Guest post by Steven Goddard
Climate Activist Glues Himself to the Smiling Prime Minister at #10
Consider the conflicted UK, where the government is dominated by people who claim to be concerned above all else about CO2 emissions, and where the power industry warns that the country’s electricity and natural gas capacity may soon be inadequate to meet basic needs. Russia is currently threatening to cut off natural gas supplies to Europe. Climate vandals are welcomed to 10 Downing Street where they embarrass the Prime Minister, and formerly great newspapers like The Guardian demonize environmental activists for trying to protect the country’s scenic heritage from unsightly windmills. Dr. Hansen was recently welcomed as an expert witness for the defence of power plant damagers, and children block airport runways to stop vacationers from using airplanes – in the name of protecting of the climate.
The UK is currently in the grip of what the papers describe as a “Siberian Cold Front.” Solar insolation is close to zero this time of year at that latitude, so solar power is out of the question as a significant winter energy source. The light winds and freezing conditions make wind generated power minimally useful and unreliable. Coal, nuclear and natural gas are the only practical options to stay warm, yet the government appears too paralyzed by climate fears to move forward with the needed additions to the energy grid.
Britain is experiencing a seemingly irresolvable conflict in it’s collective belief system. Brits want to save the planet from global warming, and yet are faced with power shortages which may affect their livelihoods and ability to stay warm in a cold climate. The Church of England is wagering huge sums of cash on Al Gore’s understanding of the world. And as the New Year rings in with bitter cold, the Met Office warns of yet another hot year. The last “hot” day in London was July 27, 2006 when temperatures reached 30C (86F.) That was 889 days ago.
Can the great country which survived the Nazi Blitz overcome it’s own internal conflicts in 2009? I predict that England will pull herself together like she always has, but who will be the next Churchill to lead England out of it’s most clueless hour? Britain’s leadership hasn’t been this confused since Neville Chamberlain handed Czechoslovakia over to Hitler seventy years ago. Ironically, it may be current Czech President Vaclav Klaus who rescues Europe from themselves.
“Klaus wrote that it was futile to fight against phenomena like higher solar activity or the change of ocean currents”
Klaus assumed the EU Presidency today. Happy New Year to all.
Check out Pielke Pere’s continuing assault on the media with his latest column about the UK Met Office and the University of East Anglia, at climatesci.org
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Thanks for this timely post by Steven Goddard.
The leaders of formerly Great Britain are acting completely irresponsibly toward their citizens, while turning a blind eye to China, Russia, Brazil, India, and a hundred smaller countries that are spewing soot over the globe, while hand-wringing over the non-problem of beneficial carbon dioxide.
“Klaus assumed the EU Presidency today.
I am holding my breath that this may be the tipping point to a revival of reality.
It seems that we are witnessing the unravelling of western capitalism. Fortunately, China will carry on. Thank (fill in the blank), that I live in Texas. I think Texas and China may be the only capitalist entities left on the face of the Earth.
Sheh sheh,
Mike Bryant
I love the Czechoslovakian bit…. Sweet irony.
Vaclav Klaus is indeed a man with a clarity of thought and fine insight when it comes to this AGW rubbish…. He can see the Socialist policies hidden beneath a veneer of environmental concern.
Three cheers for Goddard and Vaclav Klaus!
Britain is lead by a Government that has lost the plot on the environment. It introduced massive increases in road tax for larger vehicles and wonders why it now has to rescue Land Rover and Jaguar from insolvency. It claims it wants to limit CO2 while adding runways to its major airports and budgeting another £700m this year for roads. Mixed messages or just mixed up? Either they don’t believe in AGW and are too ‘frit’ to say so, or they do believe it and are totally incompetent at dealing with it. Take your pick!
Lord, what fools these mortals be!
– A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Act III, Scene ii
What is it about most people that they can’t think things through enough to see that their self-interest really is a long-term issue? Why the overwhelming impulsiveness to jump on and off bandwagons?
From the last lines of the originating post:
“…Ironically, it may be current Czech President Vaclav Klaus who rescues Europe from themselves. Klaus wrote that it was futile to fight against phenomena like higher solar activity or the change of ocean currents”
Klaus assumed the EU Presidency today. Happy New Year to all.”
Unfortunately, the EU Presidency is only a 6-month term. I doubt if Vaclav Klaus will actually be able to reverse the current pile of looming anti-CO2 actions but he can stymie immediate action through political maneuvers.
I have no doubt that Vaclav Klaus will take full advantage of the bully pulpit he’ll have in the 6-month term and he might succeed in making a broader audience aware of the implications of heading down the anti-CO2 primrose path. He thinks it’s political and scientific folly and will say so, loudly and often.
To Mike Bryant
I went to a “Governor’s Symposium of Competitiveness” last year in Austin. The basic message was that Texas was pro-energy and pro-business. If it works, be it solar, wind, coal or nuclear, Texas is for it.
The Governor told us about a meeting of the “Republican Governor’s Association”. He was bragging on Texas (Hey-he is a Texan!) about all the new businesses we had and all of the new jobs created here.
A governor from another state (with a heavy Eastern European accent) was quoted as saying: “Yes, but all you are doing is drilling off of the coast (for oil)”.
The Governor’s reply was: “You bet and we are selling it to you for a premium!” (This was before the drop in oil prices.)
May God Bless Texas and
May God Bless the USA
And a special blessing for the Czechs: After 1938 (The West gave Czechoslovakia to the Nazis), 1948 (the West did nothing while the Soviet Army crushed the democratic government), and 1968 (the West again did nothing as the Soviet Army crushed the nascent liberal movement), they deserve all of the blessings they can get! You have to respect them: their history gives them a different perspective from the fat and lazy liberals in Western Europe.
Steamboat Jack
Klaus has a powerful ally – a spell of abnormally cold weather forecast across the EU, extending for at least his first two weeks in office.
http://wxmaps.org/pix/temp4.html
It is difficult to be very concerned about global warming when you are personally having trouble keeping warm.
Although I completely support the opinion and vision of Mr. Klaus, I do not share the optimism that anything will change during the Czechoslovakian EU Presidency. Why? Because Vaclav Klaus, in a collective attempt to isolate him, is demonized as an “Anti European”.
All over Europe the official news channels have been broadcasting the message that Klaus compares the EU with the former Communist Regime that ruled the USSR.
They also state that Klaus made the proposal a few years ago to terminate the EU.
Not a single word about the position of Klaus in regard to the AGW scare.
The demonizing process is initiated by his fellow EU politicians who support the IPCC doctrine and the media are the same media that constantly broadcast the usual AGW riddles of melting ice caps and drowning polar bears.
I am sure that Klaus will have a tough time and his Prime Minister, Mirek Topolánek, who will be executing the formel role of EU Presidency representation will not
represent the visions of Klaus in regard to the climate.
And the Brits? When did the Brits ever listen to good advice from one of the Continental Countries, let alone one of the former “East Bloc” countries?
The Brits, as history has learned us, know everything better.
Britannia Rules the Waves and I’m afraid we have to wait for the River Thames to freeze over before the politicians even consider to change their mind.
Read some background here: http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/ireland/article5161990.ece
Hey Mike, did a quick search:
Texas Quick Facts
Texas is the leading crude oil-producing State in the Nation (excluding Federal offshore areas, which produce more than any single State).
Texas’s 25 petroleum refineries can process more than 4.6 million barrels of crude oil per day, and they account for more than one-fourth of total U.S. refining capacity.
More than one-fourth of total U.S. natural gas production occurs in Texas, making it the Nation’s leading natural gas producer.
Texas also leads the Nation in wind-powered generation capacity; there are over 2,000 wind turbines in West Texas alone.
Texas produces and consumes more electricity than any other State, and per capita residential use is significantly higher than the national average.
http://tonto.eia.doe.gov/state/state_energy_profiles.cfm?sid=TX
(updated daily)
___________________________________________________________________
A few notes on the above quick facts:
Texas has got to have the largest carbon footprint in the nation. But most of the warmers are only in Austin (home of UT and some Democratic polititians – go figure).
Our “significantly higher than the national average” electricity consumption
is probably due to the invention of the a/c. Or are we just over-indulging ourselves?
“Federal offshore areas” refers to the Gulf of Mexico (and others) for which Texas gets no royalties (as far as I know), but gets the liability of an oil spill.
You’re welcome NY, MA, etc.
I voluntarily pay more (a little more for only a few kwh – a token) for wind energy, but after reading WUWT for the last year I’m now wondering why.
Here in San Antonio, we get a good chunk (and about to be expanded) of our juice from the S. TX Nuclear Project. I was originally against it (25 years ago), but now favor it. (a student to adult change, I guess).
California talks a lot of BS, but when are they going to be the leader in wind?
All along their coast: from San Diego (thru Malibu) to San Francisco, and up to Sacra(mental). I can just picture those towers behind the Golden Gate Bridge.
Disclaimer: I’m not funded by big or little oil, and don’t own XOM stock.
“May God Bless Texas and
May God Bless the USA”
And may God bless the Czech Republic and Vaclav Klaus….
“Roger Carr (18:14:01) :
“Klaus assumed the EU Presidency today.
I am holding my breath that this may be the tipping point to a revival of reality.”
About reality:
“Dietrich Bonhoeffer:
To understand reality is not the same as to know about outward events. It is to perceive the essential nature of things. The best-informed man is not necessarily the wisest. Indeed there is a danger that precisely in the multiplicity of his knowledge he will lose sight of what is essential. But on the other hand, knowledge of an apparently trivial detail quite often makes it possible to see into the depth of things. And so the wise man will seek to acquire the best possible knowledge about events, but always without becoming dependent upon this knowledge. To recognize the significant in the factual is wisdom.”
OK that’s pretty deep….
Vaclav Klaus have no power at all to change anything. He can only makes speeches since the Czech Government is who makes policy. Speeches at this time are no small thing, but expect that media will bury them.
Tom in Texas asked:
We recently drove from the Bay Are to Vegas via 58 from Bakersfield to Barstow.
There are lots of wind generators on one section of that highway, and most of them were still, but some were lazily turning in whatever breeze there was.
I suspect that that they are not worth it.
Gotta suggestion for Mr Glass’s next publicity stunt.
