Weekly Climate and Energy News Roundup

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The Week That Was: 2014-10-05 (May 10, 2014) Brought to You by SEPP (www.SEPP.org) The Science and Environmental Policy Project

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Quote of the Week: “In war-time, truth is so precious that she should always be attended by a bodyguard of lies.” Winston Churchill, From Bodyguard of Lies by Anthony Cave Brown (1975) Number of the Week: $150 per gallon

THIS WEEK: By Ken Haapala, Executive Vice President, Science and Environmental Policy Project (SEPP)   

NCA: On May 6, the Administration released the anticipated third National Climate Assessment (NCA), Climate Change Impacts in the United States. The cover letter to Congress is signed by John P. Holdren, Assistant to the President for Science and Technology and by Kathryn D. Sullivan, Under Secretary of Commerce for Oceans and Atmosphere, NOAA Administrator. The report is the product of the US Global Change Research Program with 13 government agencies participating: Departments of Agriculture, Commerce, Energy, Health and Human Services, Interior, State, Transportation as well as the Agency for International Development (USAID), Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), National Science Foundation (NSF), and Smithsonian Institution. The report is a slick marketing piece and the web site is very effective as such. The NCA claims that the nation is being damaged by global warming/climate change and it divides the nation into regions to discuss the harms occurring.

Apparently, the Administration has declared war on global warming/climate change/climate disruption, etc. As such, it appears the Administration has taken Churchill’s admonition to heart. [Quote of the Week]. A student of war-time propaganda may identify this report as such. The report relies heavily on projections from defective, biased climate models and selective ignorance of climate history of the United States. On his web site, Roy Spencer presents a brief rebuttal to each of the 12 major points. In his December 11, 2013 testimony to the House Committee on Science, Space and Technology, John Christy presented evidence contradicting many of the claims in this report. The testimony discussed the defects in the climate models, and the strong warming bias they have. Defective global models are an inappropriate basis for estimating regional impact.

The section of the report on global sea level rise illustrates the lack of scientific rigor in the report (pp 44 & 45). It states that since 1880, when reliable record keeping began, sea levels have risen by about 8 inches. Then goes on to state that: The future scenarios range from 0.66 feet (8 inches, 20 cm) to 6.6 feet (79 inches, 201 cm) by 2100. “These scenarios are not based on climate model simulations, but rather reflect the range of possible scenarios based on other scientific studies.” [These studies are not discussed in that section.] “In particular, the high end of these scenarios may be useful for decision-makers with a low tolerance for risk.” The report states the more likely range of sea level rise is 1 to 4 feet by 2100 (30 to 122 cm). The report attributes the broad range of values to the uncertainty of the science. Others may attribute the broad range of values to an effort to alarm the general population and give justification to bureaucrats to impose punitive taxes and regulations.

This report may be the most misleading document published by the executive branch of government in a time of peace. For a broad range of comments see links under Challenging the Orthodoxy, Defending the Orthodoxy – The NCA, and Questioning The NCA.

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For Only $7.5 Billion: According to the cover letter, the National Climate Assessment (NCA) is the result of a three-year analytical effort by a team of over 300 experts, overseen by a broadly constituted Federal Advisory Committee of 60 members. Other reports stated that the NCA was 4 or 5 years in the making. Three years is sufficient to establish an estimate of how much the NCA costs. The NCA is the justification for the US Global Change Research Program (USGCRP) and it is the program’s principal product. According to reports from the White House, the USGCRP spent about $7.469 Billion in fiscal years 2011, 2012, and 2013 (fiscal years end on September 30). Yet, the USGCRP cannot estimate sea level rise 86 years hence within one foot! See links under Questioning The NCA http://www.whitehouse.gov/sites/default/files/microsites/ostp/FY12-climate-fs.pdf and http://www.whitehouse.gov/sites/default/files/omb/assets/legislative_reports/fcce-report-to-congress.pdf

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Realistic Sea Level Rise: Willem P. de Lange and Robert Carter have produced a report of sea level rise that is more realistic and, no doubt, less expensive than the NCA. They suggest a policy for addressing sea level rise that is far less expensive than government policies that may come from the fears promoted in NCA.

A group of scientists using the name Randolph Glacier Inventory have compiled an inventory of all the earth’s glaciers. Several studies calculate that if all the glaciers melt, sea levels will rise by about 35 to 47 cm (13.8 to 18.5 inches). This is far less than the 30 to 122 cm (12 to 48 inches) estimate in the NCA. (Note, the rise does not include possible expansion of the oceans due to warming or possible melting of the extremely cold Greenland and Antarctic ice sheets. See links under Questioning the Orthodoxy and Changing Cryosphere – Land / Sea Ice

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Prolepsis: How we know they know we know they are trying to deceive us? Prolepsis is an argumentative (debate) technique whereby the advocate of a particular position begins by admitting certain weaknesses in order to deflect more severe criticism and/or gain sympathy from the audience. It can work very well, but it alerts others that the advocate is aware of some of the weaknesses in the position. Although not a quote from one of the authors of the NCA, an article discussing NCA in the Wall Street Journal gave an excellent example.

To predict local impacts of climate change, the researchers combined and averaged several different kinds of physical and statistical computer models for the report. Every computer climate simulation has its shortcomings, experts say, but taken together they can provide a plausible range of possibilities. [Boldface added.]

As John Christy illustrated in his testimony, the climate models have a warming bias, ranging from moderate to severe. Any statistic derived from a collection of biased models is also biased. In Christy’s graph, the mean of the models clearly shows this bias. Further, any range of values from the biased models is also biased. The use of these procedures create major defects in the NCA. In WUWT, Robert Brown discusses the problem of using biased models in some length. See Article # 1, Challenging the Orthodoxy, and Model Issues.

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Northwest US: On his web site, Cliff Mass discusses some of the shortcomings in the NCA in its regional analysis of the Northwest US. Mass is not a global warming skeptic, but he endeavors to be objective. See link under Seeking a Common Ground.

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Motivation: Some may ask what motivates the Administration to issue a biased report. It is impossible to determine. However, a quote provided by Howard (Cork) Hayden, may provide some insight.

Paul Ehrlich and John Holdren wrote: “Individual rights must be balanced against the power of the government to control human reproduction. Some people have viewed the right to have children as a fundamental and inalienable right. Yet neither the Declaration of Independence nor the Constitution mentions a right to reproduce.” Ecoscience (1977). 2 Population, Resources, Environment (1970).

The statement totally misrepresents the Constitution as advocated by the Founding Fathers, for example, James Madison. To them, the powers of the central government are few, defined, and limited. The rights of the individuals are broad and not delimited.

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Litigation Issues: The Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit (one step down from the Supreme Court) upheld the EPAs newest limits on airborne particles (soot). “Under the arbitrary and capricious standard, we exercise great deference when we evaluate claims about competing bodies of scientific research,” the court wrote. “Petitioners simply have not identified any way in which EPA jumped the rails of reasonableness in examining the science.”

The EPA made many unsubstantiated claims as to the health benefits of the new rules. Some of these claims are based on a “science” that has not been disclosed to the public and which members of Congress have been requesting for years. This decision illustrates that the Federal court system is highly biased towards government agencies and will not protect the public from zealous bureaucrats who claim onerous regulations are based on science.

We can fully expect the EPA to use the new NCA as the basis for insisting regulations of carbon dioxide (CO2) are necessary to protect the public. Already, the EPA and the Department of Energy are falsely asserting that carbon capture and sequestration (CCS) are commercially viable. On May 6, Sweden’s Vattenfall, a large state-owned power company with a capacity of 11,300 megawatt in 14 plants in Germany, Denmark, and the Netherlands announced it is dropping its bold, and expensive, program of researching and developing CCS. See links under Litigation Issues and Carbon Schemes

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Asthma: On his web site, Number Watch, statistical pioneer John Brignell discusses the callous disregard bureaucrats in England (and the EPA) have for those who actually suffer from childhood asthma. As the air is becoming cleaner, childhood asthma continues to rise. Yet, bureaucrats make false claims regarding the need to make the air ever cleaner. In so doing, they mislead the public and divert resources from understanding and possibly preventing or curing the disease. See link under Communicating Better to the Public – Make things up.

