Expect a slow, gradual acceptance of climate change, even in the most die-hard circles.
Why? Because one of the most powerful and successful sectors of the economy, the FIRE sector is losing money.
FIRE stands for Finance, Insurance and Real Estate. The "Insurance" part of that sector pays for damages due to weather related events, including catastrophies.
For some, bizarre reason, those costs are skyrocketing. And the insurance industry is being forced to notice it as their bottom line is being affected.
Climate Change: Insurers Confirm Growing Risks, Costs
More below the OC (orange caligraphy)...
If you have climate denier friends and would like to see some heads explode, simply begin sending them articles like this:
Stakeholders from the insurance industry met with members of the U.S. Senate to acknowledge the role global warming plays in extreme weather-related losses, and to issue a call for action.
http://www.insurancenetworking.com/...
What's even better is that this is not some left-wing, save-the-environment, tree-hugging website. It's a strait-laced insurance industry trade publication.
The article quotes some radical enviro-activists like Frank Nutter, President of the Reinsurance Association of America as saying:
“From our industry’s perspective, the footprints of climate change are around us and the trend of increasing damage to property and threat to lives is clear,”
...and other radicals, like Cynthia Hale, Program Director at Ceres:
“Our climate is changing, human activity is helping to drive the change, and the costs of these extreme weather events are going to keep ballooning unless we break through our political paralysis, and bring down emissions that are warming our planet.
and this extreme Lefty:
“Extreme weather is a threat today and a greater threat tomorrow,” said Pete Thomas, chief risk officer at Willis Re,
When the insurance sector speaks, other sectors listen.
Now, unfortunately, that doesn't mean that the "debate" is over, nor will it lead to a sea-change in how we're dealing with it.
What this does mean is that the deniers will have to start arguing with corporations instead of environmentalists...and you know how corporations view and treat those that don't agree with their findings...
So, if you're worried about the deniers gaining strength..."let not your heart be troubled"....heh.