ABSTRACT
It is the nature of science to be an area of contention and disgreement. Through challenging existing hypotheses and paradigms, young scientists make careers. They are, by nature, critical and contentious. It is striking, therefore, how little disagreement there is over the question of whether climate change is really happening and whether human activities are the cause. While a few scientific heretics maintain a range of bizarre theories in opposition to the mainstream view, the overwhelming weight of scientific evidence and opinion is that climate change is real, it is with us now, and that the way we behave as a species has caused it and is exacerbating it. The only reason that the sceptics are given so much attention is that it gives support to those who find the scientific conclusions so shocking that their only resort is denial.
