TechnoBlog

As an experiment I asked ChatGPT to ‘form an opinion of how humanity will progress over the next century’. It’s response is clearly aimed at engaging with me based on our previous conversations about training and practical skills, however there are some interesting observations. I would be interested to see responses for exactly the same prompt from other users, plus what do you think of the points it makes?

This is the ChatGPT 5.2 response:

Below is a considered, opinionated assessment of how the human race is likely to progress over the next century, based on observable technological, economic, and social trajectories rather than speculation or optimism.

Executive View

Over the next 100 years, humanity will not progress uniformly. Instead, we will see:

• Rapid technical advancement
• Slower social and institutional adaptation
• Increasing divergence between groups, regions, and individuals
• A redefinition of what “human work,” “human value,” and even “human capability” mean

The century ahead will be characterised less by dramatic singular events and more by persistent tension between accelerating technology and comparatively slow human systems.

1. Technology Will Outpace Human Institutions

Likely trajectory

• AI, robotics, biotechnology, and energy systems will advance exponentially
• Governments, legal frameworks, education systems, and ethics will advance incrementally

This mismatch will cause:

• Repeated regulatory lag
• Social friction
• Periodic backlash against technology rather than its misuse

Outcome:
Technology will increasingly shape society by default, not by design.

2. Work Will Be Fundamentally Redefined

What disappears

• Repetitive cognitive work
• Procedural technical roles
• Many forms of clerical, administrative, and diagnostic labour

What remains valuable

• Physical skills
• Systems thinking
• Maintenance, integration, and troubleshooting
• Teaching, mentoring, and human judgement
• Responsibility and accountability

Ironically, practical competence will become more valuable, not less—particularly where automation fails or is economically unjustified.

Outcome:
Societies that preserve and respect hands-on skills will be more resilient.

3. Inequality Will Become Capability-Based, Not Just Wealth-Based

The key divide will not be rich vs. poor, but:

• People who can understand, control, and repair complex systems
• People who are entirely dependent on them

This will apply to:

• Energy systems
• Transport
• Healthcare
• Food production
• Digital infrastructure

Outcome:
Practical literacy will become a form of power.

4. Energy and Climate Will Force Engineering-First Thinking

Climate change will not end civilisation, but it will:

• Force adaptation
• Reprioritise engineering over ideology
• Reward pragmatic solutions over perfect ones

Key trends:

• Electrification everywhere
• Local energy storage
• Redundancy over efficiency
• Resilient infrastructure rather than optimal infrastructure

Outcome:
Engineering competence will regain political and economic importance.

5. Humans Will Become More Augmented, Not Replaced

Despite fears, humans will not become obsolete. Instead:

• We will increasingly rely on augmentation:
  • AI copilots
  • Medical implants
  • Cognitive assistance
• The boundary between “skilled” and “unskilled” will blur

However:

• Dependence without understanding will be dangerous
• Failures will be abrupt and severe when systems collapse

Outcome:
The most capable humans will be those who can operate with technology but also without it.

6. Education Will Split Into Two Paths

Path A: Abstract, credential-driven education

• Increasingly disconnected from real-world competence
• Vulnerable to automation

Path B: Skills-based, experiential learning

• Smaller cohorts
• Higher individual capability
• More expensive but more valuable

Outcome:
Hands-on education will become a premium product, not a default one.

7. Centralisation Will Compete With Local Resilience

We will see a continuous struggle between:

• Centralised, optimised systems (clouds, grids, platforms)
• Local, resilient systems (microgrids, repair culture, self-sufficiency)

Neither will win outright.

Outcome:
Hybrid systems will dominate—but only if people retain the skills to run them locally.

8. Cultural Consequence: A Return to Respect for Makers

As complexity increases:

• “Knowing how things work” regains social value
• Makers, engineers, technicians, and fixers regain status
• Passive consumption becomes a liability

This is not romantic nostalgia—it is a practical necessity.

Outcome:
Civilisations that forget how to build and maintain things will fail faster.

Final Opinion

The next century will not be defined by:

• AI alone
• Climate collapse alone
• Or a single transformative invention

It will be defined by how well humans retain agency in an increasingly automated, interconnected world.

