After scanning these two websites, almost immediately I thought, no question the “How to talk to a Climate Skeptic” was the more academic and convincing. But after considering it for a little bit longer, I realized the reason that I thought that was because I agree with the website’s point of view. After further consideration, both of the websites had graphs, charts and explanatory facts. That is what makes the climate change debate so difficult, because there is evidence for either side. Obviously, the evidence supporting climate change is stronger, but it is easy to see how skeptics are not completely ignorant.

How do we know who to believe? Each website has convincing graphs and charts, and their own opinion of what the scientific evidence. Personally, I believe there is enough information pointing to the evidence of climate change. The “How to Talk to A Climate Skeptic” website is definitely more thought out and complete, providing multiple data sets and articles detailing why climate change is not just a myth. The “Friends of Science” website had convincing graphs, but their articles were vague and confusing, and not as thorough.

Even if there were no solid convincing evidence for climate change, which according to skeptics is the case, combating the effects of climate change would not be the end of the world. To make a dent in the effects of climate change calls for a societal lifestyle change. This change could benefit our society—one that has gotten completely out of control with consumption and resource use. It would only benefit us to cut back a little on consumption, and return to realizing what truly makes us happy. It is proven that with the increase of material possessions that a person has, the less happy they are. We are a part of a vicious cycle that promotes the idea that the more possessions we have, the happier we will be—however the average person’s happiness has decreased every year since the 1950s.

So even if you do not believe that our planet is warming, a societal change would probably do more good than harm. If combating climate change would mean the death of our planet and the people on it, then I can see where the resistance to change would be stemming from. However the increasing global climate unfortunately means exactly the opposite. So even if you are not completely convinced by scientific facts, make a change to benefit your own life.