Jan Esper, a climate geographer from Mainz, Germany, who was recently elected to the National Academy of Sciences Leopoldina, has stated that skeptics of climate change are in a lost position. He believes that this is due to clear data and developments in recent years that have disproven many of the arguments put forward by skeptics.
One common argument put forward by skeptics of man-made climate change is that earlier warm phases are underestimated. They often cited the interruption in warming after the very warm year in 1998 as evidence to support their claims. However, warming reached a new level in the 2010s, putting this argument to rest.
Esper is a Professor of Climate Geography at the Geographical Institute of the Johannes Gutenberg University in Mainz. His expertise lies in the analysis of tree rings, also known as dendrochronology. Trees are valuable climate witnesses, providing information about climatic events from long ago.
Esper describes climate change as a “human problem,” and as such, his scientific discipline is much more in focus than before. With his election to the National Academy of Sciences Leopoldina, Esper’s work is gaining recognition and contributing to the global conversation on climate change.
As clear data and developments continue to disprove the arguments put forward by climate change skeptics, it becomes increasingly important to address the issue with urgency and take action to mitigate its effects. Esper’s work highlights the value of scientific research in the fight against climate change.
