the Sun intensity, therefore when the Sun outputs more energy, the climate outputs more energy, the climate gets warmergets warmer
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Solar intensity has actually decrease Solar intensity has actually decrease over the past few decades while over the past few decades while temperatures still go uptemperatures still go up
Argument #3Argument #3 A warmer Winter? I’d love a warmer A warmer Winter? I’d love a warmer
Winter!Winter!
The positive effects from global The positive effects from global warming will far outweigh the warming will far outweigh the negative impactsnegative impacts
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In 2011 so far, there have been 11 In 2011 so far, there have been 11 billion dollar weather disastersbillion dollar weather disasters Deaths from heatwaves will skyrocket, Deaths from heatwaves will skyrocket,
crops will fail due to the heatcrops will fail due to the heat
Argument #4Argument #4 There is no consensus that climate scientists There is no consensus that climate scientists
believe global warming is caused by humansbelieve global warming is caused by humans
How can the public believe in How can the public believe in global warming is the scientists global warming is the scientists can’t even agree?can’t even agree?
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97% of climate scientists agree that 97% of climate scientists agree that humans are causing the climate to humans are causing the climate to changechange A study of all peer-reviewed articles A study of all peer-reviewed articles
from 1993 – 2003 showed that NOT from 1993 – 2003 showed that NOT ONE paper rejected the consensus that ONE paper rejected the consensus that humans are causing climate change.humans are causing climate change.
The myth is specifically portrayed by The myth is specifically portrayed by skeptics and placed in the mediaskeptics and placed in the media
Argument #5Argument #5 The climate is actually coolingThe climate is actually cooling
Data shows that the climate has Data shows that the climate has actually cooled recentlyactually cooled recently
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The decade from 2000-2009 was The decade from 2000-2009 was actually the warmest on recordactually the warmest on record 2010 was the warmest year on the 2010 was the warmest year on the
recordrecord Recently, the top ten warmest Octobers Recently, the top ten warmest Octobers
have all occurred since 1997have all occurred since 1997 This October, 2This October, 2ndnd warmest on land, 8 warmest on land, 8thth
warmest overallwarmest overall
Argument #6Argument #6 The temperature record is unreliableThe temperature record is unreliable
Thermometers are not maintained Thermometers are not maintained properly and are in places that properly and are in places that record abnormally high record abnormally high temperaturestemperatures
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BEST project set out to prove the BEST project set out to prove the skeptics correctskeptics correct Dr. Richard Muller studied the Dr. Richard Muller studied the
temperature record to prove that temperature record to prove that thermometers were not accurate due to thermometers were not accurate due to the urban heat island, in partthe urban heat island, in part
Opposite was found. Muller turned Opposite was found. Muller turned from skeptic, to global warming from skeptic, to global warming proponentproponent
Argument #7Argument #7 Plants and animals can adapt quicklyPlants and animals can adapt quickly
Even with global warming plants Even with global warming plants and animals will adapt to the and animals will adapt to the changes and thrivechanges and thrive
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We may be experiencing a mass We may be experiencing a mass extinctionextinction Extinction rate - 100 to 1000 times Extinction rate - 100 to 1000 times
higher than “background”higher than “background”
Argument #8Argument #8 It’s cold outside!It’s cold outside!
How can global warming be true if How can global warming be true if it is snowing outside my house?it is snowing outside my house?
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Day-to-day variations have little to Day-to-day variations have little to do with global warmingdo with global warming In fact, extreme events such as Winter In fact, extreme events such as Winter
storms may increasestorms may increase Northeast has snowiest Winter on record in Northeast has snowiest Winter on record in
2010-20112010-2011 Two things needed for big snowstormsTwo things needed for big snowstorms
Lots of water vaporLots of water vapor Temperatures below freezingTemperatures below freezing Both are possibleBoth are possible
Argument #9Argument #9 We are actually heading into an ice We are actually heading into an ice
ageage
If you look at the natural cycle, we If you look at the natural cycle, we should be heading into an ice age should be heading into an ice age soonsoon
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Perhaps, but not for another 10,000 Perhaps, but not for another 10,000 yearsyears Global warming due to humans is Global warming due to humans is
happening NOW, not in 10,000 yearshappening NOW, not in 10,000 years