To: maceng2 who wrote (1110662 ) 1/15/2019 3:45:56 PM From: Wharf Rat Read Replies (1) | Respond to "I would have been jealous frankly."Message 31964955 James Hansen testified to a Congressional hearing on 23 June 1988, [70] stating with high confidence that long term warming was under way with severe warming likely within the next 50 years, and warning of likely storms and floods. There was increasing media attention: the scientific community had reached a broad consensus that the climate was warming, human activity was very likely the primary cause, and there would be significant consequences if the warming trend was not curbed. [71] These facts encouraged discussion about new laws concerning environmental regulation, which was opposed by the fossil fuel industry. [72] Global Climate Coalition and the George C. Marshall Institute sought to spread doubt among the public, in a strategy already developed by the tobacco industry. [73] [74] [75] A small group of scientists opposed to the consensus on global warming became politically involved, and with support from conservative political interests, began publishing in books and the press rather than in scientific journals. [76] This small group of scientists included some of the same people that were part of the strategy already tried by the tobacco industry. [77] Spencer Weart identifies this period as the point where legitimate skepticism about basic aspects of climate science was no longer justified, and those spreading mistrust about these issues became deniers. [78] As their arguments were increasingly refuted by the scientific community and new data, deniers turned to political arguments, making personal attacks on the reputation of scientists, and promoting ideas of a global warming conspiracy . [79] en.wikipedia.org
