In a letter published in the British Medical Journal on April 11, 1998, Gregory Gardner, a locum general practitioner, stated that the apocalyptic tone adopted in relation to the environment bears little relation to reality. He noted that whether most scientists outside climatology believe that global warming is happening is less relevant than whether climatologists do. Gardner referenced a letter signed by over 50 members of the American Meteorological Society, stating: “The policy initiatives derive from highly uncertain scientific theories. They are based on the unsupported assumption that catastrophic global warming follows from the burning of fossil fuel and requires immediate action. We do not agree.” He added that those who signed the letter represent the overwhelming majority of climate change scientists in the United States, of whom there are about 50.
Gardner cited Patrick Michaels’ 1993 article in World Climate Review. He also referenced the 1995 report quoted by A.J. McMichael and A. Haines, which is believed to prove that human-induced climate change has occurred. Gardner stated that the original draft document did not say this, and that the policymakers’ summary altered the conclusions of the scientists. This led Frederick Seitz, former head of the United States National Academy of Sciences, to write in a 1996 Wall Street Journal article: “In more than sixty years as a member of the American scientific community … I have never witnessed a more disturbing corruption of the peer-review process than the events that led to this report.”
Gardner stated that policymaking should be guided by proved fact, not speculation. He noted that measurements made by means of satellites show no global warming but a cooling of 0.13°C between 1979 and 1994, and that average temperatures in the Arctic dropped by 0.88°C over the past 50 years, as cited in Robert C. Balling’s 1995 chapter in The True State of the Planet. He rightly asked that since the theory of global warming assumes maximum warming at the poles, why have average temperatures in the Arctic dropped by 0.88°C over the past 50 years?
Public statements by individual climate scientists reflect differing positions on whether CO2 causes global warming. Below are tables listing scientists who have made public statements in their individual capacity affirming or denying CO2’s role in global warming, based on verifiable quotes from interviews, books, blogs, testimonies, and social media posts. A third table lists scientists who have publicly challenged the inclusion of their names or works in consensus studies, such as Cook et al. (2013), which analyzed peer-reviewed literature to find 97% agreement on human-caused global warming.
Public Statements Affirming CO2’s Role In Global Warming
| Scientist | Field | Public Statement on CO2 Causing Global Warming | Source/Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| James Hansen | Climatology | “Carbon dioxide we put into the air today will literally affect the climate centuries from now… The greenhouse effect has been detected, and it is changing our climate now.” | Book: Storms of My Grandchildren (2009); interviews up to 2023. |
| Michael Mann | Climatology | “The science is clear: climate change is happening, it’s caused by human activity [including CO2 emissions], and it’s already leading to significant harm.” | Congressional hearing (2019); Book: The New Climate War (2021); testimonies up to 2023. |
| Gavin Schmidt | Climatology | “The human fingerprint on the climate system is clear… primarily from the burning of fossil fuels releasing CO2.” | Blog posts on RealClimate.org (ongoing); statements on CO2 trends (2021-2024). |
| Valérie Masson-Delmotte | Paleoclimatology | “Humanity is conducting an unintended, uncontrolled, globally pervasive experiment [with CO2] whose ultimate consequences could be second only to a global nuclear war.” | Interviews (2018); personal endorsements (2021). |
| Katharine Hayhoe | Atmospheric Science | “CO2 is the main driver… We’ve known since the 1800s that adding it to the atmosphere warms the planet.” | TED Talks (ongoing); Book: Saving Us (2021); lectures (2024). |
| Kevin Trenberth | Meteorology | “There’s no doubt that CO2 is the principal control knob on Earth’s temperature.” | Physics Today article (2010); statements (2023). |
| Naomi Oreskes | History of Science | “Scientists have known for over 150 years that CO2 traps heat… The consensus is robust.” | Book: Merchants of Doubt (2010); interviews (2023). |
| Benjamin D. Santer | Atmospheric Science | “Human-caused increases in greenhouse gases [like CO2] are the main driver of observed global-scale warming.” | Open letter (2016); research statements (2024). |
| Cecilia Bitz | Sea Ice Physics | “The increase in CO2 from human activities is the primary cause of the observed warming.” | Arctic reports (2022); interviews (2024). |
| Jane Lubchenco | Marine Ecology | “The evidence is overwhelming: human activities, especially burning fossil fuels, are releasing dangerous levels of CO2.” | Public speeches (2023). |
| Stefan Rahmstorf | Oceanography/Climatology | “The rise in global temperature is primarily due to the increase in CO2 from human activities.” | Interviews (2020); blog posts (ongoing). |
| Friederike Otto | Climatology | “Human-induced climate change, driven by emissions of CO2 and other greenhouse gases, is making extreme weather events more frequent and severe.” | Public statements (2022); book contributions (2023). |
| Claudia Tebaldi | Climatology | “CO2 emissions are the dominant force behind the observed warming patterns.” | Interviews (2021); public lectures (2024). |
| Peter Stott | Meteorology | “The evidence shows that the main cause of the recent global warming is the increase in CO2 from human activities.” | Book: Hot Air (2021); interviews (2023). |
| Eric Rignot | Glaciology | “Rising CO2 levels from fossil fuels are causing ice sheets to melt and sea levels to rise.” | Public statements (2022); interviews (2024). |
Public Statements Denying CO2’s Role In Global Warming
