You are confusing two things: the existence of global warming, and the assertion that it is mostly or entirely due to human activity. Even many skeptics agree that there has been some warming, but they also note - from the data - that it depends on the time frame you choose to examine. They may disagree on the amount, and they diverge sharply on the question of causation and on the recommended actions.
I am quite certain that if you choose to dismiss all skeptics as "deniers" - a religious term, not a scientific one - then you will indeed conclude that every "reputable" scientist thinks it's all our fault, and unless we take drastic action - action which always seems to exempt certain people - we are headed for the apocalypse. You might want to source the often-cited "97%" figure, though: it was taken from a survey of the literature, using rather loose criteria, and many of the scientists whose work was referenced have subsequently stated that their papers did not support the conclusions the survey attributed to them. Moreover, another way to interpret the data, from that same survey, is that about ONE percent of scientists drew that conclusion.
I hesitate to introduce calm deductive logic into so passionate a discussion, but allow me to present just a little. In case you aren't familiar with the term "syllogism", it is (from Wikipedia) "a kind of logical argument that applies deductive reasoning to arrive at a conclusion based on two or more propositions that are asserted or assumed to be true."
Here is the global warming syllogism as I often hear it:
(P1) Global warming is real;
(Conclusion) Therefore, we need to make significant - even drastic - changes in our lifestyle, to prevent a catastrophe.
The problem is that the stated Conclusion is not supported by that Proposition - in other words, the argument is irrational. Here is the valid syllogism:
(P1) Global warming is real.
(P2) Global warming is caused primarily by human activity.
(P3) The effects of global warming are predominantly or exclusively negative (or catastrophic).
(P4) Global warming can be substantially mitigated, halted, or reversed by changes in human activity.
(P5) The proposed changes in human activity do not produce other, equally negative consequences.
(P6) The proposed changes in human activity are acceptable to the human population.
(Conclusion) Therefore, it makes sense to call for significant - even drastic - changes in our lifestyle.
My analysis of the whole argument runs to 12 pages, and I am sure you won't want to read it, because I am clearly an ignorant heretic who deserves to be stoned to death - or at least silenced.
You are confusing two things: the existence of global warming, and the assertion that it is mostly or entirely due to human activity. Even many skeptics agree that there has been some warming, but they also note - from the data - that it depends on the time frame you choose to examine. They may disagree on the amount, and they diverge sharply on the question of causation and on the recommended actions.
I am quite certain that if you choose to dismiss all skeptics as "deniers" - a religious term, not a scientific one - then you will indeed conclude that every "reputable" scientist thinks it's all our fault, and unless we take drastic action - action which always seems to exempt certain people - we are headed for the apocalypse. You might want to source the often-cited "97%" figure, though: it was taken from a survey of the literature, using rather loose criteria, and many of the scientists whose work was referenced have subsequently stated that their papers did not support the conclusions the survey attributed to them. Moreover, another way to interpret the data, from that same survey, is that about ONE percent of scientists drew that conclusion.
I hesitate to introduce calm deductive logic into so passionate a discussion, but allow me to present just a little. In case you aren't familiar with the term "syllogism", it is (from Wikipedia) "a kind of logical argument that applies deductive reasoning to arrive at a conclusion based on two or more propositions that are asserted or assumed to be true."
Here is the global warming syllogism as I often hear it:
(P1) Global warming is real;
(Conclusion) Therefore, we need to make significant - even drastic - changes in our lifestyle, to prevent a catastrophe.
The problem is that the stated Conclusion is not supported by that Proposition - in other words, the argument is irrational. Here is the valid syllogism:
(P1) Global warming is real.
(P2) Global warming is caused primarily by human activity.
(P3) The effects of global warming are predominantly or exclusively negative (or catastrophic).
(P4) Global warming can be substantially mitigated, halted, or reversed by changes in human activity.
(P5) The proposed changes in human activity do not produce other, equally negative consequences.
(P6) The proposed changes in human activity are acceptable to the human population.
(Conclusion) Therefore, it makes sense to call for significant - even drastic - changes in our lifestyle.
My analysis of the whole argument runs to 12 pages, and I am sure you won't want to read it, because I am clearly an ignorant heretic who deserves to be stoned to death - or at least silenced.