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El Niño: A warming of parts of the tropical Pacific indicates that an El Niño may be building. Although largely ignored by the UN Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), El Niños and the opposite La Niñas apparently have a significant impact on global temperatures, hence global warming. Strong El Niños warm, La Niñas cool. The great temperature spike in 1998 was from a super El Niño. Physicist Donn Rapp has a lucid historical explanation on Climate Etc. Some alarmists are calling for a strong El Niño, as it would restart global warming. Based on the historic data, Joe Bastardi of WeatherBELL Analytics asserts that if it materializes, it will not be strong.

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Saturated Fat: For about 50 years, “experts” have been claiming that a healthy diet should not include saturated fats. The claim has become part of the diet program recommended by US health authorities. Recent studies failed to find the supposed link between eating animal fat and heart disease or high cholesterol. Writing in the Wall Street Journal, Nina Teicholz exposes the poor quality of the original research. Whether or not saturated fats are an important part of a healthy diet is not the issue here. The issue is how poor research can become generally accepted research for decades. See Article # 4 and Other News that May Be of Interest.

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Number of the Week: $150 per Gallon. According to reports, the Government Accountability Office (GAO) found the US Navy paid up to $150 per gallon for a biofuel jet fuel made from algae. The report stated that currently regular jet fuel costs about $2.88 per gallon. [Exxon would be continuing its algae program, if it could sell for so high a price.] No doubt, the Navy will dismiss this issue because the amount was only 1,500 gallons.

However, near the end of the report, the GAO brought up three market factors that expose major deficiencies in the entire biofuel program (pp 35 & 36).

Favorable Economics for Competing End Products:

“…currently, end-use products or co-products (such as diesel fuel, naphtha, cosmetics, and plastics) from the same production processes used to produce alternative jet fuels are often cheaper and easier to produce and therefore more profitable as compared to alternative jet fuels.”

Dependence on Commodity Markets:

“Because some alternative jet fuels are made from tradable commodities, the cost of jet fuel production depends on prices in commodity markets. As noted earlier, the price of soybean oil—an input to alternative fuels—has historically exceeded the price of conventional jet fuel.”

Cost of Conventional Jet Fuels:

“Increases in the supply of conventional jet fuels would make it harder for alternative fuels to compete based on price alone.”

In its efforts to make America more energy secure, and ignoring the shale revolution, the Navy is making America, and the world, less food secure. See links under Alternative, Green (“Clean”) Energy — Other

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ARTICLES:

For the numbered articles below, please see this week’s TWTW at: www.sepp.org. The articles are at the end of the pdf.

1. Climate Change Is Harming Economy, Report Says

White House Says Urgent Action Needed; Report Details Effects in Every State

By Alicia Mundy and Colleen McCain Nelson, WSJ, May 6, 2014

http://online.wsj.com/news/articles/SB10001424052702303417104579545510182551226?mod=trending_now_5

2. Obama’s Climate Bomb

He’s flogging disaster scenarios to promote his political agenda.

Editorial, WSJ, May 8, 2014

http://online.wsj.com/news/articles/SB10001424052702304885404579548453104239932?mg=reno64-wsj

3. Sacrificing Africa for Climate Change

Western policies seem more interested in carbon-dioxide levels than in life expectancy.

By Caleb Rossiter, WSJ, May 4, 2014

http://online.wsj.com/news/articles/SB10001424052702303380004579521791400395288?mg=reno64-wsj

[SEPP Comment: “Climate justice” creates an injustice.]

4. The Questionable Link Between Saturated Fat and Heart Disease

Are butter, cheese and steak really bad for you? The dubious science behind the anti-fat crusade

By Nina Teicholz, WSJ, May 6, 2014

http://online.wsj.com/news/articles/SB10001424052702303678404579533760760481486?mod=trending_now_1

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NEWS YOU CAN USE:

Challenging the Orthodoxy

A Factual Look at the Relationship Between Climate and Weather

By John Christy, UAH, Dec 11, 2014

http://docs.house.gov/meetings/SY/SY18/20131211/101589/HHRG-113-SY18-Wstate-ChristyJ-20131211.pdf

My Initial Comments on the National Climate Assessment

By Roy Spencer, His Blog, May 7, 2014

http://www.drroyspencer.com/2014/05/my-initial-comments-on-the-national-climate-assessment/

Lennart Bengtsson: He Knows How Little We Know

By Hans Jörg Müller, Basler Zeitung, Translation by Philipp Mueller, GWPF, May 7, 2014

http://www.thegwpf.org/lennart-bengtsson-he-knows-how-little-we-know/

Lennart Bengtsson speaks out

By Judith Curry, Climate Etc. May 3, 2014

http://judithcurry.com/2014/05/03/lennart-bengtsson-speaks-out/#more-15421

The IPCC And Proprietary Rights – Does The Law Trump Justice?

By Tim Ball, WUWT, May 4, 2014

http://wattsupwiththat.com/2014/05/04/the-ipcc-and-proprietary-rights-does-the-law-trump-justice/

Defending the Orthodoxy – The NCA

Climate Change Impacts in the United States

U.S. National Climate Assessment

U.S. Global Change Research Program

file:///C:/Users/Owner/Downloads/NCA3_Climate_Change_Impacts_in_the_United%20States_HighRes.pdf

Climate Report Nails Risk Communication

By David Ropeik, Scientific American, May 6, 2014

http://blogs.scientificamerican.com/guest-blog/2014/05/06/climate-report-nails-risk-communication/?utm_source=Weekly+Carbon+Briefing&utm_campaign=5246f54630-Carbon_Brief_Weekly_18_7_137_18_2013&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_3ff5ea836a-5246f54630-215218249

[SEPP Comment: Confuses risk calculation, probability, with is it possible…?]

Climate Disruptions, Close to Home

Editorial, NYT, May 7, 2014

http://www.nytimes.com/2014/05/08/opinion/climate-disruptions-close-to-home.html?emc=edit_th_20140508&nl=todaysheadlines&nlid=59831859

“Alaska will keep melting” Forests dying from heat!! Control drilling! Etc.

American Doomsday: White House Warns of Climate Catastrophes

By Matthew Deluca, NBC News, May 6, 2014

http://www.nbcnews.com/science/environment/american-doomsday-white-house-warns-climate-catastrophes-n98011

National Climate Assessment: 15 arresting images of climate change now and in the pipeline

By Jason Samenow, Washington Post, May 6, 2014

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/capital-weather-gang/wp/2014/05/06/national-climate-assessment-15-arresting-images-of-climate-change-now-and-in-the-pipeline/?utm_source=Weekly+Carbon+Briefing&utm_campaign=5246f54630-Carbon_Brief_Weekly_18_7_137_18_2013&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_3ff5ea836a-5246f54630-215218249

Climate Change in the U.S. in 8 Compelling Charts

To understand the changes that are already occurring and what’s projected for the future, here are eight of the report’s most compelling graphics that each tell a chapter of the global warming story.

By Brian Kahn, Climate Central, May 6, 2014 [H/t Clyde Spencer]

http://local.msn.com/climate-change-in-the-us-in-8-compelling-charts

Does National Climate Assessment lack necessary nuance?

By Jason Samenow, Washington Post, May 6, 2014 [H/t Climate Etc.]

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/capital-weather-gang/wp/2014/05/06/does-national-climate-assessment-lack-necessary-nuance/

[SEPP Comment: Absolutely!]