| Scientist | Field | Public Statement on CO2 Not Causing Global Warming | Source/Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| William Happer | Physics | “CO2 is not a pollutant… The increase of CO2 is not a cause for alarm and will be good for mankind.” | CNBC interview (2017); testimony (2019); talks (2024). |
| Richard Lindzen | Atmospheric Physics | “CO2 is a greenhouse gas, but its warming effect is small and saturated… Future increases will have little effect.” | Heartland Conference (2010); op-eds (2020-2024). |
| Roy Spencer | Meteorology | “CO2 causes some warming, but the climate system is dominated by natural variability… The CO2 effect is overstated.” | Blog: drroyspencer.com (ongoing); posts (2023). |
| John Christy | Atmospheric Science | “The impact of added CO2 on the climate is small… Models exaggerate CO2’s role.” | Testimonies (2016); statements (2024). |
| Judith Curry | Climatology | “The role of CO2 is not as dominant as claimed… Natural variability explains much of the warming.” | Blog: judithcurry.com (ongoing); interviews (2021-2024). |
| Willie Soon | Astrophysics | “CO2 is not the main driver; solar activity is… Human CO2 emissions do not significantly warm the planet.” | Study (2015); statements (2023). |
| Nir Shaviv | Astrophysics | “CO2 is a minor player; cosmic rays and solar activity drive climate… Doubling CO2 won’t dramatically increase temperature.” | Interviews (2007); blog (2023). |
| Ivar Giaever | Physics (Nobel laureate) | “Global warming has become a new religion… CO2 changes do not cause temperature changes.” Also: “The facts are that CO2 is not a pollutant.” | Nobel Conference (2015); statements (2023). |
| John Clauser | Physics (Nobel laureate) | “Climate models are unreliable and CO2’s role overstated… There is no climate crisis.” | Statements (2023-2024); board election (2023). |
| Patrick Moore | Ecology | “CO2 is the food of life… Climate change alarmism is based on faulty models that do not account for natural cycles.” | Book: Fake Invisible Catastrophes (2021); interviews (2024). |
| Ross McKitrick | Economics (climate focus) | “The evidence for CO2 as the primary driver is weak; economic models show overestimation of impacts.” | Public statements (2022); papers (2024). |
| Matthew Wielicki | Earth Science | “CO2’s impact on warming is minimal compared to natural factors; the narrative is driven by funding incentives.” | Interviews (2023); social media (2024). |
| Tony Heller | Geology/Electrical Engineering | “Global warming data has been adjusted; CO2 is not driving temperature changes.” | Blog: Real Climate Science (ongoing); videos (2024). |
| Roger Pielke Jr. | Environmental Studies | “Links between CO2-driven climate change and disaster costs are not supported by data.” | Books (ongoing); statements (2024). |
| Bjorn Lomborg | Political Science | “CO2 contributes to warming, but the costs of mitigation exceed benefits; focus on adaptation.” | Book: False Alarm (2020); interviews (2024). |
| Michael Shellenberger | Environmental Policy | “Climate change is real but not apocalyptic; CO2’s role is exaggerated by alarmists.” | Book: Apocalypse Never (2020); statements (2024). |
| Anthony Watts | Meteorology | “Surface temperature data is flawed; CO2 is not the main cause of observed changes.” | Blog: Watts Up With That? (ongoing); posts (2024). |
| Henrik Svensmark | Physics | “Solar activity modulates cosmic rays, which affect cloud formation and drive climate changes, not CO2.” | Interviews (2019); papers (2023). |
| Habibullo Abdussamatov | Astrophysics | “Decreasing solar activity will lead to cooling; CO2 has negligible effect on global temperature.” | Statements (2010); interviews (2022). |
| Sallie Baliunas | Astrophysics | “Solar variability is a key driver of climate; CO2’s influence is overstated.” | Testimonies (2000s); statements (2021). |
| Robert Laughlin | Physics (Nobel laureate) | “Climate change is inevitable and geologic; human CO2 emissions won’t alter the planet’s long-term path.” | Book: Powering the Future (2011); interviews (2015). |
| Kary Mullis | Chemistry (Nobel laureate) | “Global warming is a hoax; scientists are chasing funding, not truth.” | Interviews (1990s-2000s). |
Challenges To Inclusion In Consensus Studies
| Scientist | Field | Nature of Challenge | Source/Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Richard Tol | Economics/Climatology | Cook et al. misclassified papers; consensus closer to 91% due to rater bias. | Guardian op-ed (2014); Energy Policy paper (2015). |
| Nir Shaviv | Astrophysics | Paper on solar/cosmic rays wrongly rated as supporting AGW. | Blog post (2013). |
| Willie Soon | Astrophysics | Solar-focused papers misclassified in Cook. | Letter (2013); critiques (2023). |
| Craig Idso | Environmental Science | Work on CO2 benefits misrated as endorsing warming. | Critique (2013). |
| Nicola Scafetta | Physics | Astronomical cycle papers incorrectly classified. | Blog (2013). |
| David Legates | Climatology | Only 0.3% of papers explicitly endorsed AGW; challenged broad inclusion. | Science & Education paper (2015). |
Conclusion
The letter by Gregory Gardner highlights statements from over 50 members of the American Meteorological Society who do not agree that catastrophic global warming follows from burning fossil fuels. Frederick Seitz described alterations to a 1995 report as a corruption of the peer-review process. Data cited by Robert C. Balling shows satellite measurements of cooling between 1979 and 1994 and Arctic temperature drops over 50 years. Public statements listed in the tables show individual scientists presenting positions on CO2’s role in global warming, with some affirming causation and others denying it, including through emphasis on solar activity as a driver. Scientists have also challenged classifications of their work in studies analyzing peer-reviewed literature.
Far from 97-99% scientific consensus, it seems to be a case of majority of climate scientists and other scientist considering Global Warming a hoax and PsyOp that is using Psychological tricks to fool people and gain funding.