The most successful societies will:

• Value competence over credentials
• Teach people how systems fail, not just how they work
• Treat engineering, maintenance, and practical skill as civic assets

In short:

The future will belong not to those with the most advanced technology, but to those who still understand how to use it when it breaks.

UK steel has been in the press recently, and that highlighted that a lot of people talking about steel really don’t know much about steel!

Obviously I use steel a lot, but it’s important to understand there are many different type of steel and only some of what I use is made in the UK.

It’s also important to understand that making new steel from ore is a chemical reaction, it’s not just about heat, and the type and quality of the coke use is really important. Coke is made by heating coal, and much of the coal in the uk has loads of stuff in it that makes it great for heating but useless for making steel, things like sulphur react with the iron in bad ways. The coal we need to make great steel is mostly under north America and Australia!

It’s also worth noting that we have two types of steel making in the UK, blast furnaces making iron from ore and electric arc furnaces used for recycling existing steel and iron. These are two very different processes from very different types of factory. Don’t think you can use an electric ark to make new steel.

So, what’s it all about.

The UK steel industry has long been a cornerstone of British engineering, infrastructure, and industrial heritage, the backbone of the Industrial Revolution. And despite facing global challenges in recent years, steel remains an essential material in everything from buildings and bridges to wind turbines and – crucially for me – cars. Understanding where our steel comes from, how it’s made, and what types are produced today is vital if we are to secure a sustainable future for UK manufacturing.

The Foundations: Metallurgical Coal and Coke Production

At the heart of steelmaking is a special ingredient: metallurgical coal, often called coking coal. Unlike thermal coal used for power generation, coking coal is required to make coke, a carbon-rich material essential for traditional blast furnace steelmaking. When heated in coke ovens at around 1,100°C in the absence of oxygen, this coal produces coke which is almost pure carbon, which then reacts with iron ore in a blast furnace to rip the oxygen out of the iron oxide and create molten pig iron, the primary ingredient in steel. This is the chemical reaction bit and why pure coke is vital.

In the UK, coke production has largely declined due to both environmental pressures and the closure of traditional coke oven facilities. However, British Steel in Scunthorpe and Tata Steel in Port Talbot still rely on imported metallurgical coal—primarily from Australia, the USA, and Canada—to maintain their blast furnace operations. Some coke is also produced locally at these integrated sites, but the bulk of raw material is now globally sourced, adding cost and carbon emissions.

So what types of Steel are produced in the UK today?

The UK steel sector produces a range of steel types, generally falling into two broad categories:

Carbon Steel (Non-alloyed)

Widely used in construction, pipelines, and automotive frames.

Produced in forms such as hot-rolled coil, sheet, and rebar.

Suitable for structural components and body-in-white applications in car production.

Alloy and Stainless Steel

Includes high-strength low alloy (HSLA) steels used in automotive safety structures and aerospace.

Stainless steels produced by Outokumpu in Sheffield cater to food processing, medical devices, and high-performance parts.

Tool steels and spring steels are also made for specialist industries like defence and motorsport.

Electrical Steel

Essential in EV motor production and transformers.

UK production is limited but growing, with renewed interest in domestic supply for net-zero tech.

Speciality and Recycled Steel

Liberty Steel, for example, uses electric arc furnaces (EAFs) to recycle scrap steel, producing grades used in construction and some automotive applications.

This is a cleaner, lower-carbon method of steel production that is gaining traction.

Steel Used in Car Manufacturing: A Closer Look

Modern car manufacturing uses over 200 different grades of steel, with an increasing focus on advanced high-strength steels (AHSS) to reduce vehicle weight while maintaining crash safety. Here’s how UK production compares:

Steel Type Use in Cars UK Availability

Mild steel Body panels, brackets Widely produced in UK

High-strength low-alloy Chassis, crash structures Made at Tata Port Talbot, British Steel

Dual-phase and TRIP steels Safety cages, B-pillars Limited domestic production

Stainless steel Exhaust systems, trim Produced in Sheffield

Electrical steel EV motors, stators Some domestic supply, growing demand

The UK has significant capability for structural and standard automotive steels, but production of some advanced grades is limited and often sourced from Europe or Asia. As EV adoption increases, so does the need for electrical steels and ultra-high-strength steels, areas where targeted investment could boost UK self-reliance.