How to build a climate resilient United States

By Mat Hope, Carbon Brief, May 7, 2014

http://www.carbonbrief.org/blog/2014/05/building-a-climate-resilient-united-states/?utm_source=Weekly+Carbon+Briefing&utm_campaign=5246f54630-Carbon_Brief_Weekly_18_7_137_18_2013&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_3ff5ea836a-5246f54630-215218249

Recent UNH UCS Press Release raised similar claims to NCA – see our rebuttal

By Staff Writers, ICECAP, May 9, 2014

http://icecap.us/index.php/go/political-climate/recent_unh_ucs_press_release_raised_similar_claims_to_nca_see_our_rebuttal1/

Website Makes ‘Our Changing Climate’ Easier to Understand

By Keith Wagstaff, NBC News, May 6, 2014 [H/t Clyde Spencer]

http://www.nbcnews.com/tech/internet/website-makes-our-changing-climate-easier-understand-n98161

Questioning The NCA

Joe Bastardi on NCA and John Coleman on ‘600 page litany of doom’

By Joe Bastardi and John Coleman, ICECAP, May 8, 2014

http://icecap.us/index.php/go/new-and-cool/joe_bastardi_on_nca_and_john_coleman_on_600_page_litany_of_doom1/

National Climate Assessment claims sea level rise up to 11X faster than past 2 centuries (which show no acceleration)

By Staff, The Hockey Schtick, May 6, 2014 [H/t Randy Randol]

http://hockeyschtick.blogspot.com/2014/05/national-climate-assessment-claims-sea.html

The National Climate Assessment: Re-Assessment

By Anthony Cox, The Australian Climate Sceptics, May 7, 2014

http://theclimatescepticsparty.blogspot.com.au/2014/05/the-national-climate-assessment.html

Commentary on the salesmanship of uncertain science in the National Climate Assessment report

By Anthony Watts, WUWT, May 7, 2014

http://wattsupwiththat.com/2014/05/07/commentary-on-the-salesmanship-of-uncertain-science-in-the-national-climate-assessment-report/

Examiner Editorial: Obama White House peddling climate fear instead of facts

Editorial, Washington Examiner, May 6, 2014

http://washingtonexaminer.com/examiner-editorial-obama-white-house-peddling-climate-fear-instead-of-facts/article/2548140

The Climate Change Debate Is Over, And Environmentalists Lost

By David Harsanyi, The Federalist, May 7, 2014

http://thefederalist.com/2014/05/07/the-climate-change-debate-is-over-and-environmentalists-lost/

[SEPP Comment: The debate on science issues is never over but the political debate may be ending.]

Fact Checking the White House’s Bogus Climate Assessment

By David Kreutzer, The Foundry, May 6, 2014

http://blog.heritage.org/2014/05/06/fact-checking-white-houses-bogus-climate-assessment/

National Climate Assessment report: Alarmists offer untrue, unrelenting doom and gloom

By Marlo Lewis, Fox News, May 6, 2014

http://www.foxnews.com/opinion/2014/05/06/national-climate-assessment-report-alarmists-offer-untrue-unrelenting-doom-and/

Obama’s climate change diversion

By Frank Beckmann, Detroit News, May 9, 2014 [H/t Cooler Heads]

http://www.detroitnews.com/article/20140509/OPINION01/305090004/0/OPINION01/Obama-s-climate-change-diversion

GOP rejects grim White House climate change report

By Ben Wolfgang, Washington Times, May 6, 2014

http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2014/may/6/fed-report-global-warming-disrupting-americans-liv/

New Climate Report: Obama’s Green Coup?

Editorial, IBD, May 6, 2014

http://news.investors.com/ibd-editorials/050614-699829-new-warming-report-seeks-to-create-panic-not-understanding.htm

What the National Climate Assessment Doesn’t Tell You

By Paul Knappenberger and Patrick Michaels, CATO, May 5, 2014

http://www.cato.org/blog/national-climate-assessment-doesnt-say

More Obama Climate Lies

By Alan Caruba, Warning Signs, May 6, 2014

http://factsnotfantasy.blogspot.com/2014/05/more-obama-climate-lies.html

Obama’s Last Shot – Climate Change – and Why It’s Doomed to Fail

By James Delingpole, Breitbart, May 6, 2014 [H/t WUWT]

http://www.breitbart.com/Breitbart-London/2014/05/06/Obama-s-Last-Shot-Climate-Change-And-Why-It-s-Doomed-To-Fail

The ‘Cure’ for Climate Change Is Far Worse than the Disease

By Nicolas Loris, The Foundry, May 6, 2014

http://blog.heritage.org/2014/05/06/cure-climate-change-far-worse-disease/?utm_source=heritagefoundation&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=morningbell

Questioning the Orthodoxy

New Report Urges Cost-Effective Adaption to Sea-Level Change

By Willem P. de Lange and Robert Carter, GWPF, May 7, 2014

http://www.thegwpf.org/new-report-urges-cost-effective-adaptation-to-sea-level-change/

Link to report: Sea-Level Change: Living with uncertainty

By Willem P. de Lange and Robert Carter, GWPF, No date

http://www.thegwpf.org/content/uploads/2014/05/Sea-level-report.pdf

De Lange and Carter on sea level

By Andrew Montford, Bishop Hill, May 7, 2014

http://bishophill.squarespace.com/blog/2014/5/7/de-lange-and-carter-on-sea-level.html

[SEPP Comment: See links immediately above.]

Sea Level Rises Are an insignificant Problem to Which We Can Easily Adapt, Says New Report

By James Delingpole, Breitbart, May 7, 2014 [H/t GPWF]

http://www.breitbart.com/Breitbart-London/2014/05/07/Sea-Level-Rises-Are-An-Insignificant-Problem-To-Which-We-Can-Easily-Adapt-Says-New-Report

[SEPP Comment: More on de Lange & Carter report.]

Confessions of a ‘Lukewarmist’

An ecologist and early member of Greenpeace will speak at a conference of climate-change skeptics.

By Christopher Snow Hopkins, National Journal, May 8, 2014 [H/t Cooler Heads]

http://www.nationaljournal.com/daily/confessions-of-a-lukewarmist-20140508

Yes, Ben Adler, there are liberal equivalents to climate change denial

By Roy Spencer, His Blog, May 9, 2014

http://www.drroyspencer.com/2014/05/yes-ben-adler-there-are-liberal-equivalents-to-climate-change-denial/

What they have done is basically redefined the term “fact” to be anything that Liberals believe is an established fact.

Problems in the Orthodoxy

Inside the sausage factory

Scientists versus diplomats at the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change

Editorial, The Economist, May 10, 2014 [H/t GWPF]

http://www.economist.com/news/science-and-technology/21601813-scientists-versus-diplomats-intergovernmental-panel-climate?fsrc=rss%7Csct

Seeking a Common Ground

Northwest Climate Change: Did the 2014 National Climate Assessment Get the Story Right?

By Cliff Mass, His Weather Blog, May 8, 2014

http://cliffmass.blogspot.com/2014/05/northwest-climate-change-did-2014.html

Do GCMs Model a Flat Earth?

By Roy Spencer, His Blog, May 8, 2014

http://www.drroyspencer.com/2014/05/do-gcms-model-a-flat-earth/

Now, I really loathe having to defend climate models, because I believe they are not yet useful for making climate predictions. But let’s give credit where credit’s due. The simplest way I’ve found to express climate model shortcomings is this: Today’s climate models can be tuned to reasonably represent the *average* climate system. But they are, so far, largely useless for what we *really* want to know, that is, how will the climate system change over time?

