Those who don't 100% agree with global warming being directly linked to human activities get blackballed. I think this has been proven, even for those who say that it's bad, but not as bad as the party line. Suppressing facts (like actual temperature measurements) that contravene one's belief system changes those beliefs from science to dogma. This is completely unacceptable.
Then again, those who totally deny that humans can alter the climate have their heads stuck in the sand (or elsewhere out of the site of daylight).
On the other hand, the increase in global temperatures has slowed and seems to be hitting a plateau. It is within the realm of possibility that we're on the edge of the next glaciation. Global cooling was a serious worry in the scientific community in the 50's and 60's.
Make no mistake, the Earth is in a warm spot during an ice age, geologically speaking. Human activities could actually be saving our collective posteriors from continental ice sheets. Even if humans had never learned to use fire, the climate situation is unstable. The two most "natural" options are another round of ice or the planet emerges from the ice age into a much warmer period. Both of these would have bad consequences for a large percentage of humanity. There are just too many of us now to flee before glaciers or encroaching oceans.
My personal opinion:
1. We need to kick that fossil fuel habit no matter what.
2. We should reduce global emissions (greenhouse gases and other pollutants) as fast as is economically feasible.
3. We need to not cripple what's left of the world's economy. If that breaks down, global treaties won't be worth the paper they are printed on. We also are going to need a pile of cash for #4 and #5.
4. We need to be ready to deal with a lot more nuclear power while pushing MUCH harder for improvements in solar and continuing to try to develop economically feasible fusion power. We need to be ready to try some of the more radical ideas like sea turbines in the gulf stream. Those cars that use electricity need to get power from somewhere (and electricity is needed if you want hydrogen cars too). Energy efficiency can help, but vast new sources of electricity will still be needed.
5. During the above, we need some scientist without political or ideological ties to examine the hard facts to better determine how to best keep the climate stable and as close to it's current state as possible. This may require drastic reductions in greenhouse gas emissions. This may require maintaining greenhouse gas emissions at a controlled level.
Poll