title: [The climate debate: the facts].
abstract: The first report by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) appeared almost 20 years ago. Environmental contamination has a negative effect on the environment in which we live. However, the public at large is confused about the ins and outs of climate change. Managers, politicians, various kinds of advisors, scientists, so-called experts, sceptics and journalists have all taken it upon themselves to lead the debate. Whose task is it to ensure a sound discussion? Surely it is the IPCC's task. However, most politicians and many journalists, and even many scientists, do not take the trouble to read the entire IPCC report or parts of it. As a consequence, much nonsense is published and broadcast. An effective procedure to deal with the climate problem starts with a fair discussion of the scientific evidence. My advice is: just read the free IPCC report: http://www.ipcc.ch/ and click on 'WG I The Physical Science Basis'.
authors.affiliation: Universiteit Utrecht, Departement Natuur- en Sterrenkunde, Instituut voor Marien en Atmosferisch onderzoek, Utrecht. m.r.vandenbroeke@uu.nl
authors.forename: Michiel R
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: van den Broeke
mesh_terms: D057231:Climate Change; D003142:Communication; D004782:Environmental Health; D004787:Environmental Pollution / Q000009:adverse effects*; D019317:Evidence-Based Medicine; D006801:Humans