Why not superglue himself to one of these wind turbines in Scotland – you know in the traditional JC position:
http://www.ens-newswire.com/ens/jul2008/20080722_turbinesscotland.jpg
Of course the superglue would have to be double strength and the timing would have to be right – just ahead of a full blown Scottish gale.
He would certainly get some media attention but could be a little shattered when the wind died down. Och Aye!
If Dr. Hansen was willing to support vandals of power plants, what will he do when Obama is in power? The UK worries me, because powers-that-be in the US are more than willing to follow their example.
Mike Bryant (20:42:09) quoting Dietrich Bonhoeffer on reality: “It is to perceive the essential nature of things.”
I can rest easy with that, thanks, Mike. It is the kind of “reality” Vaclav Klaus has championed in many talks and interviews, and is why I feel a sense of hope in even his half-year of presidency. He does not come across as a guy who hangs about.
That being said, I note from Ron de Haan (20:00:53): “I do not share the optimism that anything will change during the Czechoslovakian EU Presidency. Why? Because Vaclav Klaus, in a collective attempt to isolate him, is demonized as an “Anti European”.” and feel it is therefore imperative that as many as possible note their (our) hopes for him, and belief in him, to counter the negative press Ron notes is assembled to weaken him.
The support here today on WUWT? counts strongly when one notes Anthony’s viewer numbers; but spread it even further as you can.
For those of us concerned with our carbon footprint when flying, Swissair now offers a
palliativesolution. Interesting that we generate more CO2 when flying first class than coach.http://swiss.myclimate.org/EN
Tom in Texas,
I knew we were leaders in energy, however I didn’t realize how big the numbers really were. Maybe it is time that Texas finds it’s own way. Why should we subsidize those who wish to push the earth into the middle ages? Why won’t California, Kansas and others become self sufficient? Perhaps we should withhold our wind, solar, natural gas and coal from other states until the price rises. If you wish to make the middle class poor, perhaps you can do it in your own states without dragging Texas down into the abyss with you. Perhaps it’s time for a return to reality.
The EU should be very careful! When the snow and ice deepens into another Ice age, they will be screaming out for countries like the US and Australia to accept them! Fat chance!
Roger Carr,
I know that any event that Vaclav Klaus decided to be a part of in Texas would be well received. Perhaps it is time that he visits our governor to discuss ways that we may avoid the coming socialist collective. Of course any agreements or partnerships would absolutely conform to US and international law. Vaclav Klaus, you have a friend and ally in Texas.
Mike Bryant
The UK and EU politicians have painted themselves into a corner of their own making. Any attempt to change direction will be stymied by NGO’s intent on keeping government policies on the ‘correct’ path. The only way government policies can change in the face of the powerful influences of NGO’s will be if the climate cools in a dramatic and protracted manner. Only in the face of great suffering will politicians be able to change their silly energy policies. In the meantime, in the U.S., Obama and his cadre of true believers are about to embark on a path pioneered by the EU & UK. With the U.S. about to leap into all this silliness, even more pressure will be brought to bear to conform to the Green message. The future looks exceedingly bleak.
Here’s letters from J Hansen to the Obama’s. He put them on his web site Dec 31. Talks about the goal… redistribution of wealth.
http://www.columbia.edu/~jeh1/mailings/20081229_DearMichelleAndBarack.pdf and http://www.columbia.edu/~jeh1/mailings/20081229_Obama_revised.pdf
The near future nearly always looks bleak. But the longterm trends are very, very positive. We mustn’t get into that late 1970 malaise funk. It’s false.
I figure that the richer society gets, in some ways the sillier and more wasteful it gets. But I wouldn’t trade the modern age for any time in the past. We are freer than ever both in terms of rights and latitude (thanks to affluence). That also means we are freer to act like idiots than ever before without fatal consequences. (Consider it a sort of partial negative feedback.) But we are also freer to act positively, as well.
There is huge power in modernity, although it’s the weaknesses that get all the attention.
A Positive affirmation for the new year:
Newsflash!!!
Global Warming and Climate Change Will Be Good For Earth And Her People!
Recent research has found that the warming predicted by Global Climate Models will create an age of prosperity unprecedented in human history. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change has been declared unnecessary and irrelevant. It has been found that the addition of CO2 and other greenhouse gases into our atmosphere has held off the expected ice age, and has also contributed greatly to the greening of the planet. “Why do you think that the farms of the world are producing such bountiful harvests,” asked Al Gore, “it’s because of the beneficial impacts of CO2 an important trace gas.”
It’s a wonderful life, it’s a wonderful world. 🙂
Like an embarassing uncle is a personal attempt to add support for Vaclav Klaus.
Britian has given most of the powers of government away to the EU, the European subsidiary of the UN essentially. So basically they’re screwed. In five years or so, give or take a couple, they’ll be going “Californian” with rolling black outs as their national grid can no longer keep up with deman due to their kow-towing to the environmentalists and EU laws. This is what happens when you give up your sovereignty to trans-national organizations. Britain is the best reason why the US should no longer be a part of the UN.
Tom in Texas et. al.
Texas has higher electric consumption per capita because of all the large industrial users — not solely because of air conditioning. The refineries, chemical plants, and petrochemical plants, plus other manufacturers use great amounts of electric power.
Texas is also a leader in using co-generation, thereby reducing the amount of raw energy consumed per kwh produced.
It is good to remember that most of those refined oil products and much of the natural gas are sold to consumers in other states. Texans enjoy the jobs and financial benefits of such production, refining, and sales.
As to California not installing wind or other renewables, it is about to get interesting out here. AB 32, our Climate Change Initiative, requires 33 percent of all power sold to be from renewable generation by 2020. Also, a recently enacted law prohibits generation or purchase of power from coal.
I have long predicted that California is on the brink of the abyss, and soon must decide which is more important: people and jobs, or crystal-clear air and clear views of the ocean.
On top of all the other problems currently rampant in California (high unemployment, ever-higher taxes, crumbling infrastructure, serious lack of fresh water, Federal judge who requires perfectly good river water be sent into the ocean rather than diverted to human use, inadequate transportation systems, massive state budget deficit, and many others) this AB 32 Climate Change Initiative was not only passed, but is being implemented over the dire warnings of outside experts that the economic benefits touted by the State are bogus, wrong, and not going to happen.
I can only hope that the California legislature changes their mind when (not if) confronted with scientific evidence that sea level rise and snowpack melting are not related to GHG emissions. This is our goal, and this is my mission. We may have to repeal AB 32 by other means if the legislature will not budge.
Please, Anthony and others, keep up the good work. The information provided by you and the commenters here is invaluable.
Some references:
Texas co-generation:
http://energyguysmusings.blogspot.com/2008/08/texas-cogeneration.html
California AB 32 and its implementation scheme (Scoping Plan):
http://www.arb.ca.gov/cc/scopingplan/scopingplan.htm
Analysis of Scoping Plan by non-partisan group:
http://www.lao.ca.gov/2008/rsrc/ab32/AB32_scoping_plan_112108.pdf
Roger E. Sowell
Marina del Rey, California
Steven Goddard: Great article. Yes England is starved for “Churchill” like leadership. Likewise the US, Obama = FDR ? … We’ll see !
One problem we have here in the UK is that there is no coherent political opposition to AGW to be found anywhere; it amounts to a mere handful of MPs, mostly back-bench Conservatives. I want to vote for more power stations, and against the dangerous antics of Greenpeace, Plane Stupid and their ilk, but there appears to be no-one I can vote for. Very frustrating.
I wrote to my MP last November, voicing my concerns about the sorry lack of debate re the Climate Change Bill (80% cut in carbon emissions by 2050) which was rubber-stamped by MPs with scarcely a murmur of dissent, and which would appear to be an industry-killer, if strictly enforced.
She has acknowledged my letter and passed on my concerns to Ed Miliband, the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, but I’m still waiting for his response.
evanjones: “There is huge power in modernity, although it’s the weaknesses that get all the attention.”
I would agree with that; the short-term stupidity is highly frustrating, but human ingenuity, imagination and willpower will win the day, eventually, coupled with the technological prowess which brought us out of the Middle Ages.
Thanks Steven Goddard for a good article. Unfortunately things look even worse for us in the UK because it is not only the psychotic Scot Gordon Brown and his tired gang who worship at the Gore altar, but David Cameron has also been seduced by the ultra green agenda preachers. His eco-adviser Zac Goldsmith stoutly defended the eco-vandals in the Kingsnorth power station scandal, so even a change in political colour will not stop the AGW rot here. Cameron even praised Brown for the creation of the Department of Energy and Climate Change. As to the LibDems, they are even more extreme than the other two main parties, so there is no hope there either.
Further to my last posting, there is a little bit of hope, at least with some of our news media. See: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/earth/environment/globalwarming/4029837/Global-warming-Reasons-why-it-might-not-actually-exist.html published in the Daily Telegraph.
Mike Bryant
I love your quote from Dietrich Bonhoeffer and I love your positive affirmation for the New Year.
The Churchill we need: just keep on holding up hope for this folks, in whatever form this “leadership” is going to appear this time. In our British tradition the help tends to appear at 11.59 just when many have given up hope that UK can do anything sensible.
Maybe it is Klaus. Santa Klaus – after all, it was the original Saint Nicholas who threw three money bags into the window where three young girls were destined to be sold into slavery or whatever it was, because their parents had no money for a dowry. And Wenceslaus was another Czech (Bohemia).
Personally I hope Klaus gets some public DEBATES started. Trouble is, most people don’t know about us still or think it is some tiny bunch of known, cracked regulars.
Roger Sowell (23:45:52) wrote: ” serious lack of fresh water, Federal judge who requires perfectly good river water be sent into the ocean rather than diverted to human use,”
Steady, Roger! We in Australia, invented that…
Ah, well. Guess we can share (the pain).
Vaclav Klaus doesn’t have a full support here in Czechia either, unfortunately. He and his views are considered unconventional, truculent, contrarian. Our government tries its best to convey a message, that Klaus doesn’t represent a majority POV in Czechia.
Former president Havel doesn’t like Klaus and incessantly talks about how bad and corrupt our nation is, how good is for us to surrender more and more ruling to the EU (because we are so bad, that we are unable to govern ourselves) and, of course, how bad is humanity in general for the planet. He held very anti-science views when still a dissident.
