The Week That Was: 2014-11-22 (November 22, 2014) Brought to You by SEPP (www.SEPP.org) The Science and Environmental Policy Project
THIS WEEK:
By Ken Haapala, Executive Vice President, Science and Environmental Policy Project (SEPP)
Science Adviser: Recently, the once obscure position of official science adviser has garnered the attention in the popular press. John Holdren, President Obama’s chief science adviser, has been active in the US National Climate Assessment, which is little more than the alarmist version of the Fifth Assessment Report (AR-5) of the UN Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) Summary for Policymakers, with the global climate models adjusted for the United States. The certainty of the science expressed in the reports is not borne out by observations from nature; the climate models on which the Assessment is based have been shown to greatly overestimate 21st century temperature trends.
In a January 8, 2014 video, Holdren attributed the extreme cold the US was experiencing at the time to global warming causing changes to the circumpolar vortex, thereby bringing Arctic cold to the US. For this video, he was soundly criticized. Large variations (meanders) in the circumpolar vortex, known as atmospheric Rossby waves, were first identified by Carl-Gustaf Arvid Rossby in 1939 – long before the fear of global warming and major human emissions of carbon dioxide (CO2), the purported cause of global warming. The circumpolar vortex has probably existed since the earth rotated on its axis and had an atmosphere.
The November 15 TWTW linked to reports stating that the European Commission’s Chief Scientific Adviser, Anne Glover, was forced out and her position abolished apparently in response to demands by Greenpeace. Glover, a professor of molecular biology, supported genetically modified crops. Apparently, the radical green organizations prefer corn (maize) that has not been genetically modified and requires extensive processing to be consumed by humans.
Given this latest development, it is refreshing to read the first Annual Report of the [UK] Government Chief Scientific Adviser, Professor Sir Mark Walport: Innovation: Managing Risk, Not Avoiding It.
The report recognizes innovation is not a linear process that starts in the laboratory and ends up in the clinic, the environment or the marketplace. Innovation is essential for economic growth, health, wellbeing, security and resilience. It describes how many of the greatest periods of economic growth in the past have been driven by innovation. The need to innovate is a fundamental requirement for social and economic progress. Innovative economies are more competitive, respond better to change, see higher returns on investment and create increased living standards. Innovative businesses are more productive and grow faster than businesses that fail to innovate. And it is not only businesses that must innovate: governments and social organizations need to innovate, to adapt, respond to and shape the evolution of society. Governments have an essential role in shaping the legal frameworks, institutions and policies that in turn shape the risks and incentives faced by others. It is this balance of risks and incentives that determine what choices innovators, entrepreneurs, investors, inventors, bureaucrats and citizens will make.
As importantly, the report recognizes innovation is not an unalloyed good — almost all innovations can cause both benefit and harm. Because of this, discussion of innovation has become almost inseparable from discussion of risk. Paradoxically, this discussion has become more prominent precisely because the innovations of previous generations have made our lives much safer and free of risk. People living in advanced economies have become more risk averse compared to previous generations. A common denominator of innovation in every generation is that it solves problems, creates wealth and new employment, while at the same time potentially disrupting the status quo of existing wealth and employment, and creating. new problems and challenges.
What is needed are systems of regulations that are based on rigorous evidence and well-informed public debate to balance the need for innovation with the possible harms from it. One of the biggest challenges to accomplishing such systems is the need to distinguish between hazard, exposure, risk and vulnerability. These may vary according to region and culture, making it difficult to adopt a single plan for Western Europe – or for the world.
It is interesting to speculate how the environmental organizations will react to this report. Wind and solar, the methods of electricity generation endorsed by the greens, are failing to supply modern civilization with reliable power. Innovation in electricity storage is crucial to replacing fossil fuels (as well as nuclear and hydro) as the preferred source of electricity generation throughout the world. Will the greens condemn this report and oppose necessary innovation? See links under Seeking a Common Ground, Questioning European Green, and, for the Holdren video, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5eDTzV6a9F4&feature=youtu.be
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Quote of the Week: Skepticism is the first step to Truth — Denis Diderot
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Number of the Week: 1.42 times area of USA (all territory)
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Lame-Duck: In the US, congressional elections take place every two years. Sessions of Congress are called a lame-duck if the session occurs after a major election choosing the successor Congress and before the new Congress is convened. From now until January 3, 2015, any sessions of Congress will be lame-duck sessions. Although important work remains to be done by the current Congress, such as budget authorizations, such sessions often include efforts by members who were not re-elected to advance favored interests – such as renewal of the production tax credit, a major subsidy for the US wind industry. There are a number of such efforts underway. See links under Cap-and-Trade and Carbon Taxes and Subsidies and Mandates Forever.
