2006: The Year of Climate Change

Scientists admit they've been frustrated.

They've known about global warming since the late 1980s. They've written hundreds of papers about its causes. Humankind is burning fossil fuels, producing greenhouse gases that trap more of the sun's energy. And they've detailed its effects and implications: Warmer oceans. Higher sea levels. Stronger hurricanes. Skinnier polar bears. More common heat waves.

The rest of us haven't quite gotten it. A powerful minority of scientists -- some with financial backing from the fossil fuel industry -- have characterized the earth's increasing temperature as part of a natural cycle of warm temperatures.

Within the last year, public perception of the debate has been changing. ...