Why Climate Skeptics Should Back Climate Action

What if we create a better world for nothing?

Theo Sheppard
THOUGHTS

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Photo by Nicholas Doherty on Unsplash

This story is inspired by a cartoon by Joel Pett. Despite going viral just before the 2009 Copenhagen climate summit ten years ago, the cartoon’s humorous––yet disturbingly accurate––message is more relevant than ever.

While the overwhelming scientific consensus is that anthropogenic climate change is real, there remains a vocal minority that refuses to acknowledge this.

When even a massive body of scientific evidence isn’t enough to convince some people, it can be easy to conclude that some people are beyond reach.

However, there could still be a way to convince deniers and sceptics.

Cartoon: Presenter with a list of the benefits of climate change action. Man in crowd saying ‘what if it’s a big hoax?’
Cartoon by U.S. cartoonist Joel Pett for USA Today

“What if it’s a big hoax and we create a better world for nothing?”

Most — if not all — would agree that clean air and water are highly desirable qualities of a habitable planet.

We’d probably all also agree that it would be ideal if our world continued to supply us with the food and energy we need.

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