Climate change expert and physics professor Christopher Keating announced that he will award $30,000 to anyone who can prove to him that man-made global warming does not exist.
Dr. Keating, who has worked as a professor for nearly two decades, drew inspiration for this campaign from the One Million Dollar Paranormal Challenge initiated by James Randi in 2007. Randi, a writer from Canada, promised to pay $1 million to anyone who could demonstrate paranormal ability based on a scientific method. More than a thousand people applied, but none were successful.
In August 2013, the first report of the IPCC revealed that 95 percent of global warming was caused by human activities, which lead to increasing temperatures and rising sea levels. Scientists concluded that the rise of temperature and sea levels could reach up to 9F (5C) and 2 ft 8 inches (82 cm) respectively toward the turn of the century. The report has since been heavily criticized as inaccurate.
"I have heard global warming skeptics make all sorts of statements about how the science doesn't support claims of man-made climate change. I have found all of those statements to be empty and without any kind of supporting evidence. I have, in turn, stated that it is not possible for the skeptics to prove their claims. And, I'm willing to put my money where my mouth is," Dr. Keating wrote in a blog post.
There is no entry fee to join the challenge, which is open to those 18 years old and above. Dr. Keating will be the sole judge of the entries and will provide feedback even to rejected entries. Interested applicants can submit their entries until midnight of July 31 CDT and feedback will be posted by September 30, 2014.
"They are in the business of denial and deception, not science. But, if someone could give me scientific proof global warming isn't real, it would be worth the money," Dr. Keating added.
Keating is the author of Undeniable: Dialogues on Global Warming.