James Hansen, Pam Peterson, and Philip Duffy discuss how the hesitancy among scientists to express the gravity of our situation is a major block to our understanding and response to climate change. The reticence arises from political pressure, institutional conservatism, so-called “objectivity”, aversion to controversy, etc.
But when the data and the conclusions it leads to are alarming, isn’t it imperative that the alarm be transmitted publicly? Here is another facet of society’s apparent inability to assess and respond appropriately to the present immense, existential threat of climate change.