This study, done for the World Bank, attempts to explain why nothing much has happened or is happening to reduce the human impact on climate. It delves into the psychology of individuals (I think we can probably recognize ourselves here and there) and validates the rather obvious fact that certain industries have succeeded in distorting science in the eyes of the public, as for example in these quotes:
AndThe questioning of scientific certainty in the media is a recent phenomenon, and one worth devoting some attention to. The scientific process provides a mechanism for falsification, but not “proof.” This quality, together with the lack of public understanding of science has been manipulated in recent years. Given that all science contains a measure of uncertainty, if agencies can be prevented from imposing regulations until they are unambiguously “justified,” regulations can be defeated or postponed, often for decades.
The paper also states that this tactic of using scientific uncertainty to create a false controversy is widespread in the USA, which is clearly true, but much less evident in Britain and France.Freudenburg, Gramling and Davidson (2008) trace the increasing call fors cientific certainty, or “proof” in public discourse before policies can be iplemented. This practice of calling for continued further study has allowed profitable but potentially risky activities to continue unabated. Based on their review of previously documented controversies, the authors suggest that “such calls may reflect not just a fundamental misunderstanding of the nature of science, but a clever and surprisingly effective political-economic tactic—“Scientific
Certainty” Argumentation Methods, or SCAMs.” They further suggest that such SCAMs are both more widespread than has been previously recognized, and should be the focus of more attention in the future.
I wonder what the World Bank will do with this study that they commissioned.
http://www-wds.worldbank.org/servlet...DF/WPS4940.pdf