Neither scientists nor the general public can agree on climate change because of preconceived ideas and varying data

While some point to last winter as unseasonably cold — and perhaps proof against global warming —the data tells a different story with the continental United States averaging 2.1 degrees Fahrenheit more than the 20th century average this past winter, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric administration.

This variance between what the data reveals and what we feel is a contributing reason to why the country is divided on climate change. University of Maryland professor Tim Canty, who teaches in the atmospheric and oceanic science department, said we have a tendency as a society to look to the short-term.

Canty stressed the fact that climate refers to weather patterns over an extended period of time — 30 or 40 years. But Tyler Dustin, a senior criminal justice and criminology major said it's hard to not think about what's happened most recently.

Climate change has become divided among political parties, though scientists argue it's not a political issue

For the most part, Republicans have tended to be against climate change while Democrats are adamant it's happening. While Canty said this dynamic has shifted some recently with some Republicans no longer sticking with their political party on the issue, he said it's still not right that it's become involved in politics at all.

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“Most people don't know how science is done,” Canty said. “It's hard for them to understand. They think you vote on it. They think it's a democratic process, and it really isn't. Science doesn't care what you think. It's just right or wrong. But that's outside of what most people are used to.”

Canty believes society should be looking at the data scientists have gathered to make their decisions. And what he said he has found is that temperatures have been, in fact, rising gradually over an extended period of time.

A student who has devoted much of her time at Maryland examining climate change agreed with Canty that politics isn't the place for the discussion on climate change.

“It shouldn't be a political issue, because in the end, it's going to affect everyone and is already affecting everyone,” said Olivia Newport, a senior environmental science and policy major.

Younger generation grew up with climate change discussion but hasn't experienced significant temperature shift 

Canty, who teaches a class on weather and climate with 240 students this semester, said many came to college already with the belief that climate change was happening. But for those that didn't, often times the problem is their inability to step back and see the big picture.

“People don't understand the difference between daily weather and the long-term trend in climate,” Canty said.


The average college student is around 20 years old, so they haven't been alive long enough to have lived through the time period it takes to be considered a climate. Because of this, students sometimes have a tendency to think about all the snow dumped on the north east last winter, for example.

Dustin, though, believes this mindset isn't limited to his generation.

"I don't think it's just students thinking short-term," Dustin said. "I think it's human nature to think about the most recent weather, not what it was like when you were a kid."

Despite arguments and data, both sides tend to remain stubborn

With all of the data compiled on climate trends, scientists have had a hard time agreeing on what is actually happening to the Earth. Canty referred to the "Big Bang Theory" TV show's main character, Sheldon, when describing the mindset of many scientists.


He said they are essentially know-it-alls who aren't particularly good at explaining their knowledge to a general audience. However, Canty doesn't look to that as an excuse to the stubbornness of his colleagues. In order to see growth in the area of climate change, he said scientists have to be willing to admit they are incorrect if proven so.

“We need to be able to be big enough to say 'I'm wrong. I made a mistake,'” Canty said. “We have people with strong opinions that want to debate, but they aren't willing to ever admit that they are wrong, and that's unfortunate.”

In 2014, Secretary of State John Kerry said 97 percent of scientists believe climate change is an urgent issue. The Wall Street Journal reported that number was false, but the sentiment remains that an overwhelming majority of scientists believe climate change is happening.

It's that other percentage, Newport said, that won't give in.

“Something people say a lot is that 97 percent of scientists believe in gravity, and that's the same percentage that believe in climate change,” Newport said. “But, like, everyone knows gravity exists and people are still trying to dispute that climate change is happening.”