Climate Quote by Neil deGrasse Tyson
“The press still thinks [global warming] is controversial. So they find the 1% of the scientists and put them up as if they're 50% of the research results. You in the public would have no idea that this is basically a done deal and that we're on to other problems, because the journalists are trying to give it a 50/50 story. It's not a 50/50 story. It's not. Period.”
About This Quote
Source Interview: Public Talk on Climate Change, 2015
Media often overstates scientific disagreement by highlighting a tiny minority, misleading the public about consensus and urgency.
In simple terms: Journalists exaggerate minority opinions, hiding the strong scientific agreement on climate change.
Recognize and seek the full scientific consensus.
Themes
Mood
Type
When to use this quote
- climate policy debates
- news reporting
- education curricula
- public outreach
Key Concepts
Questions to Reflect On
- How can we verify scientific consensus?
- What responsibilities do journalists have in reporting science?
Minority voices can be legitimate; not all dissent is manufactured.