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... however stubbornly you stick to it :)

That's an ideological statement, which is why I added the "smiley."

But it is not ideological to respect a scientific consensus that has built up over decades. Some of the weather and climate books reviewed on my Science Shelf website have an ideological bent, but most focus on the evidence and the growing scientific consensus.

Nonscientists who know how scientists build consensus now recognize that there may be huge problems ahead. Not acting can have serious consequences.

In the religious realm that plays out this way: Many scientists and nonscientists espouse conservative religious faiths that place the stewardship of the planet as an important aspect of doing "God's work." Others, such as members of my liberal denomination, include "repairing the world" as one of their central good deeds. That repair is social as well as physical. The sentiment is not ideological, even when ideologues happen to hold it.

If you're having problems accepting the scientific consensus, I suggest that you click the link earlier in this reply and select reading material from the titles you think are least ideological.

I'm afraid that you remain unconvinced because you wish things were different from the way they are. It's almost "magical" thinking, and few things are more dangerous than relying on magic instead of acting on fact.

Fred Bortz -- Science and technology books for young readers (www.fredbortz.com) and Science book reviews (www.scienceshelf.com)