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Keystone XL: A major portion of the Keystone pipeline that is within the US has been built. However, the portion of the extended pipeline bringing oil from the tar sands of south-central Canada to refineries on the Gulf of Mexico has been blocked by officials in Washington for six years. [There is now a local legal issue regarding the approval of the pipeline by officials in Nebraska.]
This week the Senate took up the Keystone issue. It required a major election defeat of the Democratic Party and the possible defeat in a runoff featuring Democratic Senator Mary Landrieu from Louisiana, an oil and natural gas state, before Democratic Senator Harry Reid would permit a vote on the issue. The proposal did not garner sufficient Democratic votes to overcome a Democratic filibuster on the issue, 60 votes required. The sacrifice of Ms. Landrieu is an example of the extent to which the greens have seized control of the Democratic Party. After January 3, the new, Republican-controlled, US Senate may re-visit the issue, but the Democratic Party may no longer have the vote of Ms. Landrieu. See Article # 5 and links under Washington’s Control of Energy.
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Antiquated Economics: Reading statements by President Obama on the Keystone issue are reminiscent of some economic writings of the 18th and 19th century praising Mercantilism and urging that economic activity should be kept within the boundaries of a country or geographic region. Apparently, the President does not recognize that trade can benefit societies in general, or that a major issue in the American Revolution and in its founding documents came from Britain’s attempts to control trade. Will the next step be a return of the British Corn laws, by placing heavy import duties on foodstuffs, thereby protecting landed interests at the expense of the general population? See Article # 4.
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Learning from Failure: The high-tech company, Google, spent a great amount of money on internal research and development (R&D) to develop alternatives to fossil fuels, chiefly to develop renewable energy sources for the generation of electricity at costs lower than coal-fired power plants. After 4 years, following an internal review, it was decided that the effort was not on track to meet its target and the company shut down its initiative.
To their credit, two of the engineers published their experiences and observations including that “our society needs to fund scientists and engineers to propose and test new ideas, fail quickly, and share what they learn. Today, the energy innovation cycle is measured in decades, in large part because so little money is spent on critical types of R&D.” In the view of TWTW, unfortunately, Government-funded projects do not fail until it is too late. All too often the technology is deployed, before it is properly developed.
Additional note: in the view of TWTW, the justification for the research was flawed. Google used an analysis from James Hansen, a global warming alarmist. Recent research indicates that the impact of carbon dioxide on global temperatures is far less than calculated by laboratory experiments. See link under Seeking a Common Ground.
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Heavy Snows: The Great Lakes region of the northern mid-west suffered from heavy snows over the past week. As with John Holdren last year, immediately, articles appeared claiming that global warming is driving crazy winters. Roy Spencer quickly dispensed with this notion. Spencer points out that the Great Lakes are unusually cold this year, and that the storms were driven by a very cold air blast from Siberia. Where is the warming? See links under Challenging the Orthodoxy.
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Hottest Month (Year?) Since? It is November, and we are getting predictions as to how hot 2014 will be as compared with prior years. Many historic records used for such rankings, including those used by government agencies, are actually several sets of time-series data spliced together, imperfectly, using models that are not thoroughly tested. Statistician Matt Briggs has words of caution regarding such time-series data:
1) Never homogenize; 2) Carry all uncertainty forward; 3) Look at the data; 4) Define your question; 5) Only the data is the data; 6) The model is not the data; and 7) Don’t use statistics unless you have to (most statistical models stink and they are never checked on new data, the only true test). See links under Seeking a Common Ground and Measurement Issues.
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Comments to EPA: The deadline for the public to comment on the Environmental Protection Agency’s proposal to regulate carbon dioxide emissions from existing power plants is December 1. The regulations are the main feature of President Obama’s Climate Action Plan, which seeks to reduce carbon dioxide emissions from existing power plants to 30% below the emission level in 2005, by the year 2030. The impact of these regulations on temperatures is probably so small, it is not measurable. See comments by Patrick Michaels under Questioning the Orthodoxy.