Review of Recent Scientific Articles by NIPCC

For a full list of articles see www.NIPCCreport.org

The Potential for Polychaetes to Cope with Ocean Acidification

Reference: Calosi, P., Rastrick, S.P.S., Lombardi, C., de Guzman, H.J., Davidson, L., Jahnke, M., Giangrande, A., Hardege, J.D., Schulze, A., Spicer, J.I. and Ganbi, M.-C. 2014. Adaptation and acclimatization to ocean acidification in marine ectotherms: an in situ transplant experiment with polychaetes at a shallow CO2 vent system. Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B 368: 10.1098/rstb.2012.0444.

http://www.nipccreport.org/articles/2014/may/6may2014a1.html

Coccolithophorid Responses to Ocean Warming and Acidification

Reference: Sett, S., Bach, L.T., Schulz, K.G., Koch-Klavsen, S., Lebrato, M. and Riebesell, U. 2014. Temperature modulates coccolithophorid sensitivity of growth, photosynthesis and calcification to increasing seawater pCO2. PLOS ONE 9: e88308.

http://www.nipccreport.org/articles/2014/may/6may2014a2.html

The Never-Ending Struggle to Simulate the West African Monsoon

Reference: Kothe, S., Luthi, D. and Ahrens, B. 2014. Analysis of the West African Monsoon system in the regional climate model COSMO-CLM. International Journal of Climatology 34: 481-493.

http://www.nipccreport.org/articles/2014/may/6may2014a3.html

African Tropical Rainforest: Flexing Its Muscles in Times of Stress

Reference: Fisher, J.B., Sikka, M., Sitch, S., Ciais, P., Poulter, B., Galbraith, D., Lee, J.-E., Huntingford, C., Viovy, N., Zeng, N., Ahistrom, A., Lomas, M.R., Levy, P.E., Frankenberg, C., Saatchi, S. and Malhi, Y. 2013. African tropical rainforest net carbon dioxide fluxes in the twentieth century. Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B 368: 10.1098/rstb.2012.0376.

http://www.nipccreport.org/articles/2014/may/7may2014a1.html

Models v. Observations

Ocean Vents And Faulty Climate Models

By John Reid, Quadrant, May 3, 204

https://quadrant.org.au/opinion/doomed-planet/2014/05/ocean-vents-faulty-models/

Subaqueous volcanism: ocean vents and faulty climate models

By Anthony Watts, WUWT, May 4, 2014

http://wattsupwiththat.com/2014/05/04/subaqueous-volcanism-ocean-vents-and-faulty-climate-models/

Model Based Extreme Rainfall Claims Not Supported By Actual Data

By Paul Homewood, WUWT, May 7, 2014

http://wattsupwiththat.com/2014/05/07/model-based-extreme-rainfall-claims-not-supported-by-actual-data/

More from the empty set

By Andrew Montford, Bishop Hill, May 6, 2014

http://bishophill.squarespace.com/blog/2014/5/6/more-from-the-empty-set.html

[SEPP Comment: Satellite observations are significantly below the multi-model mean rendering the assertion an empty set.]

Model Issues

The Global Climate Model clique feedback loop

By Robert Brown, WUWT, May 7, 2014

http://wattsupwiththat.com/2014/05/07/the-global-climate-model-clique-feedback-loop/

Abbott needs to be more pro-science and cut funding to models that don’t work

By Jo Nova, Her Blog, May 5, 2014

http://joannenova.com.au/2014/05/abbott-needs-to-be-more-pro-science-and-cut-funding-to-models-that-dont-work/

Measurement Issues

How not to measure temperature part 95 – New temperature record of 102° in Wichita, but look where they measure it

By Anthony Watts, WUWT, May 5, 2014

http://wattsupwiththat.com/2014/05/05/how-not-to-measure-temperature-part-95-new-temperature-record-of-102-in-wichita-but-look-where-they-measure-it/

Oops. Indian carbon accounting adds lakes, rivers, and changes tally by 42%. Who’s bet billions of dollars on fudgy numbers?

By Jo Nova, Her Blog, May 6, 2014

http://joannenova.com.au/2014/05/oops-indian-carbon-accounting-adds-lakes-rivers-and-changes-tally-by-42-whos-bet-billions-of-dollars-on-fudgy-numbers/#more-35229

Changing Weather

Record Lake Superior Ice Cover Still 31%

By Roy Spencer, His Blog, May 9, 2014

http://www.drroyspencer.com/2014/05/record-lake-superior-ice-cover-still-31/

[SEPP Comment: More ice than during 1970s ice age fear. This is particularly amusing because the NCA uses the melting of ice in the Great Lakes to buttress its arguments of dangerous global warming/climate change (p. 46).]

20 Years of Winter Cooling Defy Global Warming Claims [In US]

By James Taylor, Forbes, Apr 30, 2014

http://www.forbes.com/sites/jamestaylor/2014/04/30/twenty-years-of-winter-cooling-defy-global-warming-claims/

Again Germany Blames ‘Cold Weather’ For Thwarted Efforts To Fight ‘Global Warming’…Fracking Drives Prices Down

By P Gosselin, No Tricks Zone, May 9, 2014

http://notrickszone.com/2014/05/09/again-germany-blames-cold-weather-for-thwarted-efforts-to-fight-global-warming-fracking-drives-prices-down/

Changing Climate

Australian – Asian rainfall linked to solar activity for last 6000 years

By Jo Nova, Her Blog, May 8, 2014

http://joannenova.com.au/2014/05/australian-asian-rainfall-linked-to-solar-activity-for-last-6000-years/#more-35176

Tree rings reveal nightmare droughts in the West

By Staff Writers, Salt Lake City UT (SPX), May 02, 2014

http://www.terradaily.com/reports/Tree_rings_reveal_nightmare_droughts_in_the_West_999.html

Nature CAN cope with climate change: Unusual behaviour of plants and animals suggests we’ve underestimated their ability to adapt, claim studies

By Ellie Zolfagharifard, Mail, UK, May 7, 2014

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-2622454/Nature-CAN-cope-climate-change-Unusual-behaviour-plants-animals-suggests-weve-underestimated-ability-adapt-claim-studies.html#ixzz318nRGNS5

Changing Seas

El Niño Watch issued by NOAA

By Anthony Watts, WUWT, May 8, 2014

http://wattsupwiththat.com/2014/05/08/el-nino-watch-issued-by-noaa/

Ocean data points to strong El Nino: climate scientist

By Colin Packham, Reuters, May 5, 2014 [H/t Clyde Spencer]

http://news.msn.com/science-technology/ocean-data-points-to-strong-el-nino-climate-scientist

El Ninos and La Ninas and Global Warming

By Donald Rapp, Climate Etc., May 7, 2014

http://judithcurry.com/2014/05/07/el-ninos-and-la-ninas-and-global-warming/

Changing Cryosphere – Land / Sea Ice

The first globally complete glacier inventory has been created

By Staff Writers: Dresden, Germany (SPX), May 08, 2014

http://www.spacedaily.com/reports/The_first_globally_complete_glacier_inventory_has_been_created_999.html

Link to paper: The Randolph Glacier Inventory: a globally complete inventory of glaciers

By W. Tad Pfeffer, et al., Journal of Glaciology, No Date

http://www.igsoc.org/journal/60/221/j13J176.pdf

Major Arctic Sea Ice Story Lurking, but Is Anyone Watching?

By Joe Bastardi, Patriot Post, May 1, 2014 [H/t WUWT]

http://patriotpost.us/opinion/25340

Climate change not fully to blame for melting sea ice: study

By Bob Weber, The Canadian Press, May 7, 2014 [H/t GWPF]

http://www.ctvnews.ca/sci-tech/climate-change-not-fully-to-blame-for-melting-sea-ice-study-1.1810977

Agriculture Issues & Fear of Famine

Claim: As CO2 levels rise, some crop nutrients will fall

By Anthony Watts, WUWT, May 7, 2014

http://wattsupwiththat.com/2014/05/07/claim-as-co2-levels-rise-some-crop-nutrients-will-fall/

[SEPP Comment: A less that 10% decline in zinc and iron.]

Un-Science or Non-Science?

