>And you presume that I am arguing on behalf of authority
I mean.... yes?
I'm sorry you find the question frustrating to answer. But your post revolves around trusting the IPCC because they are an authority.
I think that's a weak argument because if a guy doesn't know what the letters IPCC mean, you're not going to win them over. I think it's more effective to be open to the idea that maybe we're all wrong, and work from that instead of the opposite. You know, healthy skepticism, science. If you approach it like that, you can still work towards all the same goals without being divisive.
The way we're all just supposed to never question the authorities or sacred texts is how this has become a wedge issue.