Posted in Behind the News

Preparing for the Paris climate conference

, by Tom Kent


In writing about climate, our goal is to reflect the overall views of the overwhelming majority of climate scientists, while making sure that detailed climate predictions are attributed clearly to those who put them forward.

United Nations climate chief Christiana Figueres, center left, Minister of the Environment of Peru and COP20 President Manuel Pulgar-Vidal, center right, and French Foreign Affairs Minister and COP 21 President Laurent Fabius, center, pose for photographers during a press visit to the COP21, Paris Climate Conference, site, in Le Bourget, north of Paris, France, Sunday, Nov. 8, 2015. Some 80 heads of state including President Barack Obama, and tens of thousands of other people, are expected in Paris for the conference opening. (AP Photo/Thibault Camus)

Our general phrasing about climate change is that the world is warming, mainly due to rising levels of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases. Most of the increase in temperature comes from man-made sources. These sources include the burning of coal, oil and natural gas, deforestation and livestock raising.

This is based on the vast majority of peer-reviewed studies, science organizations and climate scientists.


At the same time, we will be identifying the source for specific climate change data, and for any detailed predictions of how climate change will affect the earth.

In September the Stylebook team issued guidance on referring to those who don’t accept climate science or who dispute the world is warming from man-made forces. Our guidance is to use the terms“climate change doubters” or “those who reject mainstream climate science,” avoiding the use ofskeptics” or “deniers.