Shocked By Climate Change Denial? How To Deal With Misinformation
Recognizing climate change misinformation and countering effectively
Credit: This article is based on two scientific articles by John Cook. (Full citations and link available at the end of the article)
In the last few decades, a huge amount of scientific research has been done on whether global warming is caused by human activities. The results point to an overwhelming consensus that it is indeed. And still, a small number of scientists deny global warming and climate change, often basing their reasoning on misconceptions or research with major flaws.
In the scientific community, major flaws are prevented by peer-reviewing articles. A peer-review is feedback provided on an unpublished article by preferably three independent researchers in the same field. The goal of this feedback is allowing the author(s) to improve the article before publication or — in case of major flaws — rejecting the article. It is striking that many more scientists who deny climate change have decided to skip this review phase and report their results directly in the media than non-denying scientists.
Skipping the review phase and publishing incorrect studies about climate change can be very damaging, as it keeps misconceptions alive, can…
