Hot air and the rising tide of doubt buoys climate cynics

THE number of climate change sceptics is rising in the wake of failed international negotiations, political posturing and damaging publicity about scientific research.

A Sun-Herald/Taverner poll of 609 NSW voters shows 8 per cent of people do not believe climate change is real and another 29 per cent think it is real but not caused by humans and 60 per cent of people believed in man-made climate change.

Last year, only 3 per cent said climate change was not real and 18 per cent said it was happening but not caused by humans. In 2008 2 per cent did not believe and 14 per cent said it was real but humans were not responsible.