The scientific evidence is now overwhelming: climate change presents very serious global risks, and it demands an urgent global response.
Nicholas SternRead
The basic scientific conclusions on climate change are very robust and for good reason. The greenhouse effect is simple science: greenhouse gases trap heat, and humans are emitting ever more greenhouse gases.
Interpretation
What this quote means
Climate change is driven by human emissions of greenhouse gases, which are scientifically proven to trap heat in our atmosphere.
In this quote, Nicholas Stern emphasizes the scientific consensus on climate change, highlighting that the greenhouse effect is a fundamental principle of science. He points out that human activities are significantly increasing the concentration of greenhouse gases, leading to more heat being trapped in the atmosphere, which is a central reason for ongoing climate change.
Themes
ClimateChangeGreenhouseScienceEnvironment
In practice
Example use cases
In a climate change seminar discussing scientific consensus.
More from Nicholas Stern
All quotes →There is still time to avoid the worst impacts of climate change, if we take strong action now.
Nicholas SternRead
Those who say that climate change doesn't exist are being understood as the flat-earthers that they are, as the people who deny the link between smoking and cancer, as the people who denied the link between HIV and AIDS.
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If you look at all the serious scientists in the world, there is no big disagreement on the basics of this... it would be absolute lunacy to act as if climate change is not occurring.
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This [climate change] is potentially so dangerous that we have to act strongly. Do we want to play Russian roulette with two bullets or one?
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Do politicians understand just how difficult it could be, just how devastating rises of 4C, 5C or 6C could be? I think, not yet
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