Climate change describes the drastic and unstoppable global warming caused by humans. Since the beginning of industrialization in the 18th century, the temperature on earth has risen continuously. The consequences of this process are devastating and have been measurable for many years. It has now been scientifically proven that humans make a decisive contribution to the greenhouse effect and climate change, primarily caused by carbon dioxide emissions.
But a minority of experts and politicians refuse to recognize this and even demand to get out of climate protection. The global warming controversy is almost exclusively a public debate.
How do climate skeptics, climate critics and climate deniers define themselves? The term climate skepticism or climate change skepticism describes the negative and doubtful attitude towards human-made global warming. Accordingly, it is denied that climate change is due to humans or that climate change and global warming even exist. In addition, the consequences of climate change are played down.
A distinction can be made between climate skeptics and climate critics and climate deniers.
1. Climate skeptics
Climate skeptics rate the effects of climate change as less serious and doubt a connection between temperature rise and CO2 content in the atmosphere. As a rule, skepticism is indispensable for science, because this is the only way to make progress. That is why “real” skeptics are also open to rational arguments. However, it is often noted that many climate skeptics have already formed a firm opinion and are inaccessible to arguments.
2. Climate denier
In contrast to climate skeptics, climate deniers are inaccessible to all arguments and scientifically proven facts and truths. Climate deniers admit climate change in the form of a rise in temperature, but not in the form of global warming, but consider this to be natural and not caused by humans. Well-organized campaigns with a high financial outlay play an important role here in spreading skepticism and rejection.
The arguments of the climate skeptics
The attitude of the climate skeptics stems primarily from the argument of the inaccuracy and uncertainty of climate researchers. Over the past few decades, many climate researchers have published a number of prophecies that have been proven to be misinformation.
A further thesis is asserted that human CO2 emissions are far too low to play a role in the climate and that climate change does not have to be negative per se. It is argued that a moderately warmer climate has significant advantages for the flora and fauna as well as us humans.
In return, some climate skeptics even speak of a global “cooling”, since the temperatures of the oceans are falling and the Arctic ice also appears to be recovering.
Most of the theses put forward by climate skeptics can, however, now be refuted and refuted beyond any doubt.
Argumentation pattern of climate skepticism
Climate deniers and skeptics use a number of different methods to convince the public and the media of their theses. One of the most popular means is the propaganda of conspiracy theories, which climate researchers accuse, among other things, of corruption and joint conspiracy. Furthermore, supposedly highly qualified experts are presented to the public, who often disseminate their own dubious studies and opinions. Falsified information can also be communicated through a strongly selected data selection to reinforce one’s own arguments.
Of course, given all the data and variables, these arguments would collapse.
