Why would scientists dedicated to uncovering the truth about the natural world deliberately misrepresent the work of their own colleagues? Why would they spread accusations with no basis? Why would they refuse to correct their arguments once they had been shown to be incorrect? And why did the press continue to quote them, year after year, even as their claims were shown, one after another, to be false?
Naomi OreskesMany people have the impression that there is significant scientific disagreement about global climate change. It's time to lay that misapprehension to rest. There is a scientific consensus on the fact that Earth's climate is heating up and human activities are part of the reason. We need to stop repeating nonsense about the uncertainty of global warming and start talking seriously about the right approach to address it.
Naomi OreskesAt a recent conference, a colleague told one of us that in IPCC discussions, some scientists have been reluctant to make strong claims about the scientific evidence, lest contrarians "attack us". Another said that she'd rather err on the side of conservatism in her estimates, because then she feels more "secure."
Naomi OreskesThe same mentality that leads to environmental despoliation, environmental destruction, also leads to damage to people.
Naomi OreskesWhat to do about climate change is political, it's social, and it's moral, which is one of the reasons the scientific community reached out to the Pope, to ask for his involvement in this issue.
Naomi OreskesI think Pope Francis is our Pope Francis. I mean, the point of him is that he's a global leader, and he's trying, I think he's embracing that role.
Naomi OreskesYet again, unscientific claims were being circulated broadly, but the scientists' refutation of them was published where only fellow scientists would see it.
Naomi OreskesScientists should continue doing what they've always done, which is to understand the Earth as well as they can.
Naomi OreskesScientists are scientists. They're not really in a position to speak clearly on the moral dimensions, and they're not really comfortable doing that.
Naomi OreskesScientific monitoring is going to be terrifically important, because whatever steps we take ... we will have to monitor those steps in order to know if they're actually working.
Naomi OreskesWe don't survive without plants and animals because we rely on them, we rely on plants to put oxygen into the atmosphere, we rely on ... fish and crops and cows to eat.
Naomi OreskesScientists have been saying, for an awfully long time, that we're all interconnected. Scientists would use the word 'ecosystem' to express that idea. Obviously, people can't survive without air and water, and we rely on plants and animals for food, and plants and animals rely on us to preserve their habitats.
Naomi OreskesIt's extremely hard to know what the economic consequences of any decision will be. And I'm not a, a, a financial analyst, so I, I generally don't try to make some kind of prediction about that.
Naomi OreskesIt really is a very radical call ... to reject materialism as our central value and to think about the sanctity of life and what that really means if we take it seriously.
Naomi OreskesI think it is important for people to understand that there are real serious economic costs and real serious economic damages associated with inaction on climate change.
Naomi OreskesThere's real economic costs to climate change - So, Superstorm Sandy led to billions of dollars in damages. The fires out in the west, 70 million dollars a day are being spent in fighting fires that have clearly been exacerbated by drought and climate change. So, people have pointed out the true dollars and cents cost of inaction on climate change.
Naomi Oreskes