Peer review is not, in itself evidence.
It is a moot point anyway, because if you are going to argue by consensus (which is what is what peer review esentially is) then you will have to become sceptical. There is no consensus at all anymore. The most important chapter of the last IPCC report was signed off by a mere 25 scientists.
25!!
It was over 50, but after climategate only 25 could bring themselves to sign it.
I can show you a petition with 31,000 scientists who disagree with the alarmism. Can you show me a petition showing a similar number of alarmist scientists? I can show you 1,100 peer reviewed paper sceptical of the alarmism.
It's a myth that there is a consenus favouring the alarmists. The consensus is with the sceptics.
But you know the difference? I would NEVER use that consensus to say I am right. That's cave-man stuff. That's science by consensus isntead of science by results. I know I'm roght because we have the empirical evidence on our side and that is why no scientists in his right mind would change his opinion into becoming an alarmist. They are all going in one direction. Hasn't that made you sit up and take notice? Hasn't that set off MAJOR alarm bells with you?
If you paid some attention to this and looked at the science, instead of the politics, you would change your mind.
I think deep down you know the debate has been lost. Alarmist scientists refuse to debate in public anymore. They used to, but they were always defeated. Why don't they want to debate anymore? It's because they know they have a flimsy case which they can't defend with any empirical evidence.
Now how about answering my question: How do you judge science "on its own merits" except by the rigorous process of peer review?