Here's what I mean:
Draw a 2 x 2 grid on a piece of paper. Label the two columns as ??Science is RIGHT ? and ??Science is WRONG. ? This dimension reflects our assessment of the validity of the evidence that now exists regarding climate change and man's effects thereon.
Now label the two rows as ??Do SOMETHING ? and ??Do NOTHING. ? This dimension reflects the actions we think we should take based on our understanding of what we think we know about anthropogenic global warming and climate change.
Cell A, in the upper left, says the science is right and we should do something now. What we do may be debatable and there are pros and cons to each proposed action, but this cell concludes something must be done.
Cell B, in the upper right, thinks the science is questionable, unsupportable, misguided, or wrong. Therefore, whatever we do (if anything) must be based on some rationale other than climate science. We may say that the science is wrong but cleaner air and water are good in their own right, even if we are not saving the planet.
Cell C, in the lower right, holds that the science is wrong or misguided and therefore we should do nothing. We should maintain the status quo and move on to other topics. Climate change is dead; we have other, better things to spend our time and money on.
Cell D, in the lower left, believes that even though the science is right, we should still do nothing. It will cost too much; climate change would happen anyway ?? man is not responsible for it and is powerless to stop it; and we should just live in the present and let future generations play whatever hands they are dealt. If doom is in their future, so be it.
To this point, the climate change debate has pitted Cell A ?? from the left, arguing that the science is right and we must act now ?? vs. Cell C ?? from the right, holding that the science is bogus and we should do nothing. The result is a vigorous but fairly one-dimensional debate of a multi-dimensional issue.
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