I meant it in the general sense, not the political one.
Beyond that, you're not really making any new point here. Yes, there was controversy and uncertainty and scientists in general were not prepared to give strong recommendations. But if you were hired by an oil company to research this topic, realistically, what would you tell the CEO? Maybe you'd be candid off the record, but certainly there is a huge incentive to ensure that any official/public communication remains equivocal and scientifically conservative. Rational corporations do not willingly expose their own existential threats.
I meant it in the general sense, not the political one.
Beyond that, you're not really making any new point here. Yes, there was controversy and uncertainty and scientists in general were not prepared to give strong recommendations. But if you were hired by an oil company to research this topic, realistically, what would you tell the CEO? Maybe you'd be candid off the record, but certainly there is a huge incentive to ensure that any official/public communication remains equivocal and scientifically conservative. Rational corporations do not willingly expose their own existential threats.