Survey: Climate Scientists Agree on Global Warming, Mistrust of Media

The results of the Statistical Assessment Service’s (STATS) survey of 489 climate scientists were just announced.

And they highlight the triumph of scientific reason over climate denialism.

Again.

Yep, it was no surprise that 97% of the scientists polled agreed that global average temps have shot up during the last century -- and that 84% said "human-induced warming" is happening.

Meanwhile, three-quarters said that “currently available scientific evidence” substantiates its occurrence.

At least one thing was made clear: Climate science -- and its scientists -- have come a long way since 1991, the last time a survey on the scientific opinion of global warming was taken.

Back then only 60% believed that average global temps were up at all, compared with today's 97 percent.

And just 41 percent said that current scientific evidence "substantiates the occurrence of human-induced warming." Today, it's double that number.

Interestingly, the survey also revealed another consensus that has emerged in the last 17 years: a total distrust from scientists of the mainstream media's coverage of climate change.

Below are the numbers:

• Only 1% of climate scientists rate either broadcast or cable television news about climate change as “very reliable.”
• Another 31% say broadcast news is "somewhat reliable," compared to 25% for cable news. (The remainder rate TV news as "not very" or "not at all" reliable.)
• Local newspapers are rated as very reliable by 3% and somewhat reliable by 33% of scientists.
• Even the national press (New York Times, Wall St. Journal etc) is rated as very reliable by only 11%, although another 56% say it is at least somewhat reliable.

And can you really blame them? (More here and here.)

Source: STATS survey

Hat Tip: Outside the Beltway

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