- A White House report states that global warming threatens every part of the U.S.
- Climate change is already affecting the Earth.
- A Gallup poll found that 1 in 4 Americans is skeptical of climate change.
- The debate should not be about whether climate change exists, but what to do about it.
- 97% of scientific papers endorse the position that humans are causing global warming.
- TV debates on climate change are often misleading, presenting a 50-50 split when the scientific consensus is overwhelmingly in favor of climate change.
- A statistically representative climate change debate is proposed, with 96 scientists representing the consensus and 1 climate skeptic.

John Oliver hosts a mathematically representative climate change debate, with the help of special guest Bill Nye the Science Guy, of course.

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It's HBO.

You may know it as that blue thing Bruce Willis is always trying to save.

Or from its famous collaboration with wind and fire.

Or just simply as that place where George Clooney lives.

Anyway, the Earth had some genuinely bad news this week.

A White House report that says global warming threatens every part of the U.S.

This isn't something in the distant future.

Climate change is already affecting us now.

That is a key shift in how to talk about climate change, because we've all proven that we cannot be trusted with the future tense.

We've been repeatedly asked, don't you want to leave a better Earth for your grandchildren?

And we've all collectively responded, fuck them.

-♪ ♪ Incredibly, this latest damning scientific report may still face an uphill climb with some of us.

There's that Gallup poll that came out last month which found 1 in 4 Americans is skeptical of all the effects of climate change and thinks this issue's been exaggerated.

You don't need people's opinions on a fact.

You might as well have a poll asking which number is bigger, 15 or 5?

The debate on climate change should not be whether or not it exists, It's what we should do about it.

There is a mountain of research on this topic.

Global temperatures are rising, heat waves are becoming more common, sea surface temperatures are also rising, glaciers are melting, and of course, no climate report is complete without the obligatory photo of a polar bear balancing on a piece of ice.

The only accurate way to report that 1 out of 4 Americans are skeptical of global warming is to say, a poll finds that 1 out of 4 Americans are wrong about something.

Because A survey of thousands of scientific papers that took a position on climate change found that 97% endorsed the position that humans are causing global warming.

And I think I know why people still think this issue is open to debate, because on TV, it is.

And it's always 1 person for, 1 person against.

Bill Nye and Marshall Blackburn, welcome, both of you, to meet the press.

Bill Nye joins us now, along with Climate change skeptic Mark Morana.

Joining me now to go head-to-head, Bill Nye, science educator and CEO of the Planetary Society.

In the crossfire, Bill Nye the Science Guy.

Bill Nye the Science Guy, who believes in man-made global warming.

More Often than not, it's Bill Nye the Science Guy versus some dude.

And when you look at the screen, it's 50-50, which is inherently misleading.

If there has to be a debate about the reality of climate change, and there doesn't, then there is only 1 mathematically fair way to do it.

Last week tonight presents a statistically representative climate change debate.

Joining me tonight, a climate change denier and naturally, Bill Nye, Science Guy.

In the interest of mathematical balance, I'm going to bring out 2 people who agree with you, Climate Skeptic, and Bill Nye, I'm also gonna bring out 96 other scientists.

It's a little unwieldy, but this is the only way you can actually have a representative discussion.

Again, again, this is going to make the debate difficult.

We shouldn't really be having it in the first place.

But, so, representationally, climate skeptic, please make a case against climate change.

Well, I just don't think all the science is in yet.

Okay, and what is the overwhelming view of the entire scientific community?

I can't hear you over the weight of scientific evidence.

This whole debate should not have happened.

My thanks to Bill Nye and the overwhelming scientific consensus.


Speaker 0: -♪ ♪ -♪♪ The Earth. You may know it as that blue thing Bruce Willis is always trying to save. Or from its famous collaboration with wind and fire. Or just simply as that place where George Clooney lives. Anyway, the Earth had some genuinely bad news this week.

Speaker 1: A White House report that says global warming threatens every part of the U.S.

Speaker 0: This isn't something in the distant future. Climate change is already affecting us now. Now. Smart move, Obama. That is a key shift in how to talk about climate change, because we've all proven that we cannot be trusted with the future tense.

We've been repeatedly asked, don't you want to leave a better Earth for your grandchildren? And we've all collectively responded, fuck them. -♪ ♪ -But... -♪ ♪ Incredibly, this latest damning scientific report may still face an uphill climb with some of us.

Speaker 1: There's that Gallup poll that came out last month which found 1 in 4 Americans is skeptical of all the effects of climate change and thinks this issue's been exaggerated.

Speaker 0: Who gives a shit? That doesn't matter. You don't need people's opinions on a fact. You might as well have a poll asking which number is bigger, 15 or 5? Or do owls exist?

Or are there hats? The... The debate on climate change should not be whether or not it exists, It's what we should do about it. There is a mountain of research on this topic. Global temperatures are rising, heat waves are becoming more common, sea surface temperatures are also rising, glaciers are melting, and of course, no climate report is complete without the obligatory photo of a polar bear balancing on a piece of ice.

The only accurate way to report that 1 out of 4 Americans are skeptical of global warming is to say, a poll finds that 1 out of 4 Americans are wrong about something. Because A survey of thousands of scientific papers that took a position on climate change found that 97% endorsed the position that humans are causing global warming. And I think I know why people still think this issue is open to debate, because on TV, it is. And it's always 1 person for, 1 person against. And it's usually the same person for.

Speaker 2: Bill Nye and Marshall Blackburn, welcome, both of you, to meet the press.

Speaker 0: Bill Nye joins us now, along with Climate change skeptic Mark Morana. Joining me now to go head-to-head, Bill Nye, science educator and CEO of the Planetary Society.

Speaker 2: In the crossfire, Bill Nye the Science Guy.

Speaker 0: Bill Nye the Science Guy, who believes in man-made global warming. Yeah, that's right. More Often than not, it's Bill Nye the Science Guy versus some dude. And when you look at the screen, it's 50-50, which is inherently misleading. If there has to be a debate about the reality of climate change, and there doesn't, then there is only 1 mathematically fair way to do it.

Last week tonight presents a statistically representative climate change debate. Good evening. Joining me tonight, a climate change denier and naturally, Bill Nye, Science Guy. --So,

Speaker 2: Bill... Bill... --JONATHAN LAUGHS, CHEERS, APPLAUDS Jon?

Speaker 0: Yep. Humans are causing climate change? No question. Wait, wait, wait, wait, wait, wait. Before we begin, on...

In the interest of mathematical balance, I'm going to bring out 2 people who agree with you, Climate Skeptic, and Bill Nye, I'm also gonna bring out 96 other scientists.

Speaker 2: It's a little unwieldy, but this is the only way you can actually have a representative discussion.

Speaker 0: So, yeah, please, please file in. Again, again, this is going to make the debate difficult. We shouldn't really be having it in the first place. But, so, representationally, climate skeptic, please make a case against climate change. Well, I just don't think all the science is in yet.

It's settled. Okay, and what is the overwhelming view of the entire scientific community?

Speaker 2: Well... Okay, okay. Any response to that? Any response? I can't hear you over the weight of scientific evidence.

This whole debate should not have happened. I apologize to everyone at home. My thanks to Bill Nye and the overwhelming scientific consensus.

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Climate Change Debate: Last Week Tonight with John Oliver (HBO)