Doing One’s Own Research

Now, that line about the Dunning-Kruger effect is funny.

When I entered the world of environmental sustainability in 2009, several people suggested that I should do my own research on climate change, and I had the same reaction as this guy did.  People have spent decades and spent fortunes, compiling ridiculous amounts of data on temperature, ice melt, methane and CO2 levels, etc.  Can a business consultant, working independently, add significant value here?