--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The climate is changing. That's not the…" description: "\"The climate is changing. That's not the debate. The debate is how do we know what the ideal surface temperature is in 2100?\" — Scott Pruitt" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0fa/scott-pruitt-5220_changing_the-climate-is-changing-that-s-not-the-d_2019563.jpg" --- # The climate is changing. That's not the debate. The debate… ![“The climate is changing. That's not the debate. The debate is how do we know what the ideal surface temperature is in 2100?” quote by Scott Pruitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0fa/scott-pruitt-5220_changing_the-climate-is-changing-that-s-not-the-d_2019563.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0fa/scott-pruitt-5220_changing_the-climate-is-changing-that-s-not-the-d_2019563.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0fa/scott-pruitt-5220_changing_the-climate-is-changing-that-s-not-the-d_2019563.jpg) > “The climate is changing. That's not the debate. The debate is how do we know what the ideal surface temperature is in 2100?” [Scott Pruitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-pruitt/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The speaker asserts that climate change is settled, and the real debate is about predicting future temperatures. **In simple terms:** Climate change is accepted; focus is on future forecasts. Key Takeaway Improve climate modeling accuracy. Themes environment science policy Mood analytical cautious forward‑looking Type scientific policy‑oriented When to use this quote - government planning - risk assessment - energy strategy - public communication Key Concepts forecasting uncertainty Questions to Reflect On - What methods improve climate predictions? - How should policy act amid uncertainty? A Different Perspective Predicting precise temperatures is highly uncertain. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Climate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/climate/) [Debate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/debate/) ## Related quotes > [The whole climate is changing: the winds, the ocean currents, the storm patterns, snow packs, snowmelt, flooding, droughts. Temperature is just a bit of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-holdren/the-whole-climate-is-changing-the-winds-the-ocean-currents-the-storm/) [John Holdren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-holdren/) > [...it is fairly well agreed that the surface temperature will rise about 1°C as a modest response to a doubling of atmospheric CO2 if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-christy/it-is-fairly-well-agreed-that-the-surface-temperature-will-rise-about/) [John Christy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-christy/) > [“Once the thermal radiation reaches the surface temperature of the Sun-some 6000 degrees Celsius-we perceive it as white light. At still higher temperatures, 8500…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henning-genz/once-the-thermal-radiation-reaches-the-surface-temperature-of-the-sun/) [Henning Genz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henning-genz/) > [“before dawn of another day I would be swimming for my life in mid-ocean, under water and on the surface, in a temperature of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/archibald-gracie/before-dawn-of-another-day-i-would-be-swimming-for-my-life-in-mid/) Archibald Gracie > [The climate is changing, and human activity contributes to that in some manner.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-pruitt/the-climate-is-changing-and-human-activity-contributes-to-that-in/) [Scott Pruitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-pruitt/) > [For someone to say that someone's a skeptic or a climate denier about the climate changing, that's just nonsensical. We see that throughout history.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-pruitt/for-someone-to-say-that-someone-s-a-skeptic-or-a-climate-denier-about/) [Scott Pruitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-pruitt/) > [I believe the ability to measure, with precision, the degree of human activity's impact on the climate is subject to more debate on whether…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-pruitt/i-believe-the-ability-to-measure-with-precision-the-degree-of-human/) [Scott Pruitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-pruitt/) > [My room is held at 68 degrees in temperature. That's the ideal sleep temperature.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mat-fraser/my-room-is-held-at-68-degrees-in-temperature-that-s-the-ideal-sleep/) [Mat Fraser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mat-fraser/) > [We know humans have most flourished during times of what? Warming trends. So I think there's assumptions made that because the climate is warming,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-pruitt/we-know-humans-have-most-flourished-during-times-of-what-warming/) [Scott Pruitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-pruitt/) > [Our climate is changing. The Earth's climate has, in fact, warmed by 1.1 to 1.6 degrees Fahrenheit since the industrial revolution. People look at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dianne-feinstein/our-climate-is-changing-the-earth-s-climate-has-in-fact-warmed-by-1-1/) [Dianne Feinstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dianne-feinstein/) > [We have great international experts within India telling us that the climate is changing, and actions has to be taken, otherwise China and