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Number of the Week: 1.42 times area of the USA (all territory). In discussing how gullible people are when confronted by deceptive use of physical features, Tim Ball points out that few people have any idea of the physical world, such as the size and shape of the Arctic Ocean. The Ocean is about 1.42 times the area of the USA [there is some disagreement among sources on the exact area of each.]
Ignorance of geography is all too common in the popular press, even though maps are readily searched on the internet. For an interesting discussion on Climate Perception, Projection and Propaganda please see link under Challenging the Orthodoxy.
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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. A Suicidal Collapse of Western Civilization?
By S. Fred Singer, American Thinker, Nov 16, 2014
http://www.americanthinker.com/articles/2014/11/a_suicidal_collapse_of_western_civilization.html
2. EPA rules could double utility bills
By S. Fed Singer, Letters to the Editor, Richmond Times Dispatch, Nov 16, 2014
3. Solar flares and EMPs threaten our survival
By Charles Battig, VA-SEEE, Nov 15, 2014
Letters to the Editor: Richmond Times-Dispatch, Nov. 16, 2014
4. Obama’s Latest Economics Lesson
He says the Keystone XL pipeline will merely transport ‘their oil.’
Editorial, WSJ, Nov 14, 2014
http://online.wsj.com/articles/obamas-latest-economics-lesson-1416009292
5. The Tom Steyer Democrats
The Keystone XL filibuster reveals the new liberal coalition.
Editorial, WSJ, Nov 20, 2014
http://online.wsj.com/articles/the-tom-steyer-democrats-1416442845
6. Jonathan Gruber’s ‘Stupid’ Budget Tricks
His ObamaCare candor shows how Congress routinely cons taxpayers.
Editorial, WSJ, Nov 14, 2014
http://online.wsj.com/articles/jonathan-grubers-stupid-budget-tricks-1416009107
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NEWS YOU CAN USE:
Climategate Continued
Climategate’s Fifth Anniversary: Grubered Science (revisiting a controversy)
By Steve Gorham, Master Resource, Nov 19, 2014
https://www.masterresource.org/climategate/climategate-fifth-anniversary/
Climategate Anniversary
By Paul Matthews, The IPCC Report, Nov 17, 2014 [H/t GWPF]
https://ipccreport.wordpress.com/2014/11/17/climategate-anniversary/
Challenging the Orthodoxy
Eco-Authoritarian Catastrophism: The Dismal and Deluded Vision of Naomi Oreskes and Erik M. Conway
By Martin Lewis, Geo Currents, Oct 9, 2014
Is Global Warming Causing More Snowstorms? No, It Isn’t
By Roy Spencer, His Blog, Nov 21, 2014
http://www.drroyspencer.com/2014/11/is-global-warming-causing-more-snowstorms/
Climate Perception, Projection and Propaganda
By Tim Ball, WUWT, Nov 17, 2014
http://wattsupwiththat.com/2014/11/17/climate-perception-projection-and-propaganda/
A Member of the European Parliament Dissents on Climate
By Roger Helmer, American Thinker, Nov 20, 2014
[SEPP Comment: EU climate policy is unnecessary, ineffectual, and ruinously expensive.]
Abbott will soon look like a genius for refusing to drag Australia to yet another climate fiasco
By Tom Switzer, The Guardian, UK, Nov 17, 2014 [H/t GWPF]
Australia stands firm against G20 pack on climate change
By Jane Wardell, Reuters, Nov 19, 2014
http://uk.reuters.com/article/2014/11/19/us-australia-france-climatechange-idUKKCN0J307K20141119
Defending the Orthodoxy
There’s growing evidence that global warming is driving crazy winters
By Chris Mooney, Washington Post, Nov 20, 2014
[SEPP Comment: See link to Spencer above!]
