Scientific evidence for anthropogenic climate change is clinching and questioned by very few critics, yet, the extent to which climate scientists enjoy public support remains unclear. Climategate scandal over leaked e-mails at the University of East Anglia, UK and the flawed IPCC report has certainly eroded some of the trust and despite these uncertainties public confidence on climate scientists and theories of global warming has not declined. Amidst confusion and skepticism that prevails over claims of anthropogenic climate change, scientists and researchers are hoping governments engage in climate talks at a political level to achieve necessary results including a post-Kyoto climate agreement. Political leaders are expected to take decisions based on scientific evidence and geopolitical equations rather than political aspirations. Any political interference that undermines the scientific integrity of environmental policy-making could debilitate our response to climate change, at a time when it is needed the most.
Scientific integrity in Climate Change
Policy makers need accurate and credible data on climate change to make possible a prompt and diligent public action on global warming. Most of the scientific research is publicly funded and it is only pertinent that scientific content be subjected to peer-review process as a quality-control measure over scientific content. Media policies driven by the aspirations of the scientific community could protect scientists from any adverse reaction to findings. Scientists today believe in engaging the public in order to achieve proper dissemination and analysis of information even as they freely debate and amend their views without fear of retaliation. A regulatory process that uses notice and comment provision is one way by which inputs from the public can be sought on scientific publications on climate change to ensure transparency and effective action. Individual and institutional leadership that creates awareness and spurs behavioral change among citizens and businesses in favor of reducing greenhouse gas emissions can make a huge difference to climate science.
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