India…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hans-rosling/we-have-great-international-experts-within-india-telling-us-that-the/) [Hans Rosling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hans-rosling/) > [Any objective look at what science has to say about climate change ought to be sufficient to persuade reasonable people that the climate is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-holdren/any-objective-look-at-what-science-has-to-say-about-climate-change/) [John Holdren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-holdren/) > [The climate is changing; I don't think you can deny that. But climate has always changed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-zinke/the-climate-is-changing-i-don-t-think-you-can-deny-that-but-climate/) [Ryan Zinke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-zinke/) > [I do believe that our climate is changing. I don't agree that all the changes are necessarily due solely to human activity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lisa-murkowski/i-do-believe-that-our-climate-is-changing-i-don-t-agree-that-all-the/) [Lisa Murkowski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lisa-murkowski/) > [The climate is changing. This year we have come to understand this when we faced events that resulted in fires.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vladimir-putin/the-climate-is-changing-this-year-we-have-come-to-understand-this/) [Vladimir Putin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vladimir-putin/) ## More by Scott Pruitt > [We're a small state. Our quantity of representation in Washington is not as large as a Texas, an Ohio, or a New York. So…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-pruitt/we-re-a-small-state-our-quantity-of-representation-in-washington-is/) [Scott Pruitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-pruitt/) > [Most lawsuits against the EPA historically have come either because of the agency's lack of regard for a statute or because the EPA failed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-pruitt/most-lawsuits-against-the-epa-historically-have-come-either-because/) [Scott Pruitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-pruitt/) > [I don't hang with polluters; I prosecute them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-pruitt/i-don-t-hang-with-polluters-i-prosecute-them/) [Scott Pruitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-pruitt/) > [Since my election as Oklahoma attorney general in 2010, I have been a proud member of a group of federalism-minded state attorneys general who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-pruitt/since-my-election-as-oklahoma-attorney-general-in-2010-i-have-been-a/) [Scott Pruitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-pruitt/) > [When you look at farmers and ranchers, for example, they are our first environmentalists. They are our first conservationists. When you look at the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-pruitt/when-you-look-at-farmers-and-ranchers-for-example-they-are-our-first/) [Scott Pruitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-pruitt/) > [This notion that we cannot be about jobs and stewardship of the environment is just simply not right. We've always done that well as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-pruitt/this-notion-that-we-cannot-be-about-jobs-and-stewardship-of-the/) [Scott Pruitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-pruitt/) > [I'm going to have a very thoughtful and meaningful enforcement response to Superfund to make sure that we are achieving good outcomes for citizens…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-pruitt/i-m-going-to-have-a-very-thoughtful-and-meaningful-enforcement/) [Scott Pruitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-pruitt/) > [The Constitutional framework of checks and balances matters.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-pruitt/the-constitutional-framework-of-checks-and-balances-matters/) [Scott Pruitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-pruitt/) > [I spent many hours in the batting cage. I remember many days when my hands were pretty cut up and bleeding.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-pruitt/i-spent-many-hours-in-the-batting-cage-i-remember-many-days-when-my/) [Scott Pruitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-pruitt/) > [Lead poisoning is an insidious menace that robs our citizens of their fullest potential.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-pruitt/lead-poisoning-is-an-insidious-menace-that-robs-our-citizens-of-their/) [Scott Pruitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-pruitt/) > [I spent a couple years just earnestly praying, asking the question that I don't think we ask enough: 'God what do you want to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-pruitt/i-spent-a-couple-years-just-earnestly-praying-asking-the-question/) [Scott Pruitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-pruitt/) > [This paradigm that says we have to choose industry over the environment or the environment over industry is the old way of thinking.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-pruitt/this-paradigm-that-says-we-have-to-choose-industry-over-the/) [Scott Pruitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-pruitt/) > [We know humans have most flourished during times of what? Warming trends. So I think there's assumptions made that because the climate is warming,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-pruitt/we-know-humans-have-most-flourished-during-times-of-what-warming/) [Scott Pruitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-pruitt/) > [What the American people deserve, I think, is a true, legitimate, peer-reviewed, objective, transparent discussion about CO2.