xhonzi said:

If you believe that mankind is destroying the earth, and are a scientist tasked with proving it with concrete data... but the data proves to be elusive... Wouldn't you believe it to be the right thing to tell a little lie, especially if you believe that that lie will save the future of mankind?

No.

Scientists are supposed to report findings. They are not supposed to manipulate data or attempt to substantiate a conclusion they hope is true. Of course I'm not saying there aren't dishonest scientists (there are dishonest everybodies), but telling a little lie, no matter how altruistic the goal, is in opposition to what they are supposed to be - neutral observers.

I realize this is a bit naive, or at least whimsically hopeful. But if we can't trust the scientists, then who do we trust? How do we get a truly independent report?

Does it just come down to what we want to believe, you and I?