unequivocal adjective
1. leaving no doubt; unambiguous
The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change has finally released its report on global warming. The report uses a word scientists are very reluctant to use -“unequivocal.”
“warming in the climate system is unequivocal and since 1950 many changes have been observed throughout the climate system that are unprecedented over decades to millennia.”
“Our assessment of the science finds that the atmosphere and ocean have warmed, the amount of snow and ice has diminished, the global mean sea level has risen and the concentrations of greenhouse gases have increased,” – Qin Dahe, Co-Chair of IPCC Working Group I
No one should think the word “unequivocal” will be a clear enough word for climate change deniers, but it is clear enough to establish that all the serious scientific voices on the issue have reached a consensus. There will still be mavericks who disagree, but we cannot wait any longer to begin the drastic responses that might save nature as we know it.
And there will still be scientists for hire who will be trotted out for cable news and talk radio, but having a job as a scientist does not make all of one’s statements scientific. The word is in.
The report is included below along with another article on the subject:
http://www.commondreams.org/headline/2013/09/27