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-pruitt/what-the-american-people-deserve-i-think-is-a-true-legitimate-peer/) [Scott Pruitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-pruitt/) > [Now having the honor of working for him, it is abundantly clear that President Trump is the most consequential leader of our time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-pruitt/now-having-the-honor-of-working-for-him-it-is-abundantly-clear-that/) [Scott Pruitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-pruitt/) [Explore all 102 Scott Pruitt quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-pruitt/) ## More Changing quotes > [“The game is changing' .. :The game is the same, the stakes are rising.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-f-hamilton/the-game-is-changing-the-game-is-the-same-the-stakes-are-rising/) [Peter F. Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-f-hamilton/) > [“No one ever changed the world waking up at noon.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/connor-chalfant/no-one-ever-changed-the-world-waking-up-at-noon/) [Connor Chalfant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/connor-chalfant/) > [Progress should mean that we are always changing the world to fit the vision, instead we are always changing the vision.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/progress-should-mean-that-we-are-always-changing-the-world-to-fit-the/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Changing is not just changing the things outside of us. First of all we need the right view that transcends all notions including of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/changing-is-not-just-changing-the-things-outside-of-us-first-of-all/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I'm not changing because I'm part of a hit. People around me have changed in their attitude toward me, but I haven't changed. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-penny/i-m-not-changing-because-i-m-part-of-a-hit-people-around-me-have/) [Joe Penny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-penny/) > [I approach fashion as an evolution. It's always changing. As you know, sometimes it changes in three months.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carolina-herrera/i-approach-fashion-as-an-evolution-it-s-always-changing-as-you-know/) [Carolina Herrera](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carolina-herrera/) > [I'm not sure whether it is me changing my mind, or whether I lie a lot.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-bowie/i-m-not-sure-whether-it-is-me-changing-my-mind-or-whether-i-lie-a-lot/) [David Bowie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-bowie/) > [When I come home from work, if I just played a really good game and I'm on top of the world, I think changing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kirk-cousins/when-i-come-home-from-work-if-i-just-played-a-really-good-game-and-i/) [Kirk Cousins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kirk-cousins/) > [It's not about changing--it's about growing, together," he said, like the wise soul that he was. "I wanted to let you know--that I am…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellen-schreiber/it-s-not-about-changing-it-s-about-growing-together-he-said-like-the/) [Ellen Schreiber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ellen-schreiber/) > [“Maybe that is what growing up was all about. It was about changing your mind. Opening it right up. Admitting to yourself that you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-haig/maybe-that-is-what-growing-up-was-all-about-it-was-about-changing/) [Matt Haig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-haig/) > [There's more to Gareth's game than scoring goals, he's brought a lot to the changing room.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rob-page/there-s-more-to-gareth-s-game-than-scoring-goals-he-s-brought-a-lot/) [Rob Page](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rob-page/) > [“A shift was taking place in my life - the beach house, Kyle, Tristan; the tides were changing.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adriane-leigh/a-shift-was-taking-place-in-my-life-the-beach-house-kyle-tristan-the/) [Adriane Leigh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adriane-leigh/) > [If the team keeps changing then everything has to keep changing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sunil-chhetri/if-the-team-keeps-changing-then-everything-has-to-keep-changing/) [Sunil Chhetri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sunil-chhetri/) > [As I feel this life growing and moving inside of me, all of a sudden everything else is not as important. There's a level…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judy-reyes/as-i-feel-this-life-growing-and-moving-inside-of-me-all-of-a-sudden/) [Judy Reyes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judy-reyes/) > [Truthfully, being pregnant is changing me as a person. Each day is part of this amazing journey that has completely shifted the focus of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/holly-madison/truthfully-being-pregnant-is-changing-me-as-a-person-each-day-is-part/) [Holly Madison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/holly-madison/) Browse all 1,835 Changing quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "The climate is changing. That's not the debate. 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