As long as there has been people there have been “priests” who claim to have special knowledge of the “gods” and of the “heavens”. Invariably they would tell the population that they have “angered the gods” and if certain sacrifices or offerings are not given to the gods (via the priests) then terrible calamity is sure to follow and civilization might disappear. But of course, the priests with their special knowledge had the power to change this feared outcome and to get the gods to once again bless the society and its people.
Therefore - it’s a very old game and people obviously keep falling for it.
You are right, the difference now is only that it is couched in terms of “science” rather than the gods. Amazingly those who scorn the idea of god or gods are the first to fall for the same old scam when it is presented as science, then as they dance to the tune played by the “scientists”, who are often no more worthy of the name than Al Gore is, they praise their own brilliance while laughing scornfully at anyone who still believes in a god or gods.
I find it astounding how many people take seriously the idea that the average temperature over the entire Earth for a twelve month period can be measured to an accuracy of 1/100th of a degree or less and consider such belief to be proof of their own brilliance. I don’t believe there is any way to measure the temperature inside a single house that accurately.