›Climate Science Meets Politics

Any science that has societal relevance soon finds that it must engage with a very different world, where opinion and conviction may count for more than evidence. I will review how the obscure (to most people) subject of climate science became centre stage in the an increasingly fractious debate on the environment, development and wealth. I will look at the how science has fed in to the policy process, has become the battleground between environmentalists and free marketeers and the complexities and importance of science in the development of a global response to climate change. Finally I will look at the challenges facing scientists as they seek to bring objectivity to the debate.

The meeting will be held in the Institute of Geography, University of Edinburgh, Drummond Street, EH8 9XP, starting at 6 pm, with tea and biscuits available from 5:30 pm. Please note that there is no entry to the building after 6 pm. Registration is recommended for this event. There is no charge.