A Strategic Industry Worth Supporting

Steel underpins much of the UK’s industrial base and offers major opportunities in green energy, EV manufacturing, defence, and rail. However, its reliance on carbon-intensive processes like blast furnaces raises questions about sustainability.

Encouraging moves include:

Investment in electric arc furnace (EAF) technology to improve steel making from scarp, however this doesn’t replace blast furnaces for new steel.

Support for hydrogen-based steelmaking, as trialled in Sweden and Germany.

Development of a closed-loop recycling system for car and construction steel in the UK.

By aligning our industrial strategy, environmental goals, and automotive innovation, the UK has a chance to revitalise its steel sector as a clean, strategic industry that’s fit for the future. But that takes initiative and commitment from the government, it also need people who make decisions to understand a little bit about the subject.

The Timeless Significance of Classic Cars

Classic cars hold a special place in the hearts of automotive enthusiasts around the world. Beyond their interesting designs and characterful engines, these timeless treasures embody a rich tapestry of history, culture, and craftsmanship. From vintage Aston Martins to iconic Mustangs, classic cars captivate our imaginations and remind us of a bygone era. But are some good reasons why classic cars are actually important.

Preserving Automotive Heritage

This is something I’m passionate about, heritage not only engages our imagination but also informs us on ways of solving problems, this has relevance now and in the future. Classic cars are more than just vehicles; they are living artefacts that tell the story of automotive evolution. Each model represents a chapter in the history of design, engineering, and innovation. Whether it’s the elegance of a vintage Rolls-Royce or the raw power of a muscle car, classic vehicles offer a glimpse into the past, preserving a legacy for future generations to appreciate and, importantly, understand.

Celebrating Automotive Design

One of the most compelling reasons why classic cars are important is their role in celebrating automotive design. From the graceful curves of a Jaguar E-Type to the rugged charm of a Volkswagen Beetle, these iconic designs inspire awe and admiration. Classic cars showcase the ingenuity of automotive designers who pushed the boundaries of creativity and style, leaving an indelible mark on the industry.

Fostering a Sense of Community

Owning and restoring classic cars is more than just a hobby; it’s a way of life for enthusiasts who share a passion for vintage cars, bikes, trucks etc. Classic car clubs and events provide a sense of camaraderie, bringing together like-minded individuals to celebrate their love for these timeless machines. Whether it’s swapping stories at a car show or cruising down scenic routes, classic car communities foster connections that transcend generations and enduring friendships.

Investment and Appreciation

Beyond their cultural significance, classic cars can also hold value as investments. Rare and well-maintained models can appreciate significantly over time, making them sought-after assets for collectors and investors. However, the true value of classic cars goes beyond their monetary worth; it lies in the joy they bring to enthusiasts and the memories they create for generations to come.

Conclusion

In a world of constant change, classic cars offer a sense of stability and nostalgia. They remind us of simpler times and evoke a sense of wonder and admiration. From their exquisite craftsmanship to their timeless designs, classic cars are more than just vehicles—they are symbols of passion, ingenuity, and heritage. As custodians of automotive history, it’s essential to recognize and celebrate the enduring importance of classic cars in shaping our culture and enriching our lives.

Ralph.

Recent announcements about Q* highlight the rapid, exponential development of AI. The sheer rate of change is astonishing and is catching most people out. Make no mistake this is already revolutionising aspects of your life.
For instance totally realistic videos of anything you want can be created rapidly, faces swapped on existing vids, anything. What ever story you want to tell, whether real or false, can be illustrated with 100% believable made up video. This is really great for creativity, allowing people to make amazing films without big budgets and long production times. But it is also extraordinarily bad for social justice and the spread of misinformation. False accusations can be ‘backed up’ with convincing made up video. Now with reatime face swap systems you could even doctor live feeds from CCTV and smart door bells. This is technology that exists right now, not some far of possibility.
With the amazing power of AI huge advancements are being made in medicine, cures for cancer are a real possibility within our lifetimes. But the flip side of that is there is also the potential to make unstoppable bioweapons or things targeted at certain biological groups, bio-genocide for example.
In my sector we can see how genuine autonomous systems can radically improve safety and efficiency, avoiding crashes and smoothing traffic flow, this is true of cars, trucks, trains and planes, speeding up airports etc. But with networked integrated travel our movements can be controlled and with no real way of having a manual override when it inevitably has a glitch everything we rely on could potentially stop.

