As noted the article seems to me to broadly explore many specifics of scientific issues, and political, social and economic ramifications. The author is Dr. Steven E. Koonin, who was undersecretary for science in the Energy Department during President Barack Obama's first term and is currently director of the Center for Urban Science and Progress at New York University.
"Policy makers and the public may wish for
the comfort of certainty in their climate science. But I fear that
rigidly promulgating the idea that climate science is "settled" (or is a
"hoax") demeans and chills the scientific enterprise, retarding its
progress in these important matters. Uncertainty is a prime mover and
motivator of science and must be faced head-on. It should not be
confined to hushed sidebar conversations at academic conferences.
Society's
choices in the years ahead will necessarily be based on uncertain
knowledge of future climates. That uncertainty need not be an excuse for
inaction. There is well-justified prudence in accelerating the
development of low-emissions technologies and in cost-effective
energy-efficiency measures.
But climate
strategies beyond such "no regrets" efforts carry costs, risks and
questions of effectiveness, so nonscientific factors inevitably enter
the decision. These include our tolerance for risk and the priorities
that we assign to economic development, poverty reduction, environmental
quality, and intergenerational and geographical equity.
Individuals
and countries can legitimately disagree about these matters, so the
discussion should not be about "believing" or "denying" the science.
Despite the statements of numerous scientific societies, the scientific
community cannot claim any special expertise in addressing issues
related to humanity's deepest goals and values. The political and
diplomatic spheres are best suited to debating and resolving such
questions, and misrepresenting the current state of climate science does
nothing to advance that effort.
Any
serious discussion of the changing climate must begin by acknowledging
not only the scientific certainties but also the uncertainties,
especially in projecting the future. Recognizing those limits, rather
than ignoring them, will lead to a more sober and ultimately more
productive discussion of climate change and climate policies. To do
otherwise is a great disservice to climate science itself."
The full article is here:
http://online.wsj.com/articles/climate-science-is-not-settled-1411143565
