World Scientists' Warning to Humanity
Encyclopedia
In late 1992, the late Henry W. Kendall, a former chair of the Union of Concerned Scientists
(UCS) board of directors, wrote "World Scientists' Warning to Humanity", which begins: "Human beings and the natural world are on a collision course." A majority of the Nobel Prize
laureates in the sciences signed the document; about 1,700 of the world's leading scientists appended their signature.
It is sometimes offered in opposition to the Heidelberg Appeal
—also signed by numerous scientists and Nobel laureates earlier in 1992—which begins by criticizing "an irrational ideology
which is opposed to scientific and industrial progress
, and impedes economic and social development." This document is often cited by those who oppose theories relating to climate change
.
However, the Heidelberg Appeal
offers no specific recommendations and is not an indictment of environmental science
: "We fully subscribe to the objectives of a scientific ecology
for a universe whose resources
must be taken stock of, monitored and preserved. But we herewith demand that this stock-taking, monitoring and preservation be founded on scientific criteria and not on irrational pre-conceptions."
In contrast, the UCS-led petition
contains specific recommendations: "We must, for example, move away from fossil fuels to more benign, inexhaustible energy
sources to cut greenhouse gas
emissions and the pollution
of our air
and water
. ... We must stabilize population."
Union of Concerned Scientists
The Union of Concerned Scientists is a nonprofit science advocacy group based in the United States. The UCS membership includes many private citizens in addition to professional scientists. James J...
(UCS) board of directors, wrote "World Scientists' Warning to Humanity", which begins: "Human beings and the natural world are on a collision course." A majority of the Nobel Prize
Nobel Prize
The Nobel Prizes are annual international awards bestowed by Scandinavian committees in recognition of cultural and scientific advances. The will of the Swedish chemist Alfred Nobel, the inventor of dynamite, established the prizes in 1895...
laureates in the sciences signed the document; about 1,700 of the world's leading scientists appended their signature.
It is sometimes offered in opposition to the Heidelberg Appeal
Heidelberg Appeal
The Heidelberg Appeal, authored by Michel Salomon and signed by a large number of scientists, is a statement decrying "an irrational ideology which is opposed to scientific and industrial progress, and impedes economic and social development." Issued to coincide with the opening of the United...
—also signed by numerous scientists and Nobel laureates earlier in 1992—which begins by criticizing "an irrational ideology
Ideology
An ideology is a set of ideas that constitutes one's goals, expectations, and actions. An ideology can be thought of as a comprehensive vision, as a way of looking at things , as in common sense and several philosophical tendencies , or a set of ideas proposed by the dominant class of a society to...
which is opposed to scientific and industrial progress
Industrialisation
Industrialization is the process of social and economic change that transforms a human group from an agrarian society into an industrial one...
, and impedes economic and social development." This document is often cited by those who oppose theories relating to climate change
Climate change
Climate change is a significant and lasting change in the statistical distribution of weather patterns over periods ranging from decades to millions of years. It may be a change in average weather conditions or the distribution of events around that average...
.
However, the Heidelberg Appeal
Heidelberg Appeal
The Heidelberg Appeal, authored by Michel Salomon and signed by a large number of scientists, is a statement decrying "an irrational ideology which is opposed to scientific and industrial progress, and impedes economic and social development." Issued to coincide with the opening of the United...
offers no specific recommendations and is not an indictment of environmental science
Environmental science
Environmental science is an interdisciplinary academic field that integrates physical and biological sciences, to the study of the environment, and the solution of environmental problems...
: "We fully subscribe to the objectives of a scientific ecology
Ecology
Ecology is the scientific study of the relations that living organisms have with respect to each other and their natural environment. Variables of interest to ecologists include the composition, distribution, amount , number, and changing states of organisms within and among ecosystems...
for a universe whose resources
Natural resource
Natural resources occur naturally within environments that exist relatively undisturbed by mankind, in a natural form. A natural resource is often characterized by amounts of biodiversity and geodiversity existent in various ecosystems....
must be taken stock of, monitored and preserved. But we herewith demand that this stock-taking, monitoring and preservation be founded on scientific criteria and not on irrational pre-conceptions."
In contrast, the UCS-led petition
Petition
A petition is a request to do something, most commonly addressed to a government official or public entity. Petitions to a deity are a form of prayer....
contains specific recommendations: "We must, for example, move away from fossil fuels to more benign, inexhaustible energy
Energy
In physics, energy is an indirectly observed quantity. It is often understood as the ability a physical system has to do work on other physical systems...
sources to cut greenhouse gas
Greenhouse gas
A greenhouse gas is a gas in an atmosphere that absorbs and emits radiation within the thermal infrared range. This process is the fundamental cause of the greenhouse effect. The primary greenhouse gases in the Earth's atmosphere are water vapor, carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide, and ozone...
emissions and the pollution
Pollution
Pollution is the introduction of contaminants into a natural environment that causes instability, disorder, harm or discomfort to the ecosystem i.e. physical systems or living organisms. Pollution can take the form of chemical substances or energy, such as noise, heat or light...
of our air
Air pollution
Air pollution is the introduction of chemicals, particulate matter, or biological materials that cause harm or discomfort to humans or other living organisms, or cause damage to the natural environment or built environment, into the atmosphere....
and water
Water pollution
Water pollution is the contamination of water bodies . Water pollution occurs when pollutants are discharged directly or indirectly into water bodies without adequate treatment to remove harmful compounds....
. ... We must stabilize population."
External links
- World Scientists' Warning to Humanity (1992)
- Our Best Point the Way (2001)