AI can radically improve manufacturing, food production and education, it can assist us and make us more capable. But it can, and will, replace many jobs entirely, from your local GP to aircraft pilots. This is far bigger than the industrial revolution. Every single job in the service sector can be replaced by AI in one form or another. In fact I can’t think of any existing job that can’t be done better with a combination of machine and AI. And at the moment this transition is only being controlled by the chaos and short term view of market forces.

AI is a tool, and like any tool we need to know how to use it safely and put in place systems to prevent misuse. The same principle applies to all powerful tools, from hammers and chainsaws to cars and nuclear power.

The big difference is that AI is more powerful than any other tool mankind has ever made.

This needs a proper grown up conversation urgently.

I keep seeing posts about how much mining is needed for an EV battery, and that got me thinking.

Looking at the batteries I’m developing for our projects here means I can see exactly what goes into a full battery pack, I also have to deal with recycling cells that I have tested to destruction whilst checking they deliver what the manufacturer says they do.

I’m not going into how much resources are used in making the cells, maybe I’ll do a post about that some other time, but I wanted to see what happens to the stuff I send of for recycling and what that means for the environmental impact over a long time.

Firstly there’s a couple of things to get straight, batteries in EV’s last a long time, usually longer than the rest of the car. I drive a 2012 Nissan Leaf which is still going strong, we also have a 2012 Peugeot Ion which is at over 90% it’s original capacity.

The current crop of cars are experiencing battery capacity loss of less than 5% per 100k miles, so million mile EVs seem quite likely.

In the UK petrol and diesel cars last an average of 17 years, their life ending when crashed or uneconomic to repair, so it seems likely EV’s have the capability to exceed this.

Oh, and by the way, batteries are repairable contrary to popular belief. If you want to learn how to do this for a living I run IMI industry recognised short courses to show you how.

So batteries last a long time, and even if the car gets scrapped off the battery can be used in energy storage systems on your house or on the grid. This helps the grid out at peak times and also means we get much better use out of solar and wind power as the power can be stored and used when needed. Think about how many kWh you use at home each month, look on your electricity bill, many car batteries can store about 50kWh so if there was a power cut how long would that run your house? Couple that with solar on the roof and you’ve got a bit of energy independence.

But eventually everything ends up as scrap, in the case of our scrap batteries we use a place in Milton Keynes and I had a chat with them about what happens to our cells at their facility, which was really interesting.

One interesting point is that most cells have some energy left in them when going for scrap, so these guys use that remaining energy to power their factory! That also results in a cell with no energy at all, so no chance of sparking a fire as it goes through the plant.

The cells are then broken up and the component elements separated, aluminium, copper, nickel, manganese cobalt etc. are refined and sent for re-use. What’s left is a mix of lithium and graphite which looks like slightly damp mashed up pencil lead. This goes to another company for separating into graphite and lithium.

All these components are valuable to a greater or lesser extent, currently there are so few EV batteries coming out of service (they are still in use!) that the operation is relatively small scale which means I have to pay a small fee to get my ex-test battery cells recycled, but as volumes increase they expect to be able to pay me for the scrap cells in a few years time.

There are new battery recycling plants popping up now in the UK so it’s an industry that is growing.

This also means that the batteries I used and abused will be turned into new batteries.

Now here’s an interesting thing, battery manufacturing methods and designs are constantly improving, one of the type of cells I’m buying now are 15% better in energy storage capacity than the ones I bought last year. That’s an amazing change.

So the stuff I send for recycling gets made into batteries that are better than the ones they used to be.

It’s reckoned by people much cleverer than me that each recycling round results in improved battery efficiency by about 5%.

It also means that less and less mining is needed as the years go by, as more and more of the batteries are made from pure materials from recycled batteries.

