The human race is going to have to start believing in science – and quickly – if we want a hope in hell of surviving the environmental crisis we’re facing. This was the sentiment at a recent gathering of the world’s pre-eminent scientific minds in Vancouver. At the meeting, thousands of scientists discussed the problem that their industry is “under seige”, and that the world needs help to believe in science again.

Climate change expert and Nasa scientist, James Hansen, is very concerned the public does not understand that scientific solutions are needed to address global crises, from food and water shortages to environmental destruction. “We have a planetary emergency, and very few people recognise that,” he said at the meeting.

President of the American Association for the Advancement of Science, Nina Fedoroff, pointed out that in the United States fewer people “believe” in climate change every year, and that belief systems which are tinged with fear are not easily dispersed with facts.

Indeed, polls show that the US is still very divided on the threat posed by global warming. This skepticism and denial of climate change pose a big fat problem to scientists worldwide, and there is a need to change public sentiment radically and quickly.

“It’s about persuading people to believe in science, at a time when disturbing numbers don’t,” said Andrew Petter, president of Simon Fraser University in Vancouver.

[Source: IOL]