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Congressman Alan Lowenthal today announced the release of the latest major survey of scientific literature on climate change that shows there is virtually no disagreement by scientists that humans are contributing to climate change. The survey, conducted by researcher and former head of the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County, Dr. James Powell, found that of the 10,885 peer-reviewed scientific articles published in 2013 on the topic of climate change, only two papers rejected man-made climate change. Peer-reviewed scientific papers are those that are evaluated and vetted by a panel of experts who will reject research that does not present scientific evidence to back up its findings.

"The case is closed. There is no scientific disagreement that humans are playing a major role in climate change,” Lowenthal said.

“Every minute we waste on this "myth of disagreement," is one minute longer we have to wait to take concrete action, making any solution more difficult and more expensive."

Dr. Powell, a geochemist who was appointed by Presidents Ronald Reagan and George H.W. Bush to serve on the National Science Board for 12 years, began his surveys of the peer-reviewed scientific literature on climate change several years ago. His survey of 13,950 papers published in 2012 found only 24 writers argued against the role of humans in climate change. All told, his surveys have reviewed 25,182 scientific articles in peer-reviewed journals published since 1991. Only 26 papers, or about 1 in 1,000, reject a human role in climate change.

“Instead of coalescing around a rival theory to anthropogenic global warming, the rejecting articles offer a hodgepodge of alternatives, none of which has caught on,” Dr. Powell said. “The dissenting articles are rarely cited, even by other dissenters. A groundswell this is not. The 26 rejecting articles have had no discernible influence on science.”

In announcing the release of Dr. Powell’s survey, Congressman Lowenthal also released a video statement titled “Case Closed” where the Congressman offers further discussion on climate change and Dr. Powell’s findings.

The video can be watched by clicking here.
 
Congressman Lowenthal is a member of the House Natural Resources Committee, sitting on the Subcommittee on Fisheries, Wildlife, Oceans and Insular Affairs, the Subcommittee on Energy and Mineral Resources, and the Subcommittee on Water and Power.

Congressman Alan Lowenthal represents the cities of Long Beach, Lakewood, Signal Hill, Avalon, Los Alamitos, Rossmoor, Cypress, Westminster, Garden Grove, Buena Park, Anaheim, Midway City and Stanton in California’s 47th Congressional District. He can be followed on Facebook, Twitter, or his website.