Last week the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change released a fifth report on climate change and how to reduce it. The panel, which was set up in 1988 to assess the science related to climate change and propose solutions, is clear: Climate change is occurring right now and humans are the cause.
According to a poll from the Associated Press, 97 percent of climate scientists concur but only a third of the U.S. public agrees with a serious measure of confidence.
Last month scientists found the smoking gun of the Big Bang, finding further proof of the event, proof that resolved several paradoxes. The Big Bang theory is the cornerstone of current science's understanding of the universe, but more than half of America doesn't believe in it according to the same poll.
Why are foundational science theories not resonating with Americans? Is this a failure of science communication? Is it a failure of science education? Or are there competing interests at work?
- Read our guest, David Victor's speech"Why Smart People Disagree About Facts"
Guests:
- David Victor, professor of international relations and director of the Laboratory on International Law and Regulation at UC San Diego. He also co-authored the most recent report for the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change
- Dennis Ugolini, assoicate professor and chair of physics and astronomy at Trinity University
*This is the first segment in the April 23 edition of The Source, which airs at 3 p.m. on KSTX 89.1 FM -- audio from this show will be posted by 5:30 p.m.
