First, they painted a dramatic black-drop, then they presented their latest statistics on public opinion on climate change. TNS gallup organized a press conference at the IPY Oslo Science Conference on Friday presenting their latest survey findings.

TNS asked whether a cold winter (normal and totally perfect by my standards), Climategate and inaccuracies in the IPCC reports had influenced peoples trust in climate change.

We've all read plenty of comments on the seeming contradiction between global warming and the ice cold and long winters we experience several places on the planet last season.

Before (autumn 2009) the cold winter, the Climategate email hacking and IPCC scandals, Norwegians were pretty sure climate change was man-made (74 %), and in spite of the drama they actually still (spring 2010) believe so (70%).

However, Norwegians do no longer think climate change is the out most important issue to address. On top of that list is expansion of roads and railroads. According to Minister of Environment and Development, Erik Solheim, who commented on the TNS survey, the most frequent top issues in politics are education and health and will probably show that in later surveys again. Nevertheless, climate change is not that hot in Norway anymore. Perhaps mainly because Norwegians do not expect climate change will have large effects in their country.

There were a number of other interesting results from the survey, but since we were at a science conference I'll conclude this by telling you what Norwegians think about the need for further information about climate vs the need of acting. The population is divided in two almost equal groups: 45 % feel that we don't need more knowledge before we act on climate change, whereas 40 % felt more knowledge is needed.

TNS Gallup presented it as contradictory that Norwegians still believe climate is man-made, yet do not place all that much trust in the IPCC any longer (39 % decline since autumn 2009).

Dr. David Barber, a professor at the University of Manitoba in Canada and project manager of one of the largest IPY projects examining how global warming in the Arctic predicts the effects of climate change on our planet, did not see this as a contradiction but rather a proof of Norwegians ability to make healthy independent judgments. (I suspect he must have worked closely with some Norwegians). No one should put their trust on one body alone, even the IPCC, he says.

And I agree with Dr. Barber on this, obviously.