Spiegel: Experts Say Antarctic Wilkes Basin “Uncorking” Scenario by PIK Sensationalist Scientists Is Unlikely

By P. Gosselin, No Tricks Zone, May 6, 2014

http://notrickszone.com/2014/05/06/spiegel-experts-say-antarctic-wilkes-basin-uncorking-scenario-by-pik-sensationalist-scientists-is-unlikely/

Link to questionable paper: Loss of cultural world heritage and currently inhabited places to sea-level rise

By Mareion and Levermann, Environmental Research Letters, Mar 4, 2014

http://iopscience.iop.org/1748-9326/9/3/034001/article

[SEPP Comment: Projecting temperatures for the next 2000 years; yet, there is no current trend?]

Claim: Climate change threatens to worsen U.S. ozone pollution

By Anthony Watts, WUWT, May 6, 2014

http://wattsupwiththat.com/2014/05/06/claim-climate-change-threatens-to-worsen-u-s-ozone-pollution/

Research sheds new light on global warming trends

From Press Release, Florida State Univ, May 4, 2014 [H/t WUWT]

http://phys.org/news/2014-05-global-trends.html

Link to paper: Evolution of land surface air temperature trend

By Fei Ji, et al. Nature Climate Change, May 4, 2014

http://www.nature.com/nclimate/journal/vaop/ncurrent/full/nclimate2223.html

[SEPP Comment: Abstract opens with a sentence that demonstrates ignorance of results from ice cores: “The global climate has been experiencing significant warming at an unprecedented pace in the past century”]

Still Counting Gulf Spill’s Dead Birds

By Mark Schrope, NYT, May 5, 2014

http://www.nytimes.com/2014/05/06/science/still-counting-gulf-spills-dead-birds.html?emc=edit_th_20140506&nl=todaysheadlines&nlid=59831859

[SEPP Comment: Raising the official count of less than 3000 found dead with visible oil to a modeled count of 800,000. How have the researchers gone about validating their models? Would it be possible that the birds themselves moved away from the spill before they were harmed? Post hoc probabilities!]

Winter Floods Linked to Global Warming

The probability of extreme winter floods appears to have increased by 25 percent compared with pre-industrial levels

By Simon Redfren, Conversation, UK, Via Scientific American, May 2, 2014

http://www.scientificamerican.com/article/winter-floods-linked-to-global-warming/

They compared the results of 12,842 simulations based on the current global sea surface temperatures, with 25,893 results computed on the assumption that global warming had never occurred …

[SEPP Comment: Let’s hope no electrons were killed in this study.]

Lowering Standards

Official statement by ACS: Release of National Climate Assessment demands action

By Anthony Watts, WUWT, May 7, 2014

http://wattsupwiththat.com/2014/05/07/official-statement-by-acs-release-of-national-climate-assessment-demands-action/

The Arctic in the Anthropocene: Emerging Research Questions (2014)

By Committee on Emerging Research Questions in the Arctic; Polar Research Board; Division on Earth and Life Studies; National Research Council, 2014

http://www.nap.edu/catalog.php?record_id=18726&utm_medium=etmail&utm_source=The%20National%20Academies%20Press&utm_campaign=NAP+mail+new+2014.05.06&utm_content=&utm_term=

[SEPP Comment: Selective ignorance of historic changes in Arctic ice.]

Worst BBC show ever?

By Andrew Montford, Bishop Hill, May 6, 2014

http://bishophill.squarespace.com/blog/2014/5/6/worst-bbc-show-ever.html

[SEPP Comment: A check list for recognizing green commercials passed as news.]

Communicating Better to the Public – Exaggerate, or be Vague?

PBI Facebook posts on Stirling’s polar bear that “died of climate change” have disappeared

By Susan Crockford, Polar Bear Science, Apr 30 2014

http://polarbearscience.com/2014/04/30/pbi-facebook-posts-on-stirlings-polar-bear-that-died-of-climate-change-have-disappeared/

[SEPP Comment: When a “scientist” exaggerates “to be effective” and is called on it, what should he do? Try to make the exaggerations disappear and blame others.]

Divergence problem solved (allegedly)

By Andrew Montford, Bishop Hill, May 8, 2014

http://bishophill.squarespace.com/blog/2014/5/8/divergence-problem-solved-allegedly.html

[SEPP Comment: The divergence problem was that the more recent tree ring data showed a cooling, contrary to the theme of global warming.]

Communicating Better to the Public – Make things up.

A dirge for the dead children

By John Brignell, Number Watch, May 5, 2014

http://www.numberwatch.co.uk/2014_may.htm#dirge

See: Hundreds of asthma deaths could be prevented

Two thirds of deaths from the respiratory condition in the UK — including almost all those involving children — might be avoided

By Laura Donnelly, Telegraph, UK, May 5, 2014

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/health/healthnews/10809469/Hundreds-of-asthma-deaths-could-be-prevented.html

Podesta’s Stabenow Moment

By Joe D’Aleo, ICECAP, May 5, 2014

http://www.climatechangedispatch.com/podesta-s-stabenow-moment.html

Houston, We Have No Idea What We’re Talking About

By John Hinderaker, Power Line, May 5, 2014

http://www.powerlineblog.com/archives/2014/05/houston-we-have-no-idea-what-were-talking-about.php

[SEPP Comment: Does the president actually believe that a 86% decline in snow pack from one winter to the next is due to global warming? Does Mr. Obama ever look out the window in the winter?]

Global Warming Epic ‘Years of Living Dangerously’ tanks in TV ratings – series ended on Sundays [to continue on Monday’s]

By Anthony Watts, WUWT, May 8, 2014

http://wattsupwiththat.com/2014/05/08/global-warming-epic-years-of-living-dangerously-tanks-in-tv-ratings-series-ended/

Increasing CO2 threatens human nutrition (From the Annals of Hype)

By Jo Nova, Her Blog, May 8, 2014

http://joannenova.com.au/2014/05/increasing-co2-threatens-human-nutrition-from-the-annuls-of-hype/#more-35269

[SEPP Comment: See link immediately below.]

How Global Warming May Starve Us: More Carbon, Less Nutrition

By Maggie Fox, NBC News, No Date [H/t Clyde Spencer]

http://www.nbcnews.com/health/health-news/how-global-warming-may-starve-us-more-carbon-less-nutrition-n99481

[SEPP Comment: A new twist on the decades old claims that adding fertilizers to crops will cause them to be less nutritious. Unable to link to paper.]

Communicating Better to the Public – Go Personal.

Geosciences’ green strategy

By Andrew Montford, Bishop Hill, May 5, 2014

http://bishophill.squarespace.com/blog/2014/5/5/geosciences-green-strategy.html

Communicating Better to the Public – Use Propaganda on Children

Compulsory indoctrination in schools

By Andrew Montford, Bishop Hill, May 9, 2014

http://bishophill.squarespace.com/blog/2014/5/9/compulsory-indoctrination-in-schools.html

Expanding the Orthodoxy

Accelerating the Clean-Energy Revolution

By Yoon Sang-Jick and Ernest Moniz (Secretary of DOE), Project Syndicate, May 7, 2014

http://www.project-syndicate.org/commentary/yoon-sang-jick-and-ernest-j–moniz-review-the-achievements-of-the-clean-energy-ministerial-ahead-of-the-cem-s-fifth-gathering

[SEPP Comment: Promoting the Clean Energy Ministerial, a forum for energy ministers of 23 national governments.]

Climate-KIC’s Big Idea: Spring 2014 Final

Richard Templer, Director, May 7, 2014 [H/t Sonja A Boehmer-Christiansen]

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/climate-kics-big-idea-spring-2014-final-registration-11234587955?utm_medium=email&utm_source=Grantham+Institute&utm_campaign=4081028_Grantham+Weekly+Update+-+6+May+2014&dm_i=1I0M,2FGXW,B1QQOK,8U1FX,1

[SEPP Comment: Promoting climate change for profit.]