There’s a long tradition that January 1, president holds a 10-min speech starting at 1.00 p.m. about the state of the nation and the outlook in the new year. After that, cca 45 min of classical music follow and there’s apart from news no further politics at this day.
However, this year the music was left out and a political discussion with Havel immediately followed… Go figure
“… human ingenuity, imagination and willpower will win the day …”
Don’t underestimate stupidity – that’s what gor most politicians into power!
http://www.independent.co.uk/environment/climate-change/article1221092.ece;jsessionid=4C311D1D8EB1FAEF6DE9B7B456606429?postingType=posting&mode=thanks&postingId=1221258
Roger Sowell, You need to get yourself here to Texas.
I live in England and am stockpiling wood from trimming shrubs and trees in my garden. When the wood is dry and my chimney fully restored I will be ready to at least heat my house when the UK runs out of energy.
OT. Dr Roy Spencer has a blog. http://www.drroyspencer.com/
What the UK needs now is more tax revenue to bail the government out because of its vast (for the UK) budget deficit.
Fortunately for them they have what they like to call “Green” taxes. What these taxes enable them to do is raise revenue in the name of “Saving The Planet”.
Unfortunately for us, none of the main parties wants to call into question the need to save the planet because they all know that they will need the tax revenue if/when they get into power.
A second problem for the UK is that making a profit is now seen as EVIL, especially if its a utility company. If any should happen to make a profit then the gorvenment threatens them with a “windfall tax” just to discourage them. As a result, the utility companies, dont have the money or inclination to build and invest in new coal/gas/nuclear power plants. Other types of plant are ok as they can cover most of the cost with subsidies and grants.
Tom T (23:01:49) :
Here’s letters from J Hansen to the Obama’s. He put them on his web site Dec 31. Talks about the goal… redistribution of wealth.
http://www.columbia.edu/~jeh1/mailings/20081229_DearMichelleAndBarack.pdf and http://www.columbia.edu/~jeh1/mailings/20081229_Obama_revised.pdf
I would like to offer president-elect Obama a letter from the realist side, refuting and correcting with facts, one by one, in order, the points made by Jim Hansen.
Anthony, would you consider this forum as an area to post a new thread where we could number the claims and begin offering the truth, with references? I like this one: “A large fraction of the carbon dioxide emitted in burning fossil fuels stays in the air many centuries”. Not true by a long shot (source and sink reference needed with e^-x formula showing absorption rate, etc). We could also explain that not even the IPCC believes the link between CO2 and temperature is very robust, or at least didn’t until the wording was changed to “very likely”, in direct opposition to the other 52 reviewers… I think a new tag line is in order – “The IPCC – a consensus of ONE”.
There is a letter to Jim Holdren claiming a lot of rubbish too, which also needs to be refuted… Any takers on such a thread? I think a finished response letter (carefully reviewed for accuracy of the facts) would be taken by a number of media outlets.
Britain needs a leader like Churchill with a determination to put things right – to do whatever is necessary. Like others, our economy has collapsed, we have rising crime, rising immigration, the roads are pot-holed, and the transport system can’t cope. We can’t hope to get any leadership or good politics from the messers that Gordon Brown leads. Not too far in the future, the Union will break up and Scotland will go its own way. Maybe then we (England) may rid ourselves of the very politicians that are presiding over this sorry mess. At the very least we do have some minor politicians who can see that AGW is false, and that Britain needs to be out of the EU – people like Roger Helmer http://rogerhelmermep.wordpress.com/ A beacon indeed when we need one. And no, I’m not a Conservative!
Klaus may help and the EU elections later in the year may help also as will the Irsih revote,
The power of the NGOs is great at the moment. Why did the whole UK government vote for the climate change bill? Surely some of them would have seen that we are at a pivot point now? There is a blank stare when you suggest there has been no stat sig warming recently.
I have tried talking to MPs about AGW (MMGW, CAGW) and found them to have 1) Faith in ‘Alternatives’ (Wind, Solar, Hydro etc) and 2) Faith in Obama.
The ones I have conversed with downplay the EU except to promote Germany as an example of how renewables can be used. (Except I believe Germany is running into problems).
So as some have said, the ‘Credit Crunch’ might help people see the wood for the trees.
Will the UK find a new Churchill? This question is a whole new can of worms! Perhaps someone dynamic will appear once they realise that political advantage (power) can be gained from not supporting AGW rather than any change in the weather,
Still keep up the excellent work WUWT, an interesting year ahead and having a rounded view always helps.
west
—-
Michael S
Sounds a good idea as long as they are short, succinct and ‘factual’ (as far as anything in this industry can be)
i wouldnt want to see people airing their pet theories ad infinitum but would welcome a check list of thirty or so ‘real truths. ‘I particularly like your two examples above and would add ‘arctic ice melt is unprecedented’ ‘current temperatures are unprecedented’ and ‘ploar bears are an endangered species.’
tonyB
Vaclav Klaus is not the only politician to give us hope. Here’s more from the Belfast Telegraph on the Northern Ireland’s Environment Minister Sammy Wilson (as previously featured on WUWT in September).
http://wattsupwiththat.com/?s=sammy+wilson
The BT published an article on New Year’s Eve, which was picked up and featured on ICECAP. Thanks Guys!
http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/environment/environment-minister-sammy-wilson-i-still-think-manmade-climate-change-is-a-con-14123972.html
As a result the eBT has had an unprecedented number of comments on the website (490 and counting as I type this). Most comments were held up until the site moderator came back on line this morning. The overwhelming majority (quick survey: ~90% of the first 50 comments) are supportive of Sammy’s views. Thanks to ICECAP, these are from all over the world and at least one i saw mentions WUWT.
I think a quick email to the editor calling for a full article setting out the science, and giving both sides a chance to air views is called for. I’ll get on to it.
Scottish wind farm
Copy/paste 55° 14.701, – 4° 42.029 into Google Earth are enjoy Scotland’s future. These .. these .. these .. things are right behind me with more yes more on the way.
The main road A77 to Glasgow was recently planted with wind mill seeds and new wind mills are growing beautifully.
Now I really would not mind so much if they were turning making electricity.
It has been freezing here in Scotland for the past month and as normal when it is cold in Scotland the weather is controlled by high pressure situated right above us.
No wind just freezing.
As an aside the BBC cannot resist reminding us of Global Warming.
The BBC Scotland weather woman cheered us all up last week she turned to the camera and said “it is the mildest December day so far this year”. I broke into a sweat.
The British/English media never gives up.
“Pete Stroud (01:26:53) :
Thanks Steven Goddard for a good article. Unfortunately things look even worse for us in the UK because it is not only the psychotic Scot Gordon Brown and his tired gang who worship at the Gore altar, but David Cameron has also been seduced by the ultra green agenda preachers. His eco-adviser Zac Goldsmith stoutly defended the eco-vandals in the Kingsnorth power station scandal, so even a change in political colour will not stop the AGW rot here. Cameron even praised Brown for the creation of the Department of Energy and Climate Change. As to the LibDems, they are even more extreme than the other two main parties, so there is no hope there either.”
I doubt this will change any time soon. Politicians and their “causes” are motivated by one thing only…votes. So as long as they believe that John/Jane Q. Public will cast more votes for a green agenda, however faulty the science is, the longer this will remain as the theme du jour.
JimB
MichaelS
I made my comments before looking at the site. Are you sure you’re not a mole from RealClimate trying to wind us up?! This letter is surely a spoof?
If not add ‘global temperatures since 1850’ and ‘rapidly rising sea levels’ to the list. But I’d want to be sure first that this letter is for real.
We also need a cartoon icon like the hockey stick-pictures speak louder than words…
tonyB
I see The Independent says it’s too late to fight Carbon and we now need a plan B.
http://www.independent.co.uk/environment/climate-change/climate-scientists-its-time-for-plan-b-1221092.html
Looks like the media spin is changing direction!
I wish I was back in hot Mexico
WRT UK government policy, it’s also worth noting that there are more and more approvals for new coal mines – much to the horror of the greens.
It seems to me that the UK gov. doesn’t really believe any of the AGW stuff, but (as has been pointed out) likes the taxes, and likes the opportunity for more control over the population, and in any case needs to cover it’s arse with the NGOs and the media.
Vaclav Klaus knows an apparatchik when he smells one. How do you say ‘make waves’ in Czech?
Completely off topic but I was having a ‘heated discussion’ on NYE with a friend who’s a AGW supporter, and he was propounding the theory that AGW will turn off the Gulf Stream and make the UK as cold as its latitude would suggest. Does anyone have up to date info on this idea? I can only find articles etc from about 4 or 5 years ago. Has this theory been discredited or is it still considered a possibility?
bless the Czech Republic and Vaclav Klaus….
One of the few sane voices in the world (politician), not everything he advocates would I willingly eat.
Bringing into your village workers from a foreign land-doing menial ?? tasks, to allow yourself elevated dignity – is in itself a form of slavery. No democracy will survive selective social values.
TonyB (03:45:06) :
It looks like a spoof and smells like a spoof and quacks like a spoof, but the link is directly from columbia.edu, so I’m taking it as real… You were expecting something more realistic and with scientific merit? Perhaps with a discussion of the uncertainties? I hereby issue you one carbon demerit. {boink!} You are ordered to throw another log on the fire! {yaayy!}
Reminder to self – right click and save it – the historical data may soon be “corrected”.
Not a RealClimate mole – or at least I wouldn’t admit it if I was…
I agree with you on the other comment, about pet theories, etc… Michael S.
Just to add fun to the energy mix, Russia’s turned the taps off for the supply of natural gas to the Ukraine, citing “Unpaid bills” as the reason.
This may also adversely affect the pressure of the gas suppied to the rest of Europe, Poland will feel this first, should it happen.
Politicians follow 2 things: votes and money. They can continue for the very short term to live in their AGW fantasy world of carbon credits, windmills, and electric Tonka Toys. But, as people’s heating bills, food costs, and energy bills sky rocket the smart politicians will realize the gig is up.
