Interview with Climate Researcher Michael Mann

TL;DR

Climate scientist Dr. Michael Mann discusses his journey, from accidentally becoming a public figure to experiencing personal attacks and smears in the climate change debate.

Transcript

hi everyone I'm Nancy Atkinson senior editor of universe today and thanks for joining us for another of our live interviews via Google+ hangout on air um just a couple of housekeeping items before we get started if if you're watching this on Google+ if you could please plus one this so we can get an idea of how many people are watching and you can ... Read More

Key Insights

• 👊 Climate scientists face personal attacks, threats, and attempts to discredit their work in the climate change debate.
• 🧑‍🔬 The fossil fuel industry and conservative foundations have funded organizations to spread disinformation and to target climate scientists.
• 😮 Scientists are rising to the challenge by communicating better, standing up for scientific integrity, and supporting organizations that fight climate change denial.
• 😵 There are tipping points in the climate system that, if crossed, could lead to catastrophic impacts.

Questions & Answers

Q: Why did Dr. Mann feel it was important to write a book about his experiences?

Dr. Mann felt a responsibility to tell his story and shed light on the larger issues surrounding climate change and the campaign to discredit climate science.

Q: How did Dr. Mann's initial understanding of climate variability change over time?

Dr. Mann started his research focused on natural causes of climate variability but eventually found undeniable evidence of human-caused climate change through the use of proxy data like tree rings and ice cores.

Q: Why does Dr. Mann believe that scientists will prevail in the battle against climate change denial?

Dr. Mann believes that truth and reality are on the side of science, and history has shown that science eventually wins out in these conflicts. He remains optimistic but acknowledges the urgency of the climate change problem.

Q: How can climate scientists drown out the nonsense in the media and effectively communicate their message to the public?

Climate scientists need to become better communicators, emphasizing the importance of clear language and explaining the magnitude of the problem, the confidence in the science, and the necessary actions to address climate change.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• Dr. Michael Mann explains how his paper on the hockey stick graph became a target for attack by climate change deniers.

• He shares his personal story of facing personal attacks, threats, and attempts to discredit his work.

• Dr. Mann discusses the larger issues surrounding climate change and the importance of effective communication to inform the public.