Confronting climate change

By Drew Faust, President, Harvard University, Apr 7, 2014 [H/t Dean Coddington, MBA, Harvard, 1959]

http://www.harvard.edu/president/news/2014/confronting-climate-change?utm_source=news&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=all_alumni_email&utm_content=aad_comm_all_alumni_2014-04-07

[SEPP Comment: Soliciting $20 Million for Harvard to confront climate change after the US government has spent over $165 Billion, and has yet to empirically establish the causes of climate change or human responsibility for global warming.]

Democrats make push to enhance military energy security

By Zack Colman, Washington Examiner, May 7, 2014

http://washingtonexaminer.com/democrats-make-push-to-enhance-military-energy-security/article/2548186

Such efforts [to limit biofuels] serve as a shot at the biofuels industry, though some military officials say relying on homegrown biofuels has reduced costs by limiting exposure to oil price shocks.

[SEPP Comment: How about food price shocks.]

Questioning Green Elsewhere

Alarmists Overpopulation Strategy? Death by Dung?

By Geoff Brown, The Climate Skeptics Party, May 8, 2014

http://theclimatescepticsparty.blogspot.com.au/2014/05/alarmists-overpopulation-strategy-death.html

Funding Issues

Profits(?) of doom

By Judith Curry, Climate Etc. May 5, 2014

http://judithcurry.com/2014/05/05/profits-of-doom/

[SEPP Comment: Corporations will not get serious about global warming/climate change until they see serious profits in it. Right now only the renewables, wind power, etc. have seen serious money, and it was all from subsidies.]

The Political Games Continue

Issa: EPA ‘truly a broken agency’

By Timothy Cama, The Hill, May 7, 2014

http://thehill.com/policy/energy-environment/205443-issa-epa-truly-a-broken-agency

John Podesta issues warning to GOP on climate regulations

By Brian Hughes, Washington Examiner, May 5, 2014 [H/t Timothy Wise]

http://washingtonexaminer.com/john-podesta-issues-warning-to-gop-on-climate-regulations/article/2548084

Podesta: Congress Can’t Stop Obama On Global Warming

By Michael Bastasch, Daily Caller, May 5, 2014

http://dailycaller.com/2014/05/05/podesta-congress-cant-stop-obama-on-global-warming/

Litigation Issues

CEI Files Lawsuit against Office of Science and Technology Policy

By Hans Bader, CEI, May 5, 2014

http://www.openmarket.org/2014/05/05/cei-files-lawsuit-against-office-of-science-and-technology-policy/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+Openmarketorg+%28OpenMarket.org%29

Examiner Editorial: Obama’s chief science adviser must explain secret emails

Editorial, Washington Examiner, May 5, 2014

http://washingtonexaminer.com/examiner-editorial-obamas-chief-science-adviser-must-explain-secret-emails/article/2548098

Court upholds EPA’s 2013 renewable fuel mandate

By Timothy Cama, The Hill, May 6, 2014

http://thehill.com/policy/energy-environment/205363-court-upholds-epas-2013-renewable-fuel-mandate

EPA triumphs in court battle over air pollution

By Timothy Cama, The Hill, May 9, 2014

http://thehill.com/policy/energy-environment/205703-court-upholds-epas-soot-standard

Science, Free Speech, and the Courts

By Alan Caruba, Warning Signs, May 3, 2014

http://factsnotfantasy.blogspot.com/2014/05/science-free-speech-and-courts.html

Subsidies and Mandates Forever

DOE gives offshore wind projects up to $141 million

By Timothy Cama, The Hill, May 7, 2014

http://thehill.com/policy/energy-environment/205493-doe-gives-offshore-wind-projects-up-to-141-million

Warren Buffett: ‘Wind Farms Are Useless, I Only Invest For Tax Credit’

Editorial, WSJ, Via GWPF, May 5, 2014

http://www.thegwpf.org/warren-buffett-wind-farms-are-useless-i-only-invest-for-tax-credit/

EPA and other Regulators on the March

EPA’s Scandals Go Far Beyond Porn

By Myron Ebell, Global Warming.org, May 9, 2014

http://www.globalwarming.org/2014/05/09/epas-scandals-go-far-beyond-porn/

Working Hard or Hardly Working at the EPA

EPA inspector general describes numerous ethical failures at agency

By CJ Ciaramella, Washington Free Beacon, May 7, 2014 [H/t Timothy Wise]

http://freebeacon.com/issues/working-hard-or-hardly-working-at-the-epa/

EPA’s “North Star” (aka: Science) Gets Another Poor Grade from National Academies

By the U.S. Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works, National Journal, May 2, 2014

http://www.nationaljournal.com/library/147896

Energy Issues – Non-US

The outlook for energy

By Martin Livermore, Scientific Alliance, May 9, 2014

http://scientific-alliance.org/scientific-alliance-newsletter/outlook-energy

Link to reports: Energy Outlook

By Staff Writers, ExxonMobil, 2014

http://corporate.exxonmobil.com/en/energy/energy-outlook

BP Energy Outlook 2035

By Staff Writers, BP, Jan 2014

http://www.bp.com/content/dam/bp/pdf/Energy-economics/Energy-Outlook/Energy_Outlook_2035_booklet.pdf

[SEPP Comment: In the past, ExxonMobil and BP have provided estimates (assuming no technological breakthroughs) as solid as any organizations.]

The Economic Impact on UK Energy Policy of Shale Gas and Oil – House Of Lords Report

By Economic Affairs Committee, House of Lords, Via GWPF, May 8, 2014

http://www.thegwpf.org/the-economic-impact-on-uk-energy-policy-of-shale-gas-and-oil-house-of-lords-report/

Full report: Economic Affairs Committee – Third Report: The Economic Impact on UK Energy Policy of Shale Gas and Oil

By Economic Affairs Committee, House of Lords, Apr 8, 2014

http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/ld201314/ldselect/ldeconaf/172/17202.htm

Europe softens stance on Canada’s oil sands as relations with Russia sour

By Yadullah Hussain, Financial Post, May 8, 2014 [H/t GWPF]

http://business.financialpost.com/2014/05/06/europe-softens-stance-on-canadas-oil-sands-as-relations-with-russia-sour/?__lsa=43fc-cfa0

Putin’s Anti-Fracking Campaign

He knows that European greens can help further his dreams of conquest.

By Robert Zubrin, National Review Online, May 5, 2014 [H/t GWPF]

http://www.nationalreview.com/article/377201/putins-anti-fracking-campaign-robert-zubrin

[SEPP Comment: Many in Washington consider Zubrin an astute observer.]

Energy Issues — US

Carrington-class CME Narrowly Misses Earth

By Dr Tony Phillips for NASA Science News

Huntsville AL (SPX) May 06, 2014

http://www.spacedaily.com/reports/Carrington_class_CME_Narrowly_Misses_Earth_999.html

EMP Attack On Power Grid Could Kill 9-In-10

Editorial, IBD, May 9, 2014

http://news.investors.com/ibd-editorials/050914-700375-electric-grid-vulnerable-to-emp-attack.htm?p=full

Link to 2008 report: Report of the Commission to Assess the Threat to the United States from Electromagnetic Pulse (EMP) Attack

By William Graham, et al. Apr 2008,

http://empcommission.org/docs/A2473-EMP_Commission-7MB.pdf

[SEPP Comment: The headline is extreme, but there is no reason not to protect the grid from an EMP. Based on history, a solar event is more likely than dangerous global warming.]

