Letter: Global warming statistic on scientists is unreliable
The letter by Jason Joseph in the Aug. 25 Coloradoan concerning global warming statistics (“It’s necessary to look closer at global warming statistics”) was helpful in revealing the facts behind the oft-heard claim that 97 to 98 percent of “scientists” believe in human-caused global warming.
I have heard that number bandied about, most recently in a TV attack ad against U.S. Rep. Mike Coffman. As an engineer and scientist, I wondered about the number because I was not aware that there was that much unanimity in the scientific community. Reading comments in scientific journals, I see enough debate over the issue to make me believe there is far less agreement than the 98 percent figure would lead us to conclude.
People who use these statistics are clearly banking on the general public’s ignorance of science, and of the way in which the numbers were arrived at, to mislead us.
Cook was banking on Obama’s ignorance of statistics. Either that or Obama’s eagerness to have some fraudulent statistics generated for him.
As Joseph points out, the 98 percent came from 79 respondents of the 10,257 surveys that were sent out. That is hardly a number I would rely on.
James Ling, Ph.D., Fort Collins
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