The Alarmist fantasy world is a function of society’s massive accumulation of wealth. We tolerate them (the Alarmists) becuase in the past we could afford them. Since June 2008 the West has lost some $9 trillion in aggregate wealth; in the US alone some 4 million people lost thier jobs. Even the well-off lost huge sums of private wealth in both the equities markets and the Madoff Scandal. Almost every Western nation will be running large defecits, and unemployment is expected to spread to even such upstart nations as India and China this year.
In 2009, the world will quickly tire of the Alarmists and thier theoretical Doomsday scenarios. Any politician who still insists on things such as Carbon Taxes and alternative fuels will do so at his or her own risk. The average Joe, whether a Brit, Turk, or American perfers feeding his family over subsidizing the fantasies of some unnamed climate bureaucrat.
I’m British, but have the good luck/foresight to have a barn in France. It’s been sub-zero celsius for a week now, pretty cold for what we’re used to, and my woodburning cooker is keeping me warm.
Besides which, electricity is 80% nuclear in France anyway…
The UK elites are living in a fantasy world. Sometime, sooner or later, in their sleepwalking state, they will collide with reality.
It’s going to hurt.
Michael S (02:53:43) :
Tom T (23:01:49) :
Here’s letters from J Hansen to the Obama’s. He put them on his web site Dec 31. Talks about the goal… redistribution of wealth.
http://www.columbia.edu/~jeh1/mailings/20081229_DearMichelleAndBarack.pdf and http://www.columbia.edu/~jeh1/mailings/20081229_Obama_revised.pdf
I would like to offer president-elect Obama a letter from the realist side, refuting and correcting with facts, one by one, in order, the points made by Jim Hansen.
___________________________________
Here is my contribution, as posted Nov 15, 2008 at
http://icecap.us/index.php/go/new-and-cool/an_energy_strategy_for_america1/
AN ENERGY STRATEGY FOR AMERICA
by Allan M.R. MacRae
The USA has two daunting problems – the greatest financial crisis since the Great Depression; and President-Elect Obama’s energy policies, which will severely deepen the economic crisis.
Obama stated in a San Francisco Chronicle television interview that he wants to implement an aggressive CO2 cap-and-trade system that could bankrupt coal companies. He further stated that energy prices will necessarily skyrocket. Obama believes that global warming is a critical issue, and he supports the use of solar energy, wind power and biodiesel. To his credit, Obama also supports a market approach and technological development.
In 2007, US primary energy consumption consisted of oil (40%), natural gas (25%), coal (24%), nuclear (8%) and hydroelectricity (2%). As a percentage of total proved reserves of fossil fuels, the US holds just over 2% of the world’s oil, 3% of natural gas, but almost 29% of global coal.
http://www.bp.com/productlanding.do?categoryId=6929&contentId=7044622
Energy projects have been constrained due to fears of catastrophic global warming, allegedly caused by increased atmospheric CO2 from burning fossil fuels. However, global warming is just not happening anymore. For the last decade, average global temperatures have not increased. Since January 2007 all global warming has disappeared, as average temperatures plummeted to 1979 levels – when accurate satellite measurements began.
http://www.atmos.uah.edu/data/msu/t2lt/tltglhmam_5.2
Global cooling is now occurring and is expected to continue for the next twenty to thirty years, due to the recent shift in the Pacific Decadal Oscillation from its warm to cool phase.
http://icecap.us/index.php/go/joes-blog/is_this_the_beginning_of_global_cooling/
http://icecap.us/index.php/go/new-and-cool/implications_of_pdo_and_nao_shifts_and_global_climate_in_upcoming_decades1/
Despite shrill claims of ice cap melting, Arctic sea-ice extent is now at its highest seasonal level since modern satellite measurements began in 2002 – more evidence of global cooling.
http://www.ijis.iarc.uaf.edu/en/home/seaice_extent.htm
For decades, the US has experienced a huge balance of trade deficit, due primarily to high oil imports. Energy self-sufficiency has been the goal of recent US Presidents, without success.
There is now an opportunity to address both these serious challenges, by rejecting global warming myths and creating an energy strategy based on true, verifiable facts.
Here is the outline of a responsible and economic Energy Strategy for America:
1. Reject CO2 taxes and cap-and-trade measures used to “fight global warming”. Examine the satellite data, the only accurate global temperature measurements in existence. Climate Dyslexics please note: The Earth is cooling, not warming. Global cooling should last for twenty to thirty years and could be severe.
2. Generate much more electrical energy from abundant US coal reserves. Use existing technologies to control real atmospheric pollution from SOx, NOx and particulates, but do not control CO2. In the future, if CO2 sequestration becomes economically attractive (for enhanced oil recovery) or is proved necessary (in the unlikely event that global warming becomes a real problem), retrofit the coal plants with expensive CO2 recovery equipment at that time.
3. As rechargeable battery technology continues to improve, electric and gasoline-electric light vehicles will become commonplace. The power infrastructure already exists to fuel this fleet, and refueling can be done during off-peak periods, when power plants are underutilized. This major change in the light vehicle fleet will shift energy consumption from foreign oil to domestic coal.
4. Re-examine corn ethanol and wind power, which do not work economically or effectively. Corn ethanol for motor fuel requires huge ongoing subsidies and severely distorts food prices. Wind power also requires big subsidies, and almost 100% backup with conventional power generation. Wind power can also cause critical instabilities in the electric power grid. Conduct a full-life-cycle energy balance on corn ethanol, wind power, biodiesel and solar energy, and also examine the environmental demands and pollution associated with these so-called “green” technologies.
5. Re-examine hydrogen. It is an energy medium, like electricity, but if implemented would require a huge new hydrogen infrastructure to be built at great cost, for no environmental or energy gain.
6. Avoid energy subsidies, especially ongoing operating subsidies, which distort economic decisions and create expensive industrial and environmental boondoggles. Wind power and corn ethanol may prove to be two such costly mistakes.
Instead of skyrocketing energy prices, this Energy Strategy for America will result in lower costs, improved balance of trade, and in time could even provide energy self-sufficiency for the USA.
*******************
Allan M.R. MacRae is a Professional Engineer and writer on energy and the environment. In 2002 he predicted in a newspaper article that global cooling would recur. He does not work in the coal industry, accepts no compensation for his writing and holds no coal investments.
___________________________________
Track record: Published in 2002, our PEGG article and the summary below is a much more accurate depiction of today’s realities than the alarmist nonsense produced by James Hansen, the IPCC and the AGW movement:
Posted 25Dec2008 at
http://icecap.us/index.php/go/icing-the-hype/kyotos_fatal_flaws_exposed/
Following is an excerpt from an article written by Dr. Sallie Baliunas (Harvard U Astrophysicist), Dr. Tim Patterson (Carleton U Paleoclimatologist) and me in 2002.
The world is now entering a ~30-year cooling phase, and our list of fatal flaws in the Kyoto Protocol has proven to be remarkably accurate.
THE KYOTO ACCORD – POINT AND COUNTERPOINT
PEGG – November 2002
http://www.apegga.org/Members/Publications/peggs/WEB11_02/kyoto_pt.htm
Excerpt:
Kyoto has many fatal flaws, any one of which should cause this treaty to be scrapped.
Climate science does not support the theory of catastrophic human-made global warming – the alleged warming crisis does not exist.
Kyoto focuses primarily on reducing CO2, a relatively harmless gas, and does nothing to control real air pollution like NOx, SO2, and particulates, or serious pollutants in water and soil.
Kyoto wastes enormous resources that are urgently needed to solve real environmental and social problems that exist today. For example, the money spent on Kyoto in one year would provide clean drinking water and sanitation for all the people of the developing world in perpetuity.
Kyoto will destroy hundreds of thousands of jobs and damage the Canadian economy – the U.S., Canada’s biggest trading partner, will not ratify Kyoto, and developing countries are exempt.
Kyoto will actually hurt the global environment – it will cause energy-intensive industries to move to exempted developing countries that do not control even the worst forms of pollution.
Kyoto’s CO2 credit trading scheme punishes the most energy efficient countries and rewards the most wasteful. Due to the strange rules of Kyoto, Canada will pay the former Soviet Union billions of dollars per year for CO2 credits.
Kyoto will be ineffective – even assuming the overstated pro-Kyoto science is correct, Kyoto will reduce projected warming insignificantly, and it would take as many as 40 such treaties to stop alleged global warming.
The ultimate agenda of pro-Kyoto advocates is to eliminate fossil fuels, but this would result in a catastrophic shortfall in global energy supply – the wasteful, inefficient energy solutions proposed by Kyoto advocates simply cannot replace fossil fuels.
[end of excerpt]
This elegantly-written 2001 comment by Dr. Richard Lindzen of MIT is worth repeating:
“We are not in a position to confidently attribute past climate change to carbon dioxide or to forecast what the climate will be in the future…”
“Science, in the public arena, is commonly used as a source of authority with which to bludgeon political opponents and propagandize uninformed citizens. This is what has been done with both the reports of the IPCC and the NAS. It is a reprehensible practice that corrodes our ability to make rational decisions. A fairer view of the science will show that there is still a vast amount of uncertainty – far more than advocates of Kyoto would like to acknowledge…”
Best regards to all for the Holidays,
Allan M R. MacRae
Some posters have touched upon what is occurring here.
The truth will not be allowed to change the course of history.
Just because you aren’t paranoid doesn’t mean they aren’t out to get you.
The Milliband brothers. How young are they! Where did they come from?(What is their lineage and why does the British man-in-the-street not know this?) How were they catapulted straight into powerful Cabinet positions?
Who are the “BIlderbergers”? Who are the Fabian Society? The Tavistock Institute? Why is it that the Queen’s and the Prime Minister’s signatures are the only ones necessary to enact the Lisbon treaty on behalf of the whole UK? Why would sovereigns sign away that very sovereignty to a socialist organization? Why is there no debate and no outcry from “opposition” politicians, or demands for the referenda we were promised?
The “Green Revolution” is 30 years (at least) too early but fits the profile of “where do we get to shaft the population next?”. They have stolen all small investor’s cash and retirement funds in a credit/debt move that was planned for years in advance. Now they need the next scam. CO2. The perfect fit(-up). Billions in subsidies to (useless for base generation) technologies like solar and wind that still need coal/oil/nuclear running 24/7 to “help” them out when the Sun doesn’t shine and the wind doesn’t blow. Green taxation to fund further madness and indulgence – just like the UN meetings in exotic places to “decide” … well, just the location of the next meeting actually old chap. Control, control and more control.
