Deniers are not skeptics!

Those uncomfortable with the concept of human induced climate change have been called many things, among them “skeptics” and “deniers”.

The terminology has frequently been conflated, mainly by the media, to the extent that that in the eyes of many those two words have effectively he same meaning.

However, they don’t!

That difference is being point out by Fellows of the Committee for Skeptical Inquiry.

An email from a physicist, climate change researcher, and Fellow at the Committee for Skeptical Inquiry, Dr. Mark Boslough, makes the point.

He wrote: “Bill Nye and many other skeptical scientists (including me) have an important message: Climate science deniers are not skeptics.

“Last month a group of 48 of us published an open letter because some members of the media are still misleading the public by wrongly using the term “skeptic.” “The New York Times, for example, recently called Senator James Inhofe (R-OK) a skeptic — even though he believes in the absurd notion that climate change is “the greatest hoax ever perpetrated.”

“As scientists, we practice and promote scientific skepticism. As Fellows of the Committee for Skeptical Inquiry, we encourage informed citizens to do the same. But those who reject the facts on climate change are not skeptics — they’re deniers.

“We are insisting that journalists report truthfully on climate change and those who deny the science behind it. Can you add your name to support our letter?

“Sign your name to tell the media: Stop referring to climate science deniers as “skeptics.”

“Truth in climate reporting is already catching on among some news outlets. Recently, NPR and CBS both resisted using the term “skeptic” when it did not apply, and replaced it with the word “denier.” Now, we in the scientific community are asking other major publishers and broadcasters to do the same — and with strong, widespread public support, we can raise the bar for factual accuracy in climate reporting.

“It’s time for our media to recognize climate science deniers for what they are,” he wrote.

The Centre for Skeptical Inquiry discusses the letter in its story: “Deniers are not Skeptics”.