Climate change sceptics get science answers

Is the Earth really warming? is the first in the Climate Change Q & A seminar series run by the University of Adelaide's Research Institute for Climate Change and Sustainability.
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Tuesday, 5 August 2008

A new series of free public seminars at the University of Adelaide aims to give climate changes sceptics - and other members of the community - exactly what they want: scientific answers on climate change.

The new Climate Change Q & A seminar series starts this Friday 8 August, with the Bureau of Meteorology joining forces with the University's Research Institute for Climate Change and Sustainability (RIsCCS) to answer the question: "Is the Earth really warming?"

"Each of the six seminars will raise a different commonly asked question about climate change, and it's our job as scientists to provide the answers," says the Director of RIsCCS at the University of Adelaide, Professor Barry Brook.

"This first session will look at the most basic of questions, which seems to be a major sticking point for some: how can the Earth really be warming?

"Remarks such as this get in the way of climate action, as they call into question whether there's a problem to address. For example, we might hear that surface temperature is an unreliable method of tracking temperatures, or that temperatures are actually dropping in places. We may even hear that we're heading into an ice age, or that the hottest year on record was 1934 or 1998.

"The fact that some people are asking these questions means that we, as scientists, have a responsibility to explain the science behind climate change," Professor Brook says. "Members of the public will also get to ask questions at the end of each seminar."

Further seminars in the series will ask:

Can we distinguish between natural and human-induced climate change?
Are the impacts of climate change being overstated?
Will it cost the earth to avoid climate change?

For complete details about the lecture series or to register your interest in attending, please visit: www.adelaide.edu.au/climatechange/

WHAT: Climate Change Q & A - Seminar One: Is the Earth really warming?
by Professor Barry Brook (Director, Research Institute for Climate Change and Sustainability, University of Adelaide)
and Andrew Watson (Regional Director for South Australia, Bureau of Meteorology)

WHEN: 5:30pm to 7:00pm Friday 8 August

WHERE: Lecture Theatre 102, Napier Building, North Terrace Campus, University of Adelaide

COST: Free - all are welcome

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