Ed Miliband: Copenhagen was necessary failure on road to Paris
By Sophie Yeo, RTCC, Nov 21, 2014 [H/t GWPF]
http://www.rtcc.org/2014/11/21/ed-miliband-copenhagen-was-necessary-failure-on-road-to-paris/
G20 urges ‘strong and effective action’ on climate change
By Staff Writers, Brisbane, Australia (AFP), Nov 16, 2014
http://www.spacewar.com/reports/G20_urges_strong_and_effective_action_on_climate_change_999.html
GOP, climate change is not partisan football
By Sally Kohn, CNN, Nov 14, 2014
http://www.cnn.com/2014/11/14/opinion/kohn-climate-change/index.html?hpt=op_t1
[SEPP Comment: Climate change has been occurring for hundreds of millions of years. The Clinton-Gore administration, then the EPA, made it a political football by declaring, without evidence, that human emissions of carbon dioxide are the cause.]
GOP victory: Game over for the climate?
Editorial, Washington Post, Nov 16, 2014
[SEPP Comment: Will climate end?]
Will Republican Know-Nothings Torpedo Climate Progress?
Obama’s postponement of Keystone XL, EPA emissions regulations and now the China deal are in jeopardy.
By Mark Hertsgaard, The Nation, Dec 1-8, 2014
http://www.thenation.com/article/190465/will-republican-know-nothings-torpedo-climate-progress
Questioning the Orthodoxy
Blow For Green Tories As Climate Sceptics Party Wins By-Election
By Laura Pitel, The Times, Via GWPF, Nov 21, 2014
http://www.thegwpf.com/blow-for-tories-as-climate-sceptics-party-wins-by-election/
You Ought to Have a Look: The Weather According to Maue, Comments on EPA Power Plant Rules, the Government Bogarts the Weed
By Patrick J. Michaels and Paul C. “Chip” Knappenberger, CATO, Nov 21, 2014
Climate Reporting Chaos in Oregon
By Sierra Rayne, American Thinker, Nov 17, 2014
http://www.americanthinker.com/articles/2014/11/climate_reporting_chaos_in_oregon.html
Energy Flotsam and Jetsam
By Steven Hayward, Power Line, Nov 21, 2014
http://www.powerlineblog.com/archives/2014/11/energy-flotsam-and-jetsam.php
Gullible leaders, journalists, swallow advertising and cheer it on?
By Jo Nova, Her Blog, Nov 17, 2014
http://joannenova.com.au/2014/11/gullible-leaders-journalists-swallow-advertising-and-brag-about-it/
North Korea — the ultimate low-carbon ideal
By Tom Quirk & Jo Nova, Her Blog, Nov 16, 2014
http://joannenova.com.au/2014/11/north-korea-the-ultimate-low-carbon-ideal/#more-39378
The Climate Scam’s Meltdown
By Walter Starck, Quadrant, Nov 20, 2014
http://quadrant.org.au/opinion/doomed-planet/2014/11/climate-scams-meltdown/
China—US Agreement?
Obama’s Climate Deal Is a Man-Made Disaster
By Larry Bell, Newsmax, Nov 17, 2014
Partners in Pointlessness
By Tom Quirk, Quadrant, Nov 21, 2014
http://quadrant.org.au/opinion/doomed-planet/2014/11/obamas-co2-target/
U.S., China deal includes support for carbon capture in China
Deal expands joint carbon research in China
By Wayne Barber, Generation Hub, Nov 12, 2014
http://generationhub.com/2014/11/12/us-china-deal-includes-support-for-carbon-capture
Buoyed by China deal, Obama seeks world climate pact
By Staff Writers, Brisbane, Australia (AFP), Nov 15, 2014
http://www.terradaily.com/reports/Buoyed_by_China_deal_Obama_seeks_world_climate_pact_999.html
With Friends Like That: Obama Attacks America’s Key Ally
It is a dangerous thing to be an enemy of President Obama’s. It can be fatal to be his friend. – .
By Greg Sheridan, The Australian, Via GWPF, Nov 11, 2014
http://www.thegwpf.com/with-friends-like-that-obama-attacks-americas-key-ally/
Social Benefits of Carbon
Boosts in productivity of corn and other crops modify Northern Hemisphere carbon dioxide cycle
Croplands help drive greater seasonal change in annual cycle
By Cheryl Dyban, NSF, Nov 19, 2014
http://www.nsf.gov/news/news_summ.jsp?cntn_id=133162&WT.mc_id=USNSF_51&WT.mc_ev=click
[SEPP Comment: Is this further “proof” that humans are causing global warming/climate change?]
