Just not as exaggerated as many people think.
The only way to motivate the masses is through fear tactics. We know they are effective...just take a gander....
Situation 1: Two planes hit two buildings and the buildings collapse killing a couple of thousand of people....Then the stuff hits the fan and all of sudden there is a need to start a war with Iraq.
Situation 2: 1 kid gets kidnapped last night and the news goes bat crazy over it. Now no kid is allowed to play in the street because of all the cities parents have been broken by fear tactics used by the media.
If the media and scientists and people in power all just said "well, there may be problem and I guess we should check it out" then no one would do anything. If instead you state "THE SEAS WILL RISE AND ENGULF US ALL AS WE COOK TO DEATH" then you might motivate some people to start thinking a little "greener". It may not be the truth, but the truth is never as motivating as the truth out of context.