So, the American Physical Society (APS) did not exactly say "in your face", but the short-hand doesn't really misrepresent what occurred.
For awhile now, Global Warming deniers (no, not "skeptics", but active purveyors of misinformation demonstrating severe anti-science syndrome) have sought to get the APS to turn aside from the Society's 2007 Statement on Climate Change. The APS's consideration of their petition was warmly (and loudly) proclaimed among those seeking to distort the national (and global) discussion re Global Warming and the bests paths forward to mitigate against catastrophic climate change. Yesterday, the APS leadership council did an 'in your face' response to these efforts to promote unscientific arguments.
Council of the American Physical Society has overwhelmingly rejected a proposal to replace the Society’s 2007 Statement on Climate Change with a version that raised doubts about global warming.
When it came to their response, after a substantive review, the APS spoke with no equivocation. No stepping back from the 2007 statement (italics below added) which rests as APS policy.
Emissions of greenhouse gases from human activities are changing the atmosphere in ways that affect the Earth's climate. Greenhouse gases include carbon dioxide as well as methane, nitrous oxide and other gases. They are emitted from fossil fuel combustion and a range of industrial and agricultural processes.
The evidence is incontrovertible: Global warming is occurring. If no mitigating actions are taken, significant disruptions in the Earth’s physical and ecological systems, social systems, security and human health are likely to occur. We must reduce emissions of greenhouse gases beginning now.
Because the complexity of the climate makes accurate prediction difficult, the APS urges an enhanced effort to understand the effects of human activity on the Earth’s climate, and to provide the technological options for meeting the climate challenge in the near and longer terms. The APS also urges governments, universities, national laboratories and its membership to support policies and actions that will reduce the emission of greenhouse gases.
Have to wonder whether those who gleefully discussed the petition as it evolved, the APS consideration of it, and (the belief in) the potential for a reversal of the earlier statement will take any meaningful message from yet another major scientific institution, yet again, stating that the scientific evidence is clear that humanity is the leading actor in driving global warming and that we must act to reduce emissions ... or face quite significant consequences.
Note: Last month, scientific institutions released a statement about climate change.
Observations throughout the world make it clear that climate change is occurring, and rigorous scientific research demonstrates that the greenhouse gases emitted by human activities are the primary driver. ...
contrary assertions are inconsistent with an objective assessment of the vast body of peer-reviewed science
If we are to avoid the most severe impacts of climate change, emissions of greenhouse gases must be dramatically reduced.
Who were those minor little organizations that put their institutional power and reputation behind those words?
- American Association for the Advancement of Science
- American Chemical Society
- American Geophysical Union
- American Institute of Biological Sciences
- American Meteorological Society
- American Society of Agronomy
- American Society of Plant Biologists
- American Statistical Association
- Association of Ecosystem Research Centers
- Botanical Society of America
- Crop Science Society of America
- Ecological Society of America
- Natural Science Collections
- Alliance Organization of Biological Field Stations
- Society for Industrial and Applied Mathematics
- Society of Systematic Biologists
- Soil Science Society of America
- University Corporation for Atmospheric Research
APS's continuing review of the petition is what led to it not being among them.
And, a month later, the APS Council Overwhelmingly Rejects Proposal to Replace Society’s Current Climate Change Statement and, implicitly, joins those 18 institutions in seeking to inject science into the policy discussion about how best to tackle climate change.
PS: For a direct slap down of climate deniers, see Australian PM Rudd takes Global Warming Deniers to the Shed for a Spanking
FINAL NOTE: I am almost embarrassed to put something up today. If you have not read Get a Grip's powerful, moving, incredibly well written piece, it is something that every one should read.