Rumor has it that we are not the ones to blame for climate change–the human race, that is. Scientists of the Climate Research Unit at the University of East Anglia were recently found to have manipulated data in order to support preordained conclusions about mankind’s responsibility for climate change, and climate change skeptics have come out in full force to cite this one example as proof of man’s innocence when it comes to global warming.
While the misconduct of the CRU may puff up the skeptics’ sails, the Editorial Board hopes that this one unfortunate example will not lead the public to abandon its concern about climate change. The fact is that mankind’s climate change culpability is backed by strong scientific evidence and the majority of scientific opinion. All that is needed to continue progress at combating climate change is further support from policymakers and the media. Climate change skeptics, for the most part, are doing everything they can to hamper this support.
The turn of the century witnessed a change in humanity’s consciousness about our effects on the environment. Al Gore’s An Inconvenient Truth, the damaging effects of Hurricane Katrina and the 2004 tsunami at last drew the public’s eye toward the Earth and its changing environment. Whether or not the tsunami or Katrina was directly influenced by global warming, these catastrophic events nevertheless changed how we view our environment and our impact on the planet. So, now that naysayers of global warming have the floor once more, is it time to turn our backs on the wisdom painfully acquired over the past decade?
The planet and people feel the effects of our changing environment no matter how many seek to crowd out scientific proof of climate change. There is solid evidence that carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases trap heat in our atmosphere. There is solid evidence that burning fossil fuels is not only unsustainable, but that fossil fuel consumption adds 27 billion metric tons of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere each year. There is solid evidence that temperatures are increasing and the environment is changing, in many cases, for the worse. There will always be time to argue about what the cause of climate change is with those who dispute scientific evidence. But there will not always be an equal chance to prevent its occurrence and limit its effects.
To concede ground to skeptics at this time will only halt needed efforts at reducing the future impacts of the changing climate. With the Copenhagen Climate Conference quickly approaching, this is not the time to feed into a fringe, anti-science group of right-wing extremists who are opposing virtually indisputable scientific evidence by giving these skeptics media attention. Our minds and media should focus on further progress now that our current climate wisdom shows us the need for policy action on the global and personal scales.
The Editorial Board believes that, while the conduct of the CRU is less than ethical and unjustified, this scandal and others like it should not fuel the fire that threatens environmental consciousness and efforts to protect our planet. The growing momentum of conservation and protection is one that should continue into the next decade and beyond. Progress may be questioned by the fringe–their voices seemingly the only ones we hear at times–but progress toward a greener and cleaner planet has begun and should not be displaced. We can only hope that environmentalism will not evaporate, even if the ethics of scientists and politicians do. A focus on effective climate change policy should remain at the top of policymakers’ lists, hopefully with a louder and more resounding voice than the small cries of skeptics.
Yesterday really 
While today 2.6.32 is the mainline version of Linux kernel, 
A new study in the United States suggests feeding children organically grown food can substantially lower the levels of pesticide residues to which their kids are exposed.
The Financial Times