For those who say “There is no consensus amongst the powerful to maneuver mankind in a consciously chosen direction and no mechanism to do so effectively therefore you are a conspiracy theorist” I say, why would they have these secretive annual meetings amongst the heads of government and, surprise, surprise, surprise,,,, the media? Just check who gets invited to, for example, a Bilderburg meeting.
The UK Ministry of Defence fund HadleyMet/CRU in the same way the Pentagon funds NASA. ALL their flunkies do as they are told. ALL the entities the warmers claim “represent” the science are within the fold. The Royal Society, BBC, APS, AGU, etc, etc, ad nauseam.
Quite literally, hell will need to freeze over before these “people” become embarrassed at being exposed. They will never become contrite. They will fight tooth and nail to preserve their current paradigm.
The only (simple) solution I see is a class action law suit, funded by subscription maybe, to force reparation from the usual suspects (Strong, Blood and Gore, Clinton, Patchauri et al who have profited monetarily or politically) and the truth from their instruments (Hansen, Mann, Jones, Schmidt etc,)
But, if simple things worked there would be, for example, free passenger carriages attached to every freight train with the timetables posted to every home.
“They just looks after number one and number one ain’t you. You ain’t even number two.” – Frank Zappa (who was a very good friends with, amongst luminous others, Vaclav Havel the first president of the newly-separate Czech Republic from 1993 until 2003.
Disclosure:
I have worked in the oil industry(1970ies) and for Rupert Murdoch(1980ies). One day my car alarm went off and I couldn’t stop it. Three (3) police cars arrived within 2 minutes (this may not seem untoward to anyone who has no experience with London but let me assure you I was astonished, as were the passersby) and, after I gave my name, I overheard the radioed reply from their controller – “News International executive, please assist them on their way”. They turned from gruff “we are just doing our job, you possible villain, you” to fawning mechanics in the time it took for that message to be absorbed.
Happy New Year Anthony, your family and all who frequent here.
Looney Tunes, part 2.
Atmospheric CO2: Nature’s dual threat. You want more “warm?” Just add CO2. You want more “cold?” Just add CO2.
————————————————————-
Greenhouse gases could have caused an ice age, claim scientists
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/earth/environment/climatechange/4061092/Greenhouse-gases-could-have-caused-an-ice-age-claim-scientists.html
Filling the atmosphere with Greenhouse gases associated with global warming could push the planet into a new ice age, scientists have warned.
Researchers at the University of Birmingham found that 630 million years ago the earth had a warm atmosphere full of carbon dioxide but was completely covered with ice.
Such glaciation could happen again if global warming is not curbed, the university’s school of geography, earth and environmental sciences warned.
While pollution in the air is thought to trap the sun’s heat in the atmosphere, causing the planet to heat up, this new research suggests it could also have the opposite effect reflecting rays back into space.
“It happened naturally in the past, but the wrong use of technology could make it happen again.”
Off topic, but scientists appear to be claiming that warming will cause glaciation. Are they mad scientists?
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/earth/environment/climatechange/4061092/Greenhouse-gases-could-have-caused-an-ice-age-claim-scientists.html
“In 2009, the world will quickly tire of the Alarmists and thier theoretical Doomsday scenarios. Any politician who still insists on things such as Carbon Taxes and alternative fuels will do so at his or her own risk. The average Joe, whether a Brit, Turk, or American perfers feeding his family over subsidizing the fantasies of some unnamed climate bureaucrat.”
I understand your point, but respectfully disagree. Look at what’s been sold for post Jan 20th. The alternative fuel “industry” is going to be used to solve unemployment, fossil fuel dependancy, and global warming.
This will not simply go away based on science and/or economics. It’s a religion, and conforms to all the classic behaviors of such. In some cases it parallels the “Who loves god the right way?” wars of the mideast and early christianity.
JimB
May I add that any correspondence to government officials always ask the questions “What is the correct temperature for the Earth and how do we keep it there?”
Never had a real answer to that. I will again state my vote is for 88 degrees F year round with SST at 85.
Food for thought:
Some of you may or may not know, but the Bible talks about a one-world religion in the final days. What religion do you suppose that would be, Islamism, Christianity?
Think again.
We may be witnessing the growth of a powerful, world-wide religion. It’s here and it’s called… Environmentalism.
Are you noticing how powerful the environmental movement is becoming? The environmental rules, regulations, restrictions, awareness, programs, and funding are spreading world-wide at a blistering pace. And at the heart of the movement is the UN. Even many religous organizations are jumping on board with the movement, in a “we must be good stewards of the planet” scenario.
The environmental movement is being taught as jurisprudence in public schools. Is Jesus or God? The environmental movement has the complete backing and support of the world government without any seperation, like for example the seperation of church and state. Let’s face it, the power behind the environmental movement is growing expedtiously. Is it all bad? No, but I am just saying.
Think about this. We cannot cut some trees in our own yard to due enviromental regulations. Got that? However we can cut the life of a human unborn… no problem! Doesn’t this seem odd to you? Trees are more important than babies? Strange, very strange.
You probably knew already, but the planet has been warming for the the past 12500 years. In fact… 15000 years ago, Chicago was buried under a mile of ice. When the glaciers retreated, they left behind the Great Lakes. We are in a period of time known as an “interglacial”. The glaciers have been retreating, even without the help of a trace gas, 0.0385% carbon dioxide, as the mechanism for this warming. So when Al Gore says that the planet is warming and that the glaciers are retreating, I say no kidding. How much is man respononsible for though? No one knows for sure.
Mariners were able to sail the arctic waters as far north as 87 degrees north latitude in the early 20th century. Then for a while, they could not because the sea ice extent was greater than it is today. Also, vikings were growing crops in Greenland 1000 years ago. I just don’t understand the alarmism? The term ‘climate change’ is an oxymoron. I think the whole “planet in peril” thing is a little crazy… or maybe it’s just me.
Looney Tunes, part 3.
From the land of the Looney Legislators – state and federal – Mexifornistan.
————————————————————-
A Global Warming Howler for the New Year
http://www.americanthinker.com/blog/2009/01/a_global_warming_howler_for_th.html
Pursuant to Assembly Bill 1229, a sticker displaying a rank comparing “the emissions of global warming gases from the vehicle with the average projected emissions of global warming gases from all vehicles of the same model year sold in the state” must be affixed to all motor vehicles henceforth sold in the state. These so-called “Global Warming Scores” range from 1 to 10, with 1 representing a vehicle selfishly emitting an excess of 520 “CO2 – equivalent Grams per mile” and 10 given to those altruistically checking in at under 200.
To wit, Section 1 of the new Bill explains the convoluted reasoning behind this mind-boggling leap, opening with these deceiving declarations of scientific certitude:
(a) The use of fossil fuels in motor vehicles is one of the primary human sources of global warming gases that trap heat in the Earth’s atmosphere, leading to a warming effect on the planet.
(b) Increasing concentrations of global warming gases in the atmosphere are likely to accelerate the rate of climate change in California.
(c) Scientific research indicates that the impact of global warming on our environment will be profound. Global warming will significantly impact the state’s air quality, water resources, forests, agricultural regions, coastal regions, and the health of the state’s residents.
“This label will arm consumers with the information they need to choose a vehicle that saves gas, reduces greenhouse gas emissions and helps fight smog all at once. Consumer choice is an especially powerful tool in our fight against climate change.”
Of course, it’s absurd to think that today’s less than abundant buyer, having been satisfied with the selling price and mileage ratings, will give a rodent’s butt about a car’s Global Warming Score.
But today’s California milestone is a stark reminder that misplaced, even though hilarious, AGW legislation currently in the pipeline has taken on an impetus that even recent challenges to its very foundation will not easily redirect. And it may be years before misinformed Pols (including the President elect) realize they’ve been duped by self-serving and/or just plain wrong alarmists and manage a strategy reassessment.
For an alternative view to the situation in the UK of GB and NI, i.e., not MSM, a visit to the blog
http://eureferendum.blogspot.com
could well be worth the effort as it shows up how bad the situation really is and why.
PS Happy New Year everyone and many thanks Anthony for the hard work invested in this blog.
As Emmanuel stated, we shouldn’t waste this opportunity.
I think we need to use Britain as a willing guinea pig. Cut off the power, cap carbon emissions to pre-1880 levels, and let the world see what a world without power would look like.
I’d bet it’d last about 1 mo. before the power is switched back on, and rabid activists are outlawed.
I’d like to pick up on a few of the comments already made…
Phil’s Dad rightly comments on the contradictions in the UK Government’s approach to AGW concerns versus the need to new power plants, runways etc. Today saw the railways increase passenger fares by over 6%, about 3 times our current inflation rate, “because we need to improve our services”. To right they do. Just not quite the right thing to do in a recession with people tightening their belts.
In the meantime, petrol is still coming down and then they wonder why people aren’t using the trains instead of the carbon spewing climate change machines!
Ron de Haan says in his comment about Vaclav Klaus…”The demonizing process is initiated by his fellow EU politicians who support the IPCC doctrine and the media are the same media that constantly broadcast the usual AGW riddles of melting ice caps and drowning polar bears.”
At eureferendum.blogspot.com Richard comments in the thread of his post on The windmills are not for turning.
The “climate change” obsession is writ deep into the EU, having become one of their central mechanisms to promote political integration. So tied up with climate policy is the EU – and so closely associated with it – that the eventual demolition of the case will be hugely damaging to the EU. Fighting the climate change mantra, therefore – apart from the intrinsic merits of that cause – is a major part of the anti-EU battle.You will have noticed that there is a certain correlation. Eurosceptics tend also to be AGW sceptics – Europhiles tend to be warmists.
At least our MSM here in the UK have started to pick up on more of the sceptics case. Richard Littlejohn in the Daily Mail picked up on this site and Anthony’s work. Christopher Booker has now had almost 1100 comments to his article on 2008 being the year AGW was disproved. Yes, they still print the Government’s propaganda but there are some sane voices being heard even if they still garner some really vicious comments from the AGW lobby.