There’s obviously some waste in the process but it looks like its about %5 of the mass, this is things like glue, stickers, some resins that don’t separate well, that sort of thing.

So even if the average battery life was only 10 years that would mean 50% of today’s mined materials would still be in batteries in 100 years time, and if they live as long as combustion cars that turns into 170 years.

Which I thought was interesting .

It’s also wrong. Because in 100 years we are unlikely to be still using lithium batteries. Look how far we’ve come in 30 years, from lead acid, to nickel metal hydride and now to lithium. So whats’ next? Sodium ion certainly, then maybe aluminium air (probably 10 times lighter, cheaper and smaller). Who knows.

But in terms of the current rapid expansion in the number of lithium based EV’s there is clearly a lot of mining to be done, this this won’t go on for ever, once we have enough for the growing fleet we can use a high percentage of recycled material. And a lot of that new material can be mined a lot closer to home, such as Cornish Lithium which is using the old tin mines. Maybe shipping huge quantities of material around the world isn’t really necessary after all? A lot of things are changing, and changing fast.

Interesting times.

I’ve had to make many very difficult decision in my career, and running a company where employees depend on me getting it right for their job security is something I take very seriously.

Clearly the automotive industry is going through massive changes, and I mean really massive. Changes to the way factories are designed, built and run. Changes to materials and technologies in the car. Changes in working practices. Massive changes in car design, connectivity and propulsion methods. At every level the industry is changing. this is even more momentous than when steam gave way to internal combustion.

Our industry is tightly regulated by legislation on emissions, safety, recycling, energy efficiency etc. and these regulations are instigated by politicians who in turn are responding to what people currently care about, after all that’s how they get votes. But there is a big change in how many people view the car, for many in cities it is a bothersome dangerous burden and not the great personal freedom tool that it is to the rest of us. So politics is changing too, and so will laws in our industry.

Consumer preferences have changed dramatically too, in the past I have made outlandish bold statement vehicles for car PR organizations to help them engage with customers, but now this may be seen as wasteful and not environmentally sensitive (even though these were usually end of life pre-production prototypes destined for the scarp pile).

So I know that change is coming my way, whether I like it or not. And I have a duty to adapt my company to keep everyone gainfully employed.

But even more than that, when I started looking into this I was thinking about the future of my family, of everyone’s family, what future will it be?

I’m an engineer and I work on hard data. But the trouble with a thing like climate change is there is one hell of a lot of noise coming out of the media, governments and even more so from social media. People quoting wildly different facts and drawing opposing conclusions. After all getting likes, clicks or subscriptions takes a bit of drama.

So I looked at the sources of the data and found a much calmer discussion, based on science, data and well tested arguments. And what I found is a very big probability (after all nothing is 100% certain except death and taxes) that the world is currently warming up at a speed that is faster than at any point in its history. And it turns out that the speed of change is rather important, because that determines how long species have to adapt to the change, and currently its happening so fast that we are seeing species actually dying out at an increasing rate. And personally I don’t want that to happen.

We also have the problem of extreme weather, with substantially more energy in the atmosphere there are stronger winds, the jet stream is buckled and makes weather more changeable and extreme, and the higher heat means more evaporation and rain in some places, but drought and high temperatures in others. It’s a very complex system and one that appears to be a major area of research, modeling climate (the big averages) is apparently reasonably accurate whilst modeling weather (the detail of what will happen in precise locations at precise times) is still tricky.

The upshot of all this is I’ve had to rethink my business, career and lifestyle. My annual mileage is drastically reduced, we don’t have foreign family holidays, we buy local food produce more etc. In my business I’m concentrating on new energy powertrains (although my first EV conversion was in 1993!), synthetic fuels, sustainable oils, low energy production methods, renewable energy etc.

And I’m now working on public transport vehicles, converting buses to EV and hydrogen. Public transport is vital but has a long way to go, and I want to be part of that solution.

I’ve also started a training company to share sustainable skills to help people keep their machines running well for longer, reducing waste.

Hopefully I’m doing something right. Time will tell.

