Please, you need to study statistics again. Check the graph in the parent article. Zoom into any 17 year period between -3000 and 1900 and it will "look flat"

Please, you need to study statistics again. Check the graph in the parent article. Zoom into any 17 year period between -3000 and 1900 and it will "look flat", and during many 17 year periods the temperature temporarily went up, but nonetheless you can see there's a clear downward trend throughout that period. It's impossible to deny that this trend has been sharply reversed. A 17 year period is normally supposed to tell you nothing interesting - but the 17 year period up to 1996 clearly indicates something quite disturbing is going on. Climate change is not negated by a temporary plateau.