1. Climate Change and Its Skeptics
• Climate change is a large and complex system that can not be studied in a
laboratory research setting. (Baum, Haqq-Misra, Karmosky, 2012)
• “Extraordinary claims require extraordinary evidence” – Carl Sagan
• Because of its complex nature, skeptics pick at climate change and the ethics of
climate change.
• Climate change’s skeptics vary from everyday people to bigwig corporations/
organizations (Oil, Energy, etc.)

2. What Is A Skeptic?
• “One who doubts the validity of what claims to be knowledge in some
particular department of inquiry”
• - "sceptic | skeptic, adj. and n." OED Online. Oxford University Press, June
2014. Web. 19 June 2014.
• Roy Spencer- Climate Confusion
• Principle research scientist for University of Alabama; served as senior scientist for
climate studies at NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, AL.
• Awarded the American Meteorological Society’s Special Award
• B.S. in atmospheric sciences from University of Michigan (1978)
• Ph.D. in meteorology from University of Wisconsin-Madison (1980 & 1982)
• FUNDED THINK TANK OPERATIVE- EXXONMOBIL

3. Reasons For Skepticism
• 1. no recent warming
• 2. natural or manmade? If we don’t know how much of recent
warming is natural, then how can we know how much is manmade?
• 3. IPCC politics and beliefs. Since when does a scientist’s beliefs
translate into proof? Only global warming believers are allowed to
have a vote
• 4.climate change was obvious, but they failed to explain it.
• 5. Model forecast? Why believe them when they can’t explain the
past?
5/10 legit skepticisms. Must do research on individuals before believing
what is read.
• MONEY
• Oil Companies (ExxonMobil, BP Amoco) Energy Companies all stand to profit from
climate change.

5. Bibliography
• "sceptic | skeptic, adj. and n." OED Online. Oxford University Press, June
2014. Web. 19 June 2014.
• Baum, S., Haqq-Misra, J., & Karmosky, C. (2012). Climate Change: Evidence
of Human Causes and Arguments for Emissions Reduction. Science &
Engineering Ethics, 18(2), 393-410. doi:10.1007/s11948-011-9270-6