How to talk to a climate skeptic

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First of all, let's be clear: Global warming is a reality. A reality that humans contribute to significantly and a reality which changes in human behaviour can help avoid.

It's a fairly simple proposition, backed up by an almost inconceivable amount of evidence, and yet we're still stuck discussing whether or not it's happening, what causes it, what we need to do about it and whether we can be bothered before we all start paying the price of greed and arrogance in a couple of decades.

Let's also be clear about this: there is a LOT of FUD out there about global warming (That's Fear, Uncertainty and Doubt for you non-web-literate types). The denials range in sophistication from 'there is no scientific consensus', 'global warming is a hoax' and 'what's wrong with warmer weather anyway?', through cherrypicking arguments such as 'the satellites show cooling', 'Antarctic sea ice is growing', all the way to scientific arguments like 'water vapour accounts for nearly all global warming' and 'what about mid-century cooling?'

Make no mistake: climate science is a complex beast and the level of debate in most circles worldwide reduces almost all of it to simple he said she said stuff, but the information is there for anyone who wants it.

Happily, over at the Gristmill they've made a comprehensive guide to talking to climate skeptics, listing all of their talking points, arguments and concerns by category and level of sophistication, with well-researched answers and rebuttal. For anyone who finds themselves embroiled in debates about global warming, this site is a must in your bookmarks.

And if you're a skeptic yourself, go take a look - you may find your favourite pet peeve has already been taken into account.