O/T but this is a political article so, in the US Hansen’s surely must hav eoverstepped his assignment at NASA as a scientist with
This
And finally…
In response to Ron de Haan’s comment about the new EU President, the UK’s Daily Mail had this profile of Vaclav Klaus yesterday…
“He does not favour the Lisbon Treaty, he’s no fan of the euro and he has even likened the European Union to the Soviet Union. So interesting times could be ahead when Vaclav Klaus takes over the rotating presidency of the EU tomorrow. The Czech president looks certain to use his tenure as an opportunity to publicise views which will enrage other EU leaders.
A bespectacled economist who came to prominence after the Czechoslovak uprising against communism a generation ago, he is a confirmed Eurosceptic. He has enthusiastically challenged European and international policy on everything from climate change to relations with Russia. The 67-year-old compares bank bailouts to old socialism, accuses the Lisbon Treaty of contradicting Czech sovereignty and calls environmental issues a luxury.
This has led to numerous-clashes with Mirek Topolanek, his pro-EU prime minister, and the next six months are unlikely to match the pro-EU rhetoric of French president Nicolas Sarkozy from whom he is taking the reins.
‘It’s pretty uncomfortable to hold the EU presidency when you’ve got a Eurosceptic leader,’ admitted a spokesman for the European Policy Centre in Brussels. Mr Klaus, whose Czech office is largely ceremonial, even refuses to fly the EU flag at his Prague Castle office, something Mr Sarkozy described earlier this month as ‘hurtful’ to EU colleagues.
(My Note: At their meeting before the handover, the EU flag was thrown down at the feet of Mr Klaus. Talk about a challenge to a head of state in his own country. Here in Britain our head of state, The Queen, doesn’t have to fly the EU flag over Buckingham Palace, so why should Mr Klaus)
The combative Czech quickly countered, saying the Frenchman’s leadership – and what he called a refusal to heed criticism – ‘hurts the European Union and hurts Europe’.
(My note: There have also been reports that Sarkozy tried to persuade the Czechs to keep him on as EU president to continue with his “good” work. What a nerve, it was quite clearly a play to put himself forward for the elected Presidency we keep hearing about. Fortunately he was told to get lost or whatever the diplomatic language is.)
Mr Klaus built his political career in the early 1990s as a finance minister promoting rapid free-market reforms, founding and leading a conservative Civic Democratic party modelled partly on the Tories. Pictures of Margaret Thatcher featured prominently in his publicity material.
He became prime minister in 1992 and held office for five years. He became Czech president in 2003, after Czechoslovakia split into the Czech Republic and Slovakia. As president, Klaus has had less executive power but has felt freer to air his opinions, especially toward the EU. He recently refused to join Western condemnation of Russian policy over Georgia and he challenges international environmental policy.
His book disputing that man-made climate change is happening is entitled Blue Planet in Green Chains.”
The German press here is already portraying as l’enfant terrible
in Europe. Only Bush gets more negative press.
Klaus will rescue Europe for 6 months, and that’s all. Then the enviro kooks will be back.
Things are going to get much worse with the CO2 hype in Europe before they get better.
The German press here is already portraying VACLAV KLAUS as l’enfant terrible
in Europe. Only Bush gets more negative press.
And after mr Klaus comes the Swedish prime minister mr Reinfeldt, who in every way is a most conventional AGW man. We Swedes can afford it as 50 % of our electric power is nuclear and 50 % water power. At present actually giving a surplus to export (to Denmark). In addition we can actually keep warm by using our forrests. 90 million cubic meter wood a year. An advantage of small population and large area. OK! The forest industry will collapse but in a situation of emergency it can of course go.
In northern Sweden land still rises with one meter a year as a message from the ice age. Harbours established 300 years ago are now inland. Hopefully this process will continue. Long live AGW!
Gösta Oscarsson
It’s all political the green fascist orwelian agenda is being pushed down our throat globally.
They will blame every natural disaster on the population too much co2 is responsible for every evil on this earth will they say.
But you know the funniest part of all this madness the masses will swallow this political nonsense and sacrifice their standard of living and much more than that…
Global warming is just another deception like the war on terrorists (freedom fighters) which is aimed at furthering the new world order.
The dumbest morons on this planet should know our planet warmed many times and colled many times in the history of it’s existence and these cycles happened without the burning of fossil fuel….
Ignorance ignorance ignorance and again ignorance
Michael S (02:53:43) and Tom T (23:01:49) regarding the Hansen letters to Obama and Holdren:
There is a good opportunity in a response to this letter because the response does not have to be 100% contrarian. Hansen has some good recommendations that can be emphasized and concurred with such as Nuclear and that a carbon tax is better than cap& trade.
I don’t necessarily agree with taxing carbon, but there MIGHT BE non-climate related reasons that could rationalize it related to National Security, and long term supply. For example (Just rambling now); tax unfriendly foreign oil to encourage domestic; apply tax revenue to: liquifying coal, developing nuclear, researchijng fission, small scale wind and solar, etc.
My gut still says that the Government should get out of the way and let an optimally regulated free market do its magic, but that is unrealistic politically….
Michael and Allan
Michael said
” I hereby issue you one carbon demerit. {boink!} You are ordered to throw another log on the fire! {yaayy!}”
If I do lots of good works can i get rid of the demerit or is it like points on our car licenses and if I get too many I’ll have my licence to pollute taken away and I’ll get…gulp…decarbonised for good?
C’mon admit it-you’re a realclimate mole otherwise that would mean the story is real, Hansen is real and the Americans are actually paying him to produce this stuff!
Allan
Great post. In the Uk situation I would remind our politicians that no part of Britain is more than 70 miles from the sea and the fact we are an island means we have lots of waves and lots of tides and as I sit and look at the ocean now I’m thinking what an awful lot of energy is going to waste.
TonyB
The UK’s current weather is quite interesting. We have a blocking high pressure area centred last week over Scandinavia and now the UK pushing the jet stream away and diverting our usual Atlantic low pressure systems and storms. This results in cold air being drawn to the UK across the European continent originally from Siberia. For those who can remember ( like me!) this was a common phenomenon in the 1960’s and was the cause of one of the UK’s coldest winters 1962/3 when there was snow on the ground from early January to March in the south of England. I used to live in Lancashire ( sort of the North of England) and I well remember ice on the inside of the bedroom windows for weeks on end (no central heating then). The are a few weather commentators drawing parallels with the 1960’s weather…. I hope not! especially as we have the possibility of gas supplies being in sort supply from Russia and Europe. So much for UK energy policy :o(
Hey! there seems to be someone else using my name perhaps I should change it
Poor old UK! Literally!
Don’t worry about energy folks, I am absolutely certain that our government has found the power fountain, the world’s only source of Dilithium Crystals, there’ll be no holding us back now! Reach for the stars in full blown Warp-drive. That’s why it doesn’t need an energy strategy for the future, it just needs to keep it’s Ostrich pose until it needs them.
However in the real world, we need that strategy badly, Mrs T had a good plan to swing the argument for nuclear power, after battling the oil sheiks & coal miners, she went for the AGW path but this just back-fired on her & we end up financing The Hadley Centre/Tyndall Centre to the tune of 100’s millions £££££ for them to keep finding evidence for man made climate change! Remember governments have NO money, it’s all taxpayers’ money!
Yet another nob of coal on the fire Mr Crachet! It’s too cold.
Hans Solo got Decarbonized – it made him blind, but then he fell in love. Oh, that was carbonite.
A new leader emerges.
“But it’s about explaining to people the importance of our work – global warming is bigger than business, it’s bigger even than politics.”
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/berkshire/7808276.stm
I look forward to follwing this story in 2009.
I’m giving her all’s she got captain! don’t fuse the dilithium crystals!
TonyB,
I remember the ritual from the 1960s quite well too. Wake up in a room close to freezing, dash to the small electric heater, turn it on, and dash back to bed and wait for 15 minutes before getting up to get dressed. Our windows in Berkshire always had ice on the inside this time of year.
Bush had so much difficulty because he is a poor speaker and does not think quickly on his feet. He also is very timid with the press, and takes too many punches. Klaus does not suffer from those problems, and I expect with the cold weather and poor economy will make his tenure at the bully pulpit resonate. The Met Office continues to insist that their prediction of a mild winter (Dec-Feb) will still come true, yet they now acknowledge that the cold weather will last through at least the first half of the winter.
Here is what they wrote about the winter a few months ago – The forecast of another mild winter across the UK has been welcomed by Help the Aged, who work with other agencies to support older people.
http://www.metoffice.gov.uk/corporate/pressoffice/2008/pr20080925.html
and today they claim victory at protecting the infirmed with their expert forecasts- The cold weather is expected to persist over the weekend and into next week with widespread frost and temperatures plummeting to -9 C in some parts of the country. Forecasters from the Met Office are keeping a close eye on conditions for the big return to work with the risk of icy conditions in some areas as rain falls onto frozen surfaces on Monday. At these times Met Office health forecasting services are at their most useful, helping people suffering from long term conditions such as Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) stay healthy and out of hospital. During winter months, people with various health conditions are at increased risk of becoming unwell. The level of risk is strongly influenced by weather conditions, virus activity in the community and other factors. So far this winter almost 18,000 people have registered for the Healthy Outlook scheme which is designed for COPD patients so that they can manage their condition more effectively.
Several health authorities are reporting additional strain on services as respiratory admissions climb to near-epidemic levels in many areas across the country. Met Office health forecasting has proved a great success for both patients and health authorities, helping reduce hospital admissions and bringing reassurance to patients who use the service.
http://www.metoffice.gov.uk/corporate/pressoffice/2009/pr20090102.html
Time for Plan B, it seems.
Note to moderator – please delete my duplicate post at
Allan M R MacRae (05:21:14) :
Yup, we’re in trouble over here but maybe you shouldn’t feel too smug just yet. Your new energy/environment ‘czar’ Carol Browner is a member of Socialist International’s Commission for a Sustainable World Society. The picture just above Ms Browner’s on the SI website is our very own Hilary Benn who at least has the excuse that it’s genetic. Good luck!
Nothing FDR did had a significant effect on the Great Depression. When the US was attacked at Pearl Harbor, the Great Depression was in full swing.
