Global warming remains one of the hottest discussion topics in the United States of America. Such figures as politicians, scientists, and celebrities are involved in this debate. The following paper will discuss the film “Politics of Doubt” to determine whether scientific knowledge and facts support the global warming predictions popularized by mass media and the American government.
What Role Doe Expert Opinion Play in the Climate Change Debate?
Many scientists say that the menace of global warming is tremendous as the climate statistics show that the planet atmosphere temperature has been increasing since the 1980’s. However, the minority (approximately two percent) of professionals and specialists in the field of climate change claim that this theory is a hoax (“PBS Frontline Climate of Doubt” 00:02:02-00:53:07). Moreover, these people say that the government might sponsor the promotion of false opinion to make the American population believe it.
Also, some respectable people in the world of politics are trying to persuade their colleagues and regular citizens of the country that global warming is a beneficial change as it might influence an ample harvest in the future (Bauer et al. 70). The false data delivered to the audience is not always fabricated. Nevertheless, it is not presented from the perspective that would show people all the truth. Therefore, the role of expert opinions makes other people believe their theories, which might be promoted by the government, regardless of these statements’ authenticity.
How has Fossil Industry Worked to Undermine the Authority and Legitimacy of Scientific Expert Knowledge?
The fossil industry has been supporting the false opinion about global warming by demonstrating specific data to the USA population. This information was intended to persuade people that various human activities lead to inevitable climate change. For instance, multiple manufacturing processes or combustion engine automobiles, which pollute the planet atmosphere by toxic gases and evaporations, ruin its ozone layer (Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change 36).
In turn, the lack of ozone lets sun rays penetrate into the atmosphere. Moreover, the industry forced mass media to stop using various terms related to skepticism when talking about global warming (Lewandowsky et al. 6). Unfortunately, the political campaign that popularizes the hoax about climate change is financially supported. Therefore, every authoritative scientist’s opinion might be fabricated to persuade the audience in the significance of the problem. Also, the fossil industry financially supports the popularization of the false data about global warming to keep its profits high.
How Successful has the Fossil Fuel Industry Been in Shifting the Debate?
As it is mentioned above, the fossil fuel industry had a significant impact on the general opinion about the climate change. The representatives of this sphere provide millions of dollars to support the false opinion and make people believe that using the CO2 products will not destroy the planet atmosphere. However, people who live in the United States of America are very concerned with the possible issue of global warming as it might lead to a significant decrease in the country’s economic system and the local population’s quality of life (“PBS Frontline Climate of Doubt” 00:02:02-00:53:07).
It is essential to mention that the fossil industry kept debating about the menace of global warming when the majority of scientists were persuaded that the catastrophe was not a hoax. Also, the opinion of environmentalists was fabricated by several fossil companies. It would be proper to state that global warming may ruin the country’s fuel business.
What Are the Limits Experts Have When Making Claims?
The main limit that experts have when making claims regarding the climate change on Earth is that the American government does not address the problem anymore. However, there are no facts that support their opinions (Maibach et al. 297).
Although some people demonstrate and provide various data to make their speeches more persuasive and trustworthy, people do not see major climate changes in the real world. As it is mentioned above, any data might be false due to the financial support provided by such fossil corporations as Koch Brothers and Exxon (Ripple et al. 4). Another limit is that the claims made by climate experts might not be popularized by media. Different sources are likely to promote the ideas that they want to support, whereas the statements of the minority of scholars are not attractive to the audience.
Conclusion
The problem of global warming has been discussed by the population of the United States of America since the previous century. Although the problem does not seem to be critical today, the opinions of authoritative people are fabricated by fossil fuel corporations and even the government. The majority of scientists claim that there is a menace of global warming, whereas only two percent of their colleagues oppose this theory. There were several public opinion shifts within the past five decades as to the problem of climate change. The main reason for this is that the audience is likely to believe people on television or the Internet rather than check credible data sources.
Works Cited
Bauer, Nico, et al. “Global Fossil Energy Markets and Climate Change Mitigation – An Analysis with REMIND.” Climatic Change, vol. 136, no. 1, 2016, pp. 69–82.. Web.
Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. Climate Change 2014: Impacts, Adaptation and Vulnerability: Regional Aspects. Cambridge University Press, 2015.
Lewandowsky, Stephan, et al. “Seepage: Climate Change Denial and Its Effect on the Scientific Community.” Global Environmental Change, vol. 33, no. 1, 2015, pp. 1–13.. Web.
Maibach, Edward, et al. “Climate Scientists Need to Set the Record Straight: There Is a Scientific Consensus That Human-Caused Climate Change Is Happening.” Earth’s Future, vol. 2, no. 5, 2014, pp. 295–298. Web.
“PBS Frontline Climate of Doubt.” YouTube, uploaded by Edward Grady. 2017. Web.
Ripple, William J., et al. “Ruminants, Climate Change and Climate Policy.” Nature Climate Change, vol. 4, no. 1, 2013, pp. 2–5. Web.