Emily Robinson is disappointed in The Joplin Globe.

Last week, the Globe published a letter to the editor from the former Missouri resident, and member of the Union of Concerned Scientists in Chicago, calling the editorial board on the carpet for our Oct. 20 In Our View editorial concerning America’s participation in the Copenhagen Treaty.

The international climate change negotiations, set to take place in mid-December in .... wait for it ... Copenhagen, are aimed at developing a global approach to reducing harmful greenhouse gas emissions by industrialized countries and helping fund developing nations in their efforts to limit their own.

One word in one sentence seemed to miff the “concerned scientist” the most: “Even the science is unsettled.’”

Robinson contends the science is very much settled. I disagree. While the vast majority of scientists agree that manmade emissions are in some way responsible for the feared “greenhouse effect,” I don’t believe there is any consensus among scientists concerning the steps that need to be taken to halt the warming trend, let alone reverse it.

As stated in the editorial, “We should take care of business at home before joining the international coalition.”

Global warming and climate change may not be a sexy topic, but it always heats up the story comments forum at joplinglobe.com.

“Emily Robinson, thanks for casting a net large enough to capture the Globe’s editorial. Those distortions are repeated in such a large number of publications that the general public has an utter misconception of the scientific status of man-made global warming research. Most people have zero direct contact with scientific literature, so they must sort through conflicting public reports, usually without the training to form a reliable opinion. I recommend that those Globe readers who want a way to understand how scientific research works should contemplate the following. How did virtually every medical, electronic, mechanical, chemical, nuclear, and engineering advance happen? They happened by the rigorous application of the scientific method, in exactly the manner it is applied to climate research and other environmental research.”

— Jim Stone

‘Widespread disagreement’

While Robinson’s assertion that the cause of climate change is settled among scientists, it isn’t so clear-cut for our online commentors.

“There’s nothing at all ‘settled’ about so-called global warming, and this lady knows it. That’s especially true when you factor in the ‘human-caused’ element. What she’s actually saying is ‘well, everyone who agrees with my take is right, so give us money, and ignore any other scientist who has reached a conclusion that differs from mine. They’re not real scientists, because I said so.’ These science groups who claim the whole thing is settled so we have to act now, right now, give us money right now, are behaving just like kids trying to steal a cookie when they know mom is as that moment heading back to the kitchen. Any delay and they’re busted. Therefore it’s imperative that they be given their funding NOW! So transparent.”

— anonymous

“What you stated as being ‘settled’ is becoming less so as we speak. You surely are reading some of the latest thought on this.”

— Look around Emily