The Royal Society in a media release dated April 10 says,

 

Science has established that it is very likely that ever increasing levels of carbon dioxide emissions from energy plants, other industry, cars, and airplanes along with deforestation are the crucial factors that have caused global average temperature increases over recent decades. Other factors do play a part but they cannot explain, on their own, the recent changes which threaten to fundamentally damage the world of tomorrow.

Those who seek to distort and undermine the science of climate change and deny the seriousness of the potential consequences of global warming put forward a range of arguments most of which misrepresent the existing research. It is vital that the scientific evidence on climate change is accurately represented.

Policymakers, industry and the public must make informed decisions about what actions to take rather than be misinformed by lobbyists for big business or programmes such as Channel 4's recent 'Great Global Warming Swindle'.

The Royal Society has put together a review of some of these arguments in order to present an accurate account of what the weight of scientific evidence tells us.

Debate is crucial to science and the book will never close on the science of climate change. It is important that all aspects are adequately and thoroughly explored. However, the science is now convincing enough that to take no action on reducing carbon dioxide emissions would be irresponsible and very dangerous.

The following six arguments are addressed:

Click here to get the Royal Society's take