During my 30+ year career in climate change research I have come to realize the popular perception of global warming involves at least as much faith as it does science. Participation in the fight against climate change (or pollution, or COVID-19, or many other present-day problems) gives people a sense of purpose in their search for significance, even if their rituals have virtually no impact.

In the case of global warming, the global energy imbalance associated with warming in recent decades is tiny: about 1 part in 300 in the natural flows of energy in and out of the climate system. Significantly, science does not know any of the natural energy flows in the climate system to that level of accuracy.

What this means is that recent warming could be mostly natural and we would not even know it. But scientists simply assume (i.e. believe) the climate system would be in a natural state of energy balance were it not for humans doing what is necessary to thrive.

I believe this is because they worship the creation, rather than the Creator (Romans 1:25).

Books by Dr. Spencer for sale in the Cornwall Alliance Store:

Featured photo by Hello I’m Nik on Unsplash.