Answers Quote by Don Aitkin
“Why is there such insistence that AGW has occurred and needs drastic solutions? This is a puzzle, but my short answer is that the IPCC has been built on the AGW proposition and of course keeps plugging it, whatever the data say. The IPCC has considerable clout. Most people shy off inspecting the evidence because it looks like science and must therefore be hard. The media have been captured by AGW (it makes for great stories), the environmental movement and the Greens love it, and business is reluctant to get involved.”
About This Quote
Source Speech: Climate Change Panel Discussion, 2020
The claim that anthropogenic global warming is real is reinforced by institutional authority, media narratives, and political interests, making dissent difficult despite data uncertainties.
In simple terms: Authority and media boost climate change claims, discouraging scrutiny.
Key Takeaway
Question data critically, seek diverse sources.
Themes
climate change
media influence
political power
science communication
Mood
skeptical
concerned
analytical
Type
policy
argumentative
When to use this quote
- policy debates
- media reporting
- academic research
- public education
Key Concepts
confirmation bias
institutional inertia
public perception
Questions to Reflect On
- How do we balance consensus with open inquiry?
- What mechanisms ensure data integrity in climate science?
A Different Perspective
Scientific consensus may overlook dissenting evidence, leading to policy rigidity.
![“The same individuals who are doing primary research in the role of humans on the climate system are then permitted to lead the [IPCC] assessment! There should be an outcry on this obvious conflict of interest, but to date either few recognize this conflict, or see that since the recommendations of…” quote by Roger A. Pielke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/c17/roger-a-pielke-117094_agendas_the-same-individuals-who-are-doing-prima_3067758.jpg)
![“How reliable are the computer [climate] models on which possible future climates are based? Not very. All will agree that the task of modeling climate is vast, because of the estimates that have to be made and the rubbery quality of much of the data.” quote by Don Aitkin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/6c9/don-aitkin-58443_agree_how-reliable-are-the-computer-climate-mo_2504201.jpg)
