Few scientific issues in the past 10 years have affected and polarized us as intensely as climate change. A growing scientific consensus points to human production of greenhouse gases as the cause, but many Americans disagree with climatologists, believing the consensus to be less than overwhelming.
In actuality, about 90 percent of climatologists accept man-made climate change, compared to about half of the general public. Oil companies and other businesses reliant on greenhouse gases have been quite effective at convincing politicians and the public the scientific consensus is incorrect.
Their success is frustrating but not surprising. Climate change may have started as a scientific issue, but as soon as industries realized it could affect profits, it was pushed into the political limelight.
As human beings, we generally are not fans of change, and accepting the consensus could oblige us to change everything in our lives from the car we drive to the food we eat.
On the other hand, trusting the oil companies means we don’t have to change a thing. But it does mean we have to trust the same people responsible for the worst environmental disasters in our nation’s history to have our best interests at heart.
Andrew Shockey is a 20-year-old biological engineering sophomore from Baton Rouge. Follow him on Twitter @TDR_Ashockey.
 
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Contact Andrew Shockey at
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