Climate change data verification is a critical process to ensure the accuracy, reliability, and credibility of climate-related information. The verification of climate change data involves several key steps and methodologies:

1. Data Collection: The first step is to collect data from various sources, including weather stations, satellites, ocean buoys, ice cores, tree rings, and more. This data encompasses a wide range of climate indicators such as temperature, precipitation, sea level, greenhouse gas concentrations, and more.
2. Quality Control: Raw data collected from different sources may contain errors, anomalies, or inconsistencies. Quality control procedures involve checking data for inaccuracies and correcting them. This includes identifying and addressing issues like sensor malfunctions, calibration errors, and data transmission problems.
3. Data Homogenization: When working with historical climate data collected over long periods, it’s essential to ensure consistency across time. Data homogenization involves adjusting historical records to account for changes in measurement methods, station locations, or instrumentation over time. This ensures that trends and anomalies are not artifacts of changes in data collection methods.
4. Peer Review: Climate scientists and researchers subject their data and findings to peer review. Peer review involves having other experts in the field assess the methodology, data sources, and conclusions. This process helps identify any potential biases, errors, or limitations in the data and analysis.
5. Data Transparency: To enhance transparency and credibility, climate scientists often make their data and methodologies publicly available. This allows other researchers to independently verify the results and conduct their own analyses.
6. Cross-Validation: Climate data is often cross-validated using multiple sources and methods. For example, temperature data collected from weather stations can be compared to satellite-based temperature measurements or reconstructed from proxies like tree rings and ice cores. Consistency across different sources and methods strengthens the confidence in the data.
7. Long-Term Trends: Climate data is analyzed for long-term trends to distinguish natural variability from anthropogenic (human-induced) changes. Statistical techniques, such as time series analysis and trend detection, help identify significant trends and their statistical significance.
8. Climate Models: Climate models are used to simulate past and future climate conditions. Data is used to validate these models by comparing their output to observed data. Models that accurately simulate historical climate conditions are more likely to produce reliable projections of future climate change.
9. Independent Verification: Independent organizations and government agencies often conduct their own assessments of climate data and trends. These assessments can serve as additional verification and validation processes.
10. Continuous Monitoring: Climate data is continually monitored and updated as new data becomes available. This ongoing process ensures that climate information remains current and accurate.

It’s important to note that the verification of climate change data is an ongoing and collaborative effort involving scientists, researchers, and organizations worldwide. Rigorous verification processes help build confidence in our understanding of climate change and its impacts, which is crucial for informing policy decisions and mitigation strategies.

Climate change data is collected from various sources and through multiple methods to monitor and understand changes in the Earth’s climate system. Some of the primary sources of climate change data include:

1. Weather Stations: Weather stations around the world record meteorological data such as temperature, precipitation, wind speed, and atmospheric pressure. This historical weather data is crucial for assessing long-term climate trends.

2. Satellites: Earth-observing satellites provide a wealth of data on various climate-related parameters. Satellites can measure sea surface temperatures, ice cover, land surface temperatures, greenhouse gas concentrations, and more, offering a global perspective.

3. Ocean Buoys: Floating ocean buoys equipped with sensors collect data on sea surface temperatures, ocean currents, and other oceanic conditions. These buoys are strategically positioned in oceans to monitor changes over time.

4. Ice Cores: Ice cores extracted from glaciers and polar ice caps provide valuable data on past climate conditions. By analyzing the composition of ice cores, scientists can reconstruct historical climate patterns, including temperature and atmospheric composition.

5. Tree Rings: The study of tree rings (dendrochronology) helps researchers understand past climate variability. Tree rings can reveal information about temperature, precipitation, and droughts over centuries or even millennia.

6. Proxy Data: Various proxy data sources, such as lake sediments, coral reefs, and cave formations, provide indirect evidence of past climate conditions. These proxies are used to reconstruct historical climate records.

7. Climate Models: Climate models simulate the Earth’s climate system, allowing scientists to project future climate scenarios based on various greenhouse gas emissions scenarios. Climate models use historical data as input to validate their accuracy and make predictions.

8. Atmospheric Measurements: Instruments like weather balloons and aircraft are used to collect atmospheric data, including temperature, humidity, and greenhouse gas concentrations in different layers of the atmosphere.

