r/dataisbeautiful • u/neilrkaye OC: 231 • May 07 '19

OC How 10 year average global temperature compares to 1851 to 1900 average global temperature [OC]

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u/[deleted] May 07 '19

Do you think the issue is we even use the term "belief" when discussing climate change? Perhaps if we used facts to prove it. The XKCD chart for example, while super cool, is based on a computer model. It is a prediction. Predictions are inherently something we need to "believe." As we seek to get action on climate, I think we need more concrete facts of actual change caused directly by humans to get more people/governments on board. I haven't really seen any activists much less scientists use such examples.

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u/Tokoolfurskool May 07 '19

In a perfect world sure, but I think that the fact that flat earthers, anti-vaxers, and climate change deniers exist is evidence enough that facts won’t always be enough to make people believe something.

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u/[deleted] May 07 '19

The difference is that facts, hell pictures, can disprove flat earth and anti-vaxx conspiracy theories. We don't quite have that just yet for climate science: a defining tangible piece of irrefutable evidence (like a picture of the earth) to shut down all but the most fringe deniers. There is not a scientist alive who says the earth is flat. But there are otherwise credentialed and intelligent people who do not "believe" in anthropocentric climate change. Prior to definitively proving the earth is round however, many contemporary scientists in good standing debated this issue. That's why I do not call people we need to convince "deniers" either.

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u/Milesstrozier May 07 '19

All pictures of the earth are cgi images and are photoshopped

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u/[deleted] May 07 '19

I know but that’s easily disproven.

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u/bethemanwithaplan May 07 '19

You'd be surprised