The boom following WWII was due to people having been unable to buy any durable goods for 4 straight years, and in the longer run, a change from a cash economy to a credit economy. IN case no one noticed, we, by and large, have spent to the limits of our credit.
We are in a hole, and digging it deeper all the time. This CO2 nonsense will ultimately, and not all that long from now, lead us all into another World War. War is what happens when people get truly desperate, and with the failure of government to be sensible, when people can no longer keep themselves warm enough in winter only because of idiotic government actions, desperation will become extreme. Bad enough is the great economic depression we are already in, without artifically increasing costs of energy many times over.
Comparing Jan 1, 2008 with Jan 1, 2009 and with a La Nina looking solid for the early part of the year and potential coldening in the North Atlantic, I have a feeling that max ice extent in the Arctic will be greater this year.
Hey the other TonyB!
Pistols at dawn! Second thoughts, dawn is too cold at present. Pistols around 11am sometime in june? I havent seen you arouind before, although your post was good so it can only enhance my reputation!
TonyB
A reminder to those in the UK that there is a bit of light relief from the doom and gloom. The well known and politically correct (not) Jeremy Clarkson’s drive in a 4×4 to the north pole is repeated tonight (9pm) on BBC3 (how does he get away with it on BBC)?
Allan M R MacRae: Great letter! I would sign it in a heartbeat.
“Climate dyslexics” – har har!
Hitler did not get Czechoslovakia in 1938. He got the Sudetenland, a former part of Germany given to Czechoslovakia after WWI, and mostly inhabited by Germans who would just as soon have continued to be Czechoslovakians. Giving it to him was a gross mistake, but the politicians did what they do best: &%$## up situations.
Since I’m in fix-the-world mode this morning (no coffee yet), I’ll just mention (again): There are no apostrophes in possessive pronouns. There is no her’s, there is no hi’s, there is no it’s. “It’s” is always a contraction of “it is.”
Roger Carr (01:50:14) :
re: “perfectly good river water be sent into the ocean rather than diverted to human use,
Steady, Roger! We in Australia, invented that…
Ah, well. Guess we can share (the pain).”
So sad to see that others share California’s lunacy. It will get very interesting when people get really thirsty. Actually, in California, what is happening is that farmers are getting less water so cities can get more.
Then someone pointed out that farms (at least the crops on them) consume CO2, so curtailing farming exacerbates the CO2 “problem.” The answer was (as to a rather backward child) that farmers in wetter states would compensate by growing more there.
So, now Californians not only have their electric power generated in other states, but their food grown there, too. I guess the increased transportation costs and associated GHG emissions do not count.
(Power from Nevadas’ Hoover Dam, from Arizona’s Palo Verde nuclear plant, also from Washington state’s hydroelectric dams, and now a new windfarm in Oregon).
Sheer lunacy.
“Photosynthesis is a metabolic pathway that converts light energy into chemical energy. Its initial substrates are carbon dioxide and water; the energy source is sunlight (electromagnetic radiation); and the end-products are oxygen and (energy-containing) carbohydrates, such as sucrose, glucose or starch”
So no CO2 no chlorophyll, no chlorophyll no GREEN
Reducing CO2 emissions is the same cime as burning forests in the amazon jungle.
Less CO2=Less forests
Errata: Reducing CO2 emissions is the same CRIME as burning forests in the amazon jungle.
Check the link for our new Climate Change Act which is now in force:
http://www.opsi.gov.uk/acts/acts2008/ukpga_20080027_en_1
It is turgid reading but it is not too difficult to realise that most, if not all of what results from this Act is going to begin with the “recommendations” of the Committee on Climate Change. The Secretary of State must, by this Law, take the Committee’s recommendations into account. Read Schedule 1 of the Act which describes how the Committee is to be constituted. Note that the Committee can appoint (and pay) sub-committees.
Guess where the Warmists are going to target as the power-centre of this Act? The Committee and its inevitable plethora of (highly) paid sub-committees will be packed with alarmists and doom-sayers who are going to urge State control over anything which emits ‘toxic’ gases.
The stage is set for a Fart Tax in the near future!
As a Brit myself, sadly I have to agree with most of what Steven says in his piece. I would say however that when he talks about the British what he must mean are those Brits with responsibility for government policy as in my experience the vast majority of people I know are not swayed by the AGW arguments and are more interested in cheap power than in saving the world!
There is however nothing like a dose of reality to shake everyone out of their slumbers and this will surely come when the first power cuts happen which they undoubtably will. The clamour from the masses then for more coal or nuclear power will be deafening and any political party which doesn’t respond will be out on their ear. Unfortunately, this will mean several long years of power cuts as we attempt to build new power stations and undo the years of self delusion and complacency .
Phillip Bratby (09:36:36) Re Jeremy Clarkson.
Amazing isn’t it? Apparently it has something to do with the millions the BBC earns from syndication of Top Gear around the world – does wonders for principles. The north pole one was the great, although my personal favourite was the ski-jumping mini.
Garacka (06:46:49) :
‘Hansen has some good recommendations that can be emphasized and concurred with such as Nuclear and that a carbon tax is better than cap& trade.
I don’t necessarily agree with taxing carbon, but there MIGHT BE non-climate related reasons that could rationalize it related to National Security, and long term supply. For example (Just rambling now); tax unfriendly foreign oil to encourage domestic; apply tax revenue to: liquifying coal, developing nuclear, researchijng fission, small scale wind and solar, etc.’
Since CO2 is not the problem and governments already have many income streams, why would you allow them (governments) to create a new bureaucracy in the name of CO2?
Mike C (02:18:23) :
“Roger Sowell, You need to get yourself here to Texas.”
I agree! I am working on returning home as soon as possible to the glorious land of my birth. Meanwhile, I do what I can to straighten out the issues in California, my adopted state. So much to do, so little time!
Steve Brown: Not much democracy there then. Government by political appointees. Brings to mind “cash for honours”.
Global warming is ruining Governor Palin’s statehood celebration.
Too cold to celebrate
Chalk up another victim of the deep freeze covering Southcentral Alaska.
Wasilla has canceled its planned 50th-anniversary statehood celebration Saturday because of the bone-chilling temperatures.
The event, an outdoor thing with events like sledding and a bonfire, was scheduled to start at 2 p.m. But given the ongoing minus-25 cold, likely only the hardiest would have come.
The event is now rescheduled for Jan. 10, but only if thermometer gets above minus 10.
http://community.adn.com/adn/node/136169
‘So no CO2 no chlorophyll, no chlorophyll no GREEN
Reducing CO2 emissions is the same cime as burning forests in the amazon jungle.
Less CO2=Less forests’
And more sales for fertilizer companies.
Rossa (06:19:18) :
Most Europeans are in favor of the basic concept of a free European Market without borders.
The problems came with the adoption of the UN Chapter 21 rules and the climate hoax by the EU, the endless stream of useless and stupid rules (as an example I mention the obligatory rules that state how a cucumber has to look like?) combined with a high doses of corruption, the anti social attitude among the Political Leaders, the Euro Parliament representatives (declarations) and the expensive traveling circus between Brussels and Straatsburg.
This was one of the reasons why the people of France and the Netherlands voted against the new European Laws that put more power to the European Parliament.
First clean up your act was the message.
Unfortunately the National Governments decided to act over the heads of their populations thus undermining the democratic core of every nation.
People feel they have not been taken serious.
They voted in a serious attempt to influence the system in a positive manner but the European Train did not stop and left them aside. More critical than ever.
The moment politicians and media are using lies to promote their agenda they will find themselves on very thin ice.
If the European Union wants to succeed for the future, they really have to clean up their act.
The current route is a dead end street.
OP: “who will be the next Churchill to lead England out of it’s most clueless hour?”
My guess is a chap called Boris Johnson. As you may be aware, he’s currently Mayor of London. Atm he still believes in AGW but I suspect he might be one of the first politicians to flip (since he’s less politician-like than most).
This post is factually inaccurate. Russia has not threatened to cut gas supplies to europe, but rather to the Ukraine, a completely different matter. Both countries have pledged to keep gas flowing to western europe.
The Germans are doing a Lot of heaing with Bio-Gas. Maybe Ukraine should take a look at that.
Boris for (life) president of EU!
JP (04:59:03) wrote: “The Alarmist fantasy world is a function of society’s massive accumulation of wealth.”
I respond to endorse the deep ~ and perhaps bitter ~ reality of those words and all that they signify.
Ed Scott, Paul Shanahan:
I wrote to Dr. Ian Fairchild about the article in the telegraph (CO2 can cause ice ages)… He sent me the paper, which I do not have permission to reprint, but it is published in Science Magazine (subscription required). I haven’t read it yet. He did however, provide me a link which gives a summary that is publicly available.
I had to assume something was amiss and that such a distinguished scientist would not have worded things quite the way telegraph.co.uk “science correspondent” did. In Dr Fairchild’s words, “unfortunately the Telegraph has got the message badly garbled – only sorry that they evidently didn’t have time to contact me before publication!”. Seems inexcusable to me – I’m just sayin’…
Link to summary:
http://www.gees.bham.ac.uk/staff/fairchildresearchglacial.shtml
Note to moderator: Since the telegraph author was not kind enough to contact Dr. Fairchild, this might be the ONLY link to the summary available where the author can speak for himself on this controversial subject, as speculation abounds on the internet about what was really meant by this rather idiotic report. Perhaps a more prominent placement would be in order to set the record straight? This guy has done a lot of published work in paleoclimatology – probably worth a listen.
Michael S.
Tom in Texas (20:12:45) : […]
Our “significantly higher than the national average” electricity consumption
is probably due to the invention of the a/c. Or are we just over-indulging ourselves?
I thought it was ’cause Texans figgr’d 10,000 sq. ft. was a good enough size for a small cottage, but a Big House, well, those needed a bit more room!
(Wife’s family is from Texas & I’ve learned to speak a bit of it myself 😉
California talks a lot of BS, but when are they going to be the leader in wind? All along their coast: from San Diego (thru Malibu) to San Francisco, and up to Sacra(mental). I can just picture those towers behind the Golden Gate Bridge.