The Grid Is Not the Internet

By Donn Dears, Power for USA, May 6, 2014

http://dddusmma.wordpress.com/2014/05/06/the-grid-is-not-the-internet/

It’s Fitting for the U.S. to Use More Energy

By Donn Dears, Power for USA, May 9, 2014

http://dddusmma.wordpress.com/2014/05/09/its-fitting-for-the-u-s-to-use-more-energy/

The contradiction of Obama’s climate policy

By Dana Milbank, Washington Post, May 6, 2014 [H/t Conrad Potemra]

http://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/dana-milbank-the-contradiction-of-obamas-climate-policy/2014/05/06/b607e154-d560-11e3-8a78-8fe50322a72c_story.html?hpid=z5

Washington’s Control of Energy

‘Green’ Power Line On Track As Obama Blocks Keystone

By Stephen Moore, IBD, May 5, 2014 [H/t Timothy Wise]

http://news.investors.com/politics-brain-trust/050514-699653-sunzia-power-line-planned-through-military-missile-base.htm

Obama doubles down on solar, energy efficiency in climate push

By Laura Barron-Lopez, The Hill, May 9, 2014

http://thehill.com/policy/energy-environment/205669-obama-double-downs-on-solar-energy-efficiency

Obama pushed to take sides on gas sales

By Alexander Bolton and Laura Barron-Lopez, The Hill, May 9, 2014

http://thehill.com/policy/energy-environment/205710-dems-ask-obama-to-take-sides-on-gas-exports-as-energy-bill-teeters

The British may be coming: As U.S. shuns Canadian energy, UK seeks stronger ties

By Claudia Cattaneo, Financial Post, May 9, 2014 [H/t GWPF]

http://business.financialpost.com/2014/05/09/the-british-may-be-coming-as-u-s-shuns-canadian-energy-uk-seeks-stronger-ties/?__lsa=8824-cbaf

Oil and Natural Gas – the Future or the Past?

Oil’s Bright Future

By Robert Bryce, Bloomberg, May 7, 2014

http://www.bloombergview.com/articles/2014-05-07/oil-s-bright-future

Environmental Impacts of Shale Gas Extraction in Canada

By Staff Writers, Ottawa, Canada (SPX), May 05, 2014

http://www.energy-daily.com/reports/Environmental_Impacts_of_Shale_Gas_Extraction_in_Canada_999.html

Link to report: Environmental Impacts of Shale Gas Extraction in Canada

By John Cherry, et al., Council of Canadian Academies, May 2014

http://www.scienceadvice.ca/en/assessments/completed/shale-gas.aspx

Nuclear Energy and Fears

Environmentalists Warm Up to Nuclear Energy

By Walter Russell Mead & Staff, American Interest, May 4, 2014 [H/t GWPF]

http://www.the-american-interest.com/blog/2014/05/04/environmentalists-warm-up-to-nuclear-energy/

Link to report: Climate Solutions: The Role of Nuclear Power

By Doug Vine, C2ES, Apr 28, 2014

http://www.c2es.org/publications/climate-solutions-role-nuclear-power

[SEPP Comment: Two questions: how strongly will the environmental groups embrace the apparent change in attitude, and can the damage they have already done be corrected?]

The Incremental, Pragmatic, and Prudent Shift in Green Attitudes

By Michael Shellenberger & Ted Nordhaus, Breakthrough Institute, May 6, 2014 [H/t GWPF]

http://thebreakthrough.org/index.php/voices/michael-shellenberger-and-ted-nordhaus/moderate-environmentalists-go-nuclear

[SEPP Comment: Statements from former EPA head Carol Browner are questionable.]

Fewer US nuclear plants could curb climate change fight

By Staff Writers, Washington (AFP), May 07, 2014

http://www.nuclearpowerdaily.com/reports/Fewer_US_nuclear_plants_could_curb_climate_change_fight_999.html

Michael Jacobs, senior energy analyst at the Union of Concerned Scientists, said “the renewable energy sector could compensate the loss of energy provided by nuclear plants (but) only if they get the support in tax credit.”

[SEPP Comment: Unreliable wind and solar can replace dependable nuclear?]

Alternative, Green (“Clean”) Solar and Wind

Bird Vaporization at Ivanpah: Solar Enters Wind Territory

By Wayne Lusvardi, Master Resource, May 7, 2014

http://www.masterresource.org/2014/05/like-moths-to-a-flame-birds-vaporized-by-ivanpah-solar-mirrors/

Alternative, Green (“Clean”) Energy — Other

Report: Pentagon Paid $150 Per Gallon for Green Jet Fuel

GAO report notes exorbitant prices act as de facto subsidy for biofuel firms

By Lachlan Markay, Washington Free Beacon, May 7, 2014 [H/t Timothy Wise]

http://freebeacon.com/national-security/report-pentagon-paid-150-per-gallon-for-green-jet-fuel/

Link to report: Alternative Jet Fuels: Federal Activates Support Development and Usage, but Long-term Commercial Viability Hinges on Market Factors.

By Staff Writers: GAO, May 2014

http://www.gao.gov/assets/670/663027.pdf

Biofuels: Land and Water Concerns

By Staff Writers, CO2 Science and SPPI, May 5, 2014

http://scienceandpublicpolicy.org/originals/biofuels_land_and_water_concerns.html

Link to report: Biofuels: Land and Water Concerns

By Center for the Study of Carbon Dioxide and Global Change, May 7, 2014

http://scienceandpublicpolicy.org/images/stories/papers/originals/biofuel_concerns.pdf

Carbon Schemes

Sweden’s Vattenfall abandons research on CO2 storage

By Staff Writers, Physics.org, May 6, 2014

http://phys.org/news/2014-05-sweden-vattenfall-abandons-co2-storage.html

China effort to store CO2 costly, but attempt must be made

Capturing and storing industrial carbon dioxide emissions is seen as a hopeful strategy for slowing down the pace of climate change. But development of the expensive technology is lagging.

By Hal Bernton, Seattle Times, May 3, 2014 [H/t Bill Hirt]

http://seattletimes.com/html/nationworld/2023524392_chinaenergysidexml.html

[SEPP Comment: A three part series.]

Environmental Industry

France definitively bans GM corn

By Staff Writers, Paris (AFP), May 05, 2014

http://www.seeddaily.com/reports/France_definitively_bans_GM_corn_999.html

Fracking Splits Britain’s Green Lobby

By Ben Webster, The Times, Via GWPF, May 6, 2014

http://www.thegwpf.org/fracking-splits-britains-green-lobby/

Other News that May Be of Interest

Metabolic explanation for the lack of heart effects from dietary fat

By Staff Writers, ACSH, May 5, 2014

http://acsh.org/2014/05/metabolic-explanation-lack-heart-effects-dietary-fat/

Technology is often the mother of science, not vice versa

Britain is good at science, but poor at turning technology into industry

By Matt Ridley, Rational Optimist, May 4, 2014

http://www.rationaloptimist.com/blog/technology-is-often-the-mother-of-science,-not-vice-versa.aspx

A Skyscraper-Sized Solar-Wind Tower Could Become North America’s Tallest Structure

Can a 2,250-foot-high wind tunnel generate electricity more cheaply than coal?

By Todd Woody, The Atlantic, May 1, 2014 [Toshio Fujita]

http://www.theatlantic.com/technology/archive/2014/05/can-a-2250-foot-high-solar-wind-tower-generate-electricity-cheaper-than-coal/361524/

Elon Musk halts deal between USAF and Russian rocket-makers

By Staff Writers, Moscow (Voice of Russia), May 02, 2014

http://www.space-travel.com/reports/Elon_Musk_halts_deal_between_USAF_and_Russian_rocket_makers_999.html

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BELOW THE BOTTOM LINE:

Cow farts: The Next Alternative Fuel

By Seven Hayward, Power Line, May 5, 2014

http://www.powerlineblog.com/archives/2014/05/cow-farts-the-next-alternative-fuel.php

Monday Mirthiness – The Science News Cycle

Posted by Anthony Watts, WUWT, May 5, 2014

http://wattsupwiththat.com/2014/05/05/monday-mirthiness-the-science-news-cycle/

###################################################

9th International Conference on Climate Change

July 7 – 9 — Las Vegas, Nevada

Includes the Findings of the New Report by the Nongovernmental International Panel on Climate Change (NIPCC) Climate Change Reconsidered II, Volumes 1, 2, and 3

http://climateconference.heartland.org/

###################################################

SEPP’S APRIL FOOLS AWARD

THE JACKSON

SEPP is conducting its annual vote for the recipient of the coveted trophy, a piece of coal, The Jackson. Readers are asked to nominate and vote for who they think is most deserving following these criteria:

· The nominee has advanced, or proposes to advance, significant expansion of governmental power, regulation, or control over the public or significant sections of the general economy.