Seeking a Common Ground
Politics, precaution and science
By Martin Livermore, The Scientific Alliance, Nov 21, 2014
http://scientific-alliance.org/scientific-alliance-newsletter/politics-precaution-and-science
Link to report: Managing risk, not avoiding it
The first Annual Report (2013) of the Government Chief Scientific Adviser, Professor Sir Mark Walport, The Government Office of Science, Nov 2014
Climate change and the left
By Andrew Montford, Bishop Hill, Nov 15, 2014
http://www.bishop-hill.net/blog/2014/11/15/climate-change-and-the-left.html
Netherlands Temperature Controversy: Or, Yet Again, How Not To Do Time Series
By Matt Briggs, His Blog, Nov 19, 2014 [H/t Climate Etc.]
http://wmbriggs.com/blog/?p=14718
[SEPP Comment: Lengthy post.]
What It Would Really Take to Reverse Climate Change
Today’s renewable energy technologies won’t save us. So what will?
By Ross Koningstein & David Fork, IEEE Spectrum, Nov 18, 2014 [H/t Clyde Spencer]
‘Help’ that just slaps the third world
By Bjorn Lomborg, New York Post, November 19, 2014
http://nypost.com/2014/11/19/help-that-just-slaps-the-third-world/
[SEPP Comment: Even accepting the UN numbers, the efforts to curb CO2 will do little.]
The Answer to the Climate Problem Is Innovation—Not Empty Promises
By Bjørn Lomborg, Time, Nov 15, 2014
http://time.com/3587188/us-china-climate-deal-empty-promises-innovation/
Models v. Observations
Who needs an Orbiting Carbon Observatory to track it when you can model Carbon Dioxide movement?
By Anthony Watts, WUWT, Nov 18, 2014
[SEPP Comment: See link immediately below.]
NASA Computer Model Provides a New Portrait of Carbon Dioxide
By Staff Writers, Pasadena CA (JPL), Nov 17, 2014
Model Issues
Nature article: $250 million should be spent on climate models able to skillfully simulate clouds & convection
By Staff Writer, The Hockey Schtick, Nov 19, 2014
http://hockeyschtick.blogspot.com/2014/11/nature-article-250-million-should-be.html
Fossils cast doubt on climate-change model projections on habitats
By Anthony Watts, WUWT, Nov 19, 2014
Warmer Soil Will Expel Less Carbon To Atmosphere Than Modeled
By Staff Writers, Berkeley CA (SPX), Nov 18, 2014
Measurement Issues
Earth has warmest October on record as ocean temperatures top charts
By Jason Samenow, Washington Post, Nov 14, 2014 [H/t Timothy Wise]
[SEPP Comment: As if we have continuous, comprehensive surface temperature records dating to the 1880s.]
October temperatures push 2014 closer to hottest year on record
By Laura Barron-Lopez, The Hill, Nov 20, 2014
[SEPP Comment: Amusing headline as the central and eastern US suffer extreme cold.]
October 2014 Global Surface (Land+Ocean) and Lower Troposphere Temperature Anomaly & Model-Data Difference Update
By Bob Tisdale, WUWT, Nov 15, 2014
Changing Weather
RP Jr on disasters
By Andrew Montford, Bishop Hill, Nov 21, 2014
http://bishophill.squarespace.com/blog/2014/11/21/rp-jr-on-disasters.html
[SEPP Comment: Another review of Roger Pielke Jr’s new book questioning claims of increased extreme weather.]
That Epic, Fickle, Shovel-off-to-Buffalo Snow: An All-Time U.S. Record?