9. Environmental Sensors: Ground-based sensors, such as those used in weather networks and environmental monitoring stations, measure various climate-related parameters at specific locations.

10. Oceanographic Research: Oceanographic research vessels collect data on ocean temperatures, currents, and salinity levels through direct measurements and sampling.

11. Carbon Dioxide (CO2) Monitoring: A global network of CO2 monitoring stations tracks greenhouse gas concentrations in the atmosphere. The Mauna Loa Observatory in Hawaii is a prominent example.

12. Glaciological Research: Glaciologists study glaciers and ice sheets to monitor their changes in size and mass. This data helps assess contributions to sea-level rise.

13. Paleoclimatology: The study of past climates through the examination of geological and biological evidence provides insights into long-term climate trends.

14. Hydrological Data: Data on river flow, snowpack, and groundwater levels are important for understanding how climate change affects water resources.

15. Environmental Surveys: Surveys and studies conducted by environmental agencies, research institutions, and organizations worldwide provide valuable data on climate change impacts on ecosystems, biodiversity, and human societies.

Climate data is often collected and curated by government agencies, research institutions, and international organizations. It is made available to scientists, policymakers, and the public through various databases, research papers, and climate monitoring platforms. These data sources collectively contribute to our understanding of climate change and its impacts on the planet.

It’s a very good question, and there is a very good answer. Trust in climate change data is built on a combination of rigorous scientific processes and not just one data point, the data has transparency in that it is openly available for independent review, it’s rigorously peer reviewed by other scientists who desperately want to show how clever they are by spotting a mistake, and importantly there’s the convergence of evidence from multiple independent sources often working in very different areas. Here are key reasons why we should trust climate change data:

1. The Scientific Method

Climate change data is collected and analyzed using the scientific method, a systematic and evidence-based approach. Scientists follow established protocols for data collection, measurement, and analysis to ensure accuracy and reliability.

2. Peer Review

Research findings and data are subject to peer review, where experts in the field evaluate the methodology, data quality, and conclusions. This process helps identify errors, biases, or limitations in the data or analysis.

3. Transparency

Data sources, collection methods, and analysis techniques are typically documented and made available to the scientific community and the public. This transparency allows others to replicate studies and verify results independently.

4. Consistency Across Studies

Multiple independent studies conducted by scientists around the world consistently support the conclusion that the Earth’s climate is changing due to human activities. This convergence of evidence reinforces the reliability of climate change data.

5. Long-Term Monitoring

Many climate data sets span decades or even centuries, providing a historical record of climate trends. Long-term monitoring helps identify patterns and anomalies, contributing to our understanding of climate change.

6. Global Collaboration

Climate scientists from different countries and institutions collaborate on research and data analysis. This international cooperation ensures a diversity of perspectives and reduces the likelihood of bias or manipulation.

7. Data Validation

Climate data is subject to rigorous validation processes. Researchers use various methods, including cross-validation with independent data sets and comparison with physical principles, to confirm the accuracy of measurements.

8. Independent Verification

Government agencies, universities, research institutions, and organizations worldwide collect and analyze climate data independently. This redundancy in data collection and analysis provides checks and balances.

9. Historical Records

Historical climate data, such as temperature records, ice core data, and proxy records, offer insights into past climate conditions. These records help validate current climate models and observations.

10. Scientific Consensus

The overwhelming majority of climate scientists and scientific organizations agree that climate change is occurring, largely driven by human activities. Scientific consensus is a strong indicator of the reliability of climate change data.

11. Real-World Impacts

Observations of real-world impacts, such as rising global temperatures, sea-level rise, melting ice sheets, and changes in weather patterns, align with the predictions made by climate models based on climate data.

12. Reproducibility

The ability of different researchers to reproduce climate data and results independently adds another layer of credibility to the findings.

13. Continuous Monitoring

Climate data is continually monitored and updated as new data becomes available. This ongoing process ensures that climate information remains current and accurate.

Of course no scientific data is entirely immune to errors or uncertainties, but the combination of rigorous scientific practices, peer review, transparency, and the convergence of evidence from multiple sources makes climate change data highly reliable and trustworthy. Hopefully it forms the foundation for informed policymaking and effective climate action to address the challenges of global changes.