We’re too busy destroying our industry to build anything. Besides, tacky things don’t belong near the coast; they belong in places that are flat, and empty, and don’t have beaches… We don’t need to actually do anything, we just need to tell you what to do; oh, and import stuff from folks who, like, do do things … you wouldn’t mind sending us some electricity would you? Oh, and $40 Billion of Tarp money too… You better or we’ll wash your windshield…
I have not verified it, but I heard on the TV that California had one IPO last year. One. So much for wealth creation… We’re headed for a deficit variously estimated at $10 Billion now to $40+ Billion next year. The state is planning to send IOUs to employees starting in February. They did this once before a few years back, so it’s not an idle threat. The answer from our legislature? Raise more taxes… “Beatings will continue until moral improves” and “Taxes will be raised until businesses return to the state”…
It saddens me greatly that the once great state of California that made more fortunes than anywhere has come to such ruin. It makes me more worried to see the same disease propagating to DC. If you want to know what’s in store for the rest of the country, just look at what the same folks and the green socialism agenda did here. (And no, I’m not a republican. I’m an independent… I think they all stink.)
Oh, and I second the hope that a frozen no sun spots winter will dampen the AGW enthusiasm… here and abroad. Go Vaclav!
Disclaimer: I’m not funded by big or little oil, and don’t own XOM stock.
I’m not funded by anyone either, dang it. I do own oil stocks, but I’m only buying OOTUS – Out Of The U.S. since I’m fairly certain the Dem congress will be taxing US oil to death. (Primarily PBR in Brazil, PCZ and PGH in Canada and some flakey alternative oil companies into algae and other interesting but money losing things – PSUD, OOIL, RTK, SYNM, VRNM because I would like them to succeed.)
FWIW, in another thread I’d mentioned that the Obama emphasis on alternative energy would take a lot of copper and when prices started up would be time to buy. Well, JJC (copper) jumped up 5% today and more the prior market day. It’s at the 25 day moving average. A bit more and it crosses the 50 to confirm the rally. PCU (+13% today) and FCX (copper miners) have started a good up run. SQM (lithium miner) and FAN, PBW, & GEX (alternative energy wind / solar funds) have all started runs up off the bottom. You may not be able to influence the AGW movement in DC, but maybe you can make money off of it… Hopefully enough to pay the added gas taxes when they hit.
DISCLOSURE: I own some of PCU, FAN, GEX, PGH, PCZ, PBR, and some other small positions in alternative energy companies. None of this colors my opinions and I will trade in or out of them as charts indicate (moving average crossovers) but it is considered ‘good form’ to disclose potential conflicts of interest. Oh, and I own some CLNE (T. Boone Pickens company pushing natural gas / wind instead of oil) more as a political statement against imported oil, though it looks like it’s finally bottomed and started up.
I’m avoiding Euro zone stocks, but have put a fair amount of money into Brazil (EWZ, BAK, CZZ), China (FXI), and India (EPI & IFN or IIF) in the last few days due to the CO2 free pass they get. I’ve also put money into Australia (EWA, IAF) since they are levered to China. When I say that CO2 policies and Cap & Tirade will drive investment to CO2 free pass countries it is not idle speculation, it’s a statement of personal action…
Maybe I’ll move to Texas after California implodes… No income tax. Sigh.
Michael S (02:53:43) :
Anthony, would you consider this forum as an area to post a new thread where we could number the claims and begin offering the truth, with references?
The claim in the nuclear section that the LFTR reactor design is needed to solve the concerns that have “prevented Thorium from being used in solid fueled nuclear reactors” is false. Thorium Power (THPW) is a company that makes solid fuel bundles with Thorium. They have bundles in reactors today doing long term burn / acceptance tests.
http://www.thoriumpower.com/default2.asp?nav=technology_solutions&subnav=tech_pub
The notion that we need to develop a whole new reactor design to use Thorium is seriously broken. The bundles can be, and presently are being, loaded into a Russian standard power reactor today.
An Australian politician with the guts to speak out.
Leader of the Nationals in the Senate Barnaby Joyce writes to the Agmates community.
“Every age comes up with a witch to burn, a sect that apparently if it is not succumbed will bring about the destruction of an empire, an issue that occupies the rigours of the day.”
http://tinyurl.com/7opzv7
Re: Michael S (22:29:05) :
So what’s new? The version in the link is a completely conventional run-through of Snowball/Slushball Earth theory. The only new thing is a new proxy for measuring CO2 in the atmosphere (which was already known to have been extremely high from study of cap carbonates).
The whole incident just highlights the incredible ignorance of MSM journalists and their “slanting” of news. In short: never believe anything you read about climate in the MSM without checking it first.
I’ve said elsewhere that the ‘climate vandals’ need to be the ones who have their electricity cut off if there are shortages. They oppose commissioning of needed capacity, they freeze on the streets in winter. It’s called citizen responsibility.
Sadly, that won’t happen. I don’t think.
It’s like animal rights idiots expecting proper medicines and fancy perfumes. Try killing a few humans by testing drugs on them without animals first, eh? Try the animal rights activists as ‘guinea pigs’, eh? Yeah right…….
2009 should be about the following:
1. Acceptance of the striking PDO/AMO link to US temperature, in the absence of rigorous evidence implying artefacts/data fudging.
2. Setting up of similar evidence-based projects to study link to Europe.
3. Setting up of a 50 year interim power strategy (coal, gas, nuclear, with carbon abatement technology to make coal ‘clean’) to keep the world heated and lit until ‘renewables’ have been adequately tested, scaled-up, productised and cheapened to allow them to serve our needs effectively.
4. Committing to a 100 year monitoring project of surface temperature, air temperatures and arctic/antarctic ice patterns, linked to oceanic parameters, thereby building an evidence base to justify actions in the 22nd century if appropriate.
5. Developing geoengineering technology as a SINGLE, GLOBAL initiative: it is simply UNACCEPTABLE for any country to effect local climate change using such technology, since this will affect the whole world in pretty unpredictable ways. Wars using such technology are a risk in the absence of a single worldwide global deal being struck.
6. Debunking carbon dioxide theories unless scientifically rigorous proofs emerge that it has a significant role to play.
7. Planning for global cooling if the sunspot cycle is delayed another 6 months or more.
IMHO
4.
Kum Dollison (19:00:48) :
The Germans are doing a Lot of heaing with Bio-Gas. Maybe Ukraine should take a look at that.
Methane digesters work, but are somewhat slow and very large (best suited to pig farms and other places with lots of land) for the amount of methane produced. They also work best at high temperatures (ie tropical…) so in cold climates you have a heating and insulating problem (& cost) to solve. A 50 gallon digester will give enough methane to light a small candle sized flame… to heat your home would take a digester volume bigger than your yard full of swimming pool. Hot swimming pool. In the snow.
Ukraine has coal (though from what I can tell the mines are not run well / safely) and can kiss off Russian oil & gas by using their coal. It can be made into gas (producer gas, water gas, synthesis gas) and that can be further turned into methane / ethane / gasoline or Diesel fuel if desired.
Many companies around the world know how to do this, though the ones I find most interesting are SSL Sasol, RTK Rentech, SYNM Syntroleum, and SYMX Synthesis Energy Co. RTK has a plant near Los Angeles turning trash into fuels. SYMX and SSL have contracts to build facilities in China (who have clue). This is not a ‘theoretical’, it’s a solution.
I can only conclude that Ukraine are posturing / negotiating the relative rate for their gas transport fees.
The earth is indeed not warming because of C02 the poles are shifting and with this ongoing process we are experiencing climate “change” .
This will be used by the elite bankers who govern our planet to further their fascist green socialist agenda blaming every hazard on the ignorant
old construction worker (11:53:18) :
“Since CO2 is not the problem and governments already have many income streams, why would you allow them (governments) to create a new bureaucracy in the name of CO2?”
I don’t want them to, but if they are going to do anything, a carbon tax “at the mine” could (I think**) be done with much less bureaucracy than cap & trade on CO2 emissions. I think that’s what Hansen says also. Perhaps we should celebrate a bit of rationality from him.
** I know that just because it could doesn’t mean it would. Why? Because many disgruntled Cap & Traders will want revenge on the taxers and they’ll get it by creating odious regulations to implement the tax which will necessitate all sorts of data, tests, verifications and a bazillion inspectors which will make Cap & Trade look cheap.
Kum Dollison (19:00:48):
E.M.Smith (10:17:00) has it partially right. Only some digester designs are slow – it depends on what you are trying to digest and how. Needs lots insulation in cold temperatures and the problem would not be keeping the digester warm (if the insulation is good), but keeping the feedstock for it unfrozen. Digestion to methane is probably the most efficient means of energy production from wet organic materials (since otherwise you use a lot of energy evaporating water) and the best digesters can export 80% of the energy they produce (the rest is used in mixing/heating). Size-wise, yes you need a lot of s**t to produce a useful amount of energy.
Garacka (17:34:51)
‘I don’t want them to, but if they are going to do anything, a carbon tax “at the mine” could (I think**) be done with much less bureaucracy than cap & trade on CO2 emissions.’
Just tell them (the politicians) No. No CO2 cap and trade, No CO2 tax and No CO2 regulations. They (the politicians) understand being voted out of office. They (the politicians) understand being challenged in court. They (the politicians) understand bad press.
Times headline: “EU’s new figurehead believes climate change is a myth”.
They never give up. Despite record snow across much of the northern hemisphere.
“Global warming threat to ski industry”
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/7809254.stm
Russia gas disruption spreads to Czechs, Turks
http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20090104/ts_nm/us_russia_ukraine_gas
Patrick Henry,
Browse by accuweather sometime. We miss your posts over there.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/russia/4127173/Europe-faces-energy-crisis-as-Vladimir-Putin-cuts-Russian-gas-supply.html
Europe faces energy crisis as Vladimir Putin cuts Russian gas supply
Europe has been plunged into an energy crisis after Vladimir Putin ordered Russia’s state-run gas company to cut supplies by 20 per cent.
As temperatures dropped below zero across much of Europe, the Russian prime minister instructed the head of Gazprom: “Cut it – starting today.”
The cut was ordered to punish neighbouring Ukraine, which Russia accuses of topping up its own gas supply by siphoning off energy meant for European consumers and sent through its pipelines.
But Naftogaz, Ukraine’s state-run gas company, said that it was European Union countries, including Britain, that would feel the effects of an increasingly bitter East-West energy row.