· The nominee does so by declaring such measures are necessary to protect public health, welfare, or the environment.

· The nominee declares that physical science supports such measures.

· The physical science supporting the measures is flimsy at best, and possibly non-existent.

The first two recipients, Lisa Jackson and Barack Obama, are not candidates. Due to the late announcement, the voting will close on May 16. Please send your nominee and a brief reason why the person is qualified for the honor to Ken@Haapala.com. Thank you.

At the suggestion of Sonja A. Boehmer-Christiansen, Editor of Energy & Environment, nominees can include leaders of big banks and other financial institutions who are advocating global warming/climate change and profiting from the fear created by financing renewables, which are increasing the cost of electricity to the general public.

The nominees are: Senate leader Harry Reid, Jeremy Grantham (for establishing charities that promote global warming/climate change, Ottmar Edenhofer (Co-chair of the IPCC Working Group III), Secretary of State John Kerry, EPA administrator Gina McCarthy and Tom Steyer (for promising vast campaign contrabutions to Democrats who oppose the Keystone pipeline, after his company made vast profits in promoting coal use in Asia and Australia. Additional nominees are: Al Gore, James Hansen, Senator Barbara Boxer, Vermont Governor Peter Shumlin (for closing nuclear power), Stephan Lewandowski (shoddy work), and The German Government. Further nominees are John Holdren, German Chancellor Angela Merkel, Harvard President Drew Faust (see link Expanding the Orthodoxy), US Representative Mike Honda (CA) (illogical defense of climate mitigation), former NYC mayor Michael Bloomberg (too many to list), and US Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (an embarrassment to the state of Rhode Island)

We have quite a list of highly qualified candidates. Please vote!

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Lil Fella from OZ
May 11, 2014 7:29 pm

The next step is to stop any opposition that comes up against the proponents of AGW. It goes by the name of censorship. ‘Outlaw any opposition to our great plans!!’ Right!

Susie
May 11, 2014 7:37 pm

The article attempting to disprove the link between between saturated fats and heart disease is junk science and falsely claims that all the evidence for the saturated fat/heart disease link is based on one study. It is written by someone trying to promote her book.

pat
May 11, 2014 7:57 pm

11 May: Forbes: Tim Worstall: The Oil Industry Is Not Risking $1.1 Trillion Of Investor’s Cash
Or at least the oil industry is not risking $1.1 trillion of investor’s investor’s cash any more than any other capitalistic enterprise is clearly and obviously taking a risk with investments. The argument is being made by the Carbon Tracker Initiative, that climate change restrictions mean that there’s only a certain amount of oil that can be pumped up and used. Given that oil companies are planning to extract more than this amount then the oil companies must be wasting the investments they’re going to user to do this.
There are, as you might imagine, a number of problems with this argument. Among them being that they’ve not got the climate science right here, they’ve not got the economics of climate change right and they’ve not even managed to work out why the oil companies are willing to risk this capital.
Here’s the argument in a nutshell: READ ON…
http://www.forbes.com/sites/timworstall/2014/05/11/the-oil-industry-is-not-risking-1-1-trillion-of-investors-cash/
12 May: Reuters: Bruno Vander Velde: Funds plentiful, but will is weak to fuel low-carbon economy: experts
Source: CIFOR (Center for International Forestry Research)
Referring to the resources needed to finance this shift, Mark Burrows of Credit Suisse said, “this capital already exists at an enormous scale. An estimated US$225 trillion of private capital is currently allocated through the world’s financial markets.” The mood among the big investors is changing, he added. But “we need political investment to unlock financial investment.”…
http://www.trust.org/item/20140512024619-8wu2d/

Ed Mertin
May 11, 2014 10:26 pm

Robert Zubrin’s article about Putin has some serious flaws.
“America could help supply gas, but its exports are being bottled up by the Obama administration, which refuses to approve the necessary permits for constructing liquid-natural-gas export terminals.”
While it has been slow, actually, right now they are working to cut red tape and speed up the approval process. DOE has approved seven.
Obama’s Smart Energy Pitch
http://m.barrons.com/article_email/SB50001424053111904732704579548053375452232-lMyQjA1MTA0MDEwMjExNDIyWj
http://energy.gov/fe/downloads/summary-lng-export-applications
While he has probably worked to discourage fracking, Putin is not going to dare risk going into any NATO countries such as Poland. That would be way too costly, his military would largely get blown away. The idea that he wants to grab Europe is also nuts imo. Crimea is more than enough of a rebuilding problem for his country. His economy is only the size of about Italy and shrinking.

Nikola Milovic
May 12, 2014 3:51 am

When this view, I have to give a general assessment that characterizes such comprehensiveness related to the study of climate change and weather conditions. We have a one proverb that says, “where many grandmothers, children have a hernia.” So here there are too many “grandmother”.
Science, like most individuals, serving all means, even illogical, to prove something to the benefit of their policies and not for the benefit of science and mankind .. This effort to address the millennium puzzle about the true causes of climate change on our planet, will never lead to a real solution. The causes of climate change, by all logic, can not be effect of human activity. For this there is a lot of evidence, other than political.
I saw the budgets for these studies in 2011, 2012, 2013 ,2014 year, and it is a miracle that no one was in so much money found real evidence.
I offer forums such as: USGCRP and NSF, I’ll give you an idea and true causes of climate change for all time, for a lot less money than they spend with no real results. Make a deal and everything will be fine. Will not be known for several months. This is not to irritate anyone, because it is really illogical to so many people and organizations are looking for solutions and so spend money without a solution.
Now a serious question: How would America be willing to pay for a solution to this problem.
Where should I contact to arrange for the solution of the true causes of climate change on all the planets, not only in our. With what I have, can be explained almost all phenomena in the sun. These phenomena are only indicators of climate change, reconnection of magnetic poles of the sun, maybe an earthquake (to be checked).
Waiting for a call to solve this so far the most important issue humanity.

Huergen Michele
May 12, 2014 6:40 am

The German „Energiewende“
… only cabaret can help …
Oliver Welke’s Heute Show on ZDF national TV in Germany with guest roles for Albrecht Humboldt and Tina Hausten give a great show which sadly is all too truthfull

German TV show mocks green policies of grand coalition
The great coalition (GROKO) can …

May 12, 2014 6:42 am

“Paul Ehrlich and John Holdren wrote: “Individual rights must be balanced against the power of the government to control human reproduction. Some people have viewed the right to have children as a fundamental and inalienable right. Yet neither the Declaration of Independence nor the Constitution mentions a right to reproduce.” Ecoscience (1977). 2 Population, Resources, Environment (1970).”
One wonders where these yokels got the idea that government has the power to control reproduction. The Constitution is not, and could not, ever specify the nearly infinite number of human actions that are “guaranteed.” The Constitution by and large specifies, in totality, the things that GOVERNMENT can do, not what the citizens can do.
But it is refreshing to see consistency – both men are as totally out of touch with Consitutional law as they are with respect to scientific reality. In other words, they are dumb all over.

jorgekafkazar
May 12, 2014 3:14 pm

“This report may be the most misleading document published by the executive branch of government in a time of peace.:
This is not a time of peace. There’s a full-scale war going on between Truth and Tyrrany.