By Roy Spencer, His Blog, Nov 20, 2014
Changing Climate
Climatologist: 30-Year Cold Spell Strikes Earth
By Clayton Reid, Newsmax, Nov 16, 2014
Climate capers of the past 600,000 years
By Staff Writers, Bonn, Germany (SPX), Nov 18, 2014
http://www.terradaily.com/reports/Climate_capers_of_the_past_600000_years_999.html
Climate change did NOT cause the collapse of the Bronze Age: Cold conditions occurred two generations after population decline
Cold and wet conditions occurred two generations after collapse in 800BC
Experts from Universities in Britain and Ireland think social and economic pressures were primarily to blame – but harsh weather made it worse
When iron production took over, bronze trading networks failed
This caused widespread conflict and social collapse, the experts said
By Sarah Griffiths, Mail, UK, Nov 17, 2014
Lowering Standards
New term: ‘Grubering’ and how it applies to Climate Alarmism
By M. Paul, WUWT, Nov 16, 2014
http://wattsupwiththat.com/2014/11/16/new-term-grubering-and-how-it-applies-to-climate-alarmism/
Gruber ‘Stupidity’ Scandal Implicates The Press, Too
Editorial, IBD, Nov 19, 2014
Opinion/Letter: Academia showing its contempt
By Charles Battig, The Daily Progress, Charlottesville, VA, Nov 18, 2014
Obama Administration Elitists Have Contempt For Voters
By Victor Davis Hanson, IBD, Nov 19, 2014
Roger [Harrabin of BBC] throws down the gauntlet
By Andrew Montford, Bishop Hill, Nov 20, 2014
http://bishophill.squarespace.com/blog/2014/11/20/roger-throws-down-the-gauntlet.html
Link to article: Rich countries to discuss Green Climate Fund in Berlin
By Rober Harrabin, BBC, Nov 20, 2014
http://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-30123932
[SEPP Comment: With propaganda photo of cooling towers emitting condensing steam.]
Communicating Better to the Public – Exaggerate, or be Vague?
Fortune Magazine Bias
By Donn Dears, Power For USA, Nov 18, 2014
https://dddusmma.wordpress.com/2014/11/18/fortune-magazine-bias/
Study: Polar Bear Populations Have Plummeted 40 Percent in Alaska and Canada
By David Kirbby, Yahoo, Nov17, 2014 [H/t Clyde Spencer.]
http://news.yahoo.com/study-polar-bear-populations-plummeted-40-percent-alaska-234011207.html
Link to paper: Polar bear population dynamics in the southern Beaufort Sea during a period of sea ice decline
By Jeffrey Bromaghin, et al, ESA, No Date
http://www.esajournals.org/doi/abs/10.1890/14-1129.1
[SEPP Comment: The headline writers are ignorant of geography. See link immediately below!]
S Beaufort polar bears largely recovered from known 2004-2006 decline, says new study
By Susan Crockford, Polar Bear Science, Nov 18, 2014
Communicating Better to the Public – Make things up.
Creating a New Myth
By Donn Dears, Power For USA, Nov 21, 2014
https://dddusmma.wordpress.com/2014/11/21/creating-a-new-myth/
Green disinformation: worse than we thought
By Andrew Montford, Bishop Hill, Nov 17, 2014
http://bishophill.squarespace.com/blog/2014/11/17/green-disinformation-worse-than-we-thought.html
[SEPP Comment: Normal expenses and capital costs termed as subsidies.]
Hollande raises specter of war over climate change
By Geert De Clercq, Reuters, Nov 16, 2014
https://ca.news.yahoo.com/hollande-raises-specter-war-over-climate-change-133133544.html
Why does Lord Deben misreport the science of extreme weather?
By Andrew Montford, Bishop Hill, Nov 17, 2014
Questioning European Green
Wind Power Push Has Blown Up In Europe’s Face
By Cormac Lucey, Sunday Times, Via GWPF, Nov 16, 2014
http://www.thegwpf.com/wind-power-push-has-blown-up-in-europes-face/
Germany’s CO2 Reductions “Fetish” Causing National Policy Turmoil: Economics And Environment Ministries Collide
By P Gosselin, No Tricks Zone, Nov 17, 2014
Questioning Green Elsewhere
Climate change investment falls for second year in 2013
By Megan Rowling, Reuters, Nov 21, 2014
http://af.reuters.com/article/energyOilNews/idAFL6N0TB2KB20141121
SEPP Comment: Could it be that the rate of return on such investments is less than 1?]
Foreign Minister Julie Bishop chides Barack Obama over Great Barrier Reef climate change remarks
By Staff Writer, Radio Australia, Nov 20, 2014 [H/t GWPF]
The poorest will suffer if we force renewable energy on the developing world
By Benny Peiser and Daniel Mahoney, City A.M., Nov 20, 2014
http://www.cityam.com/1416512685/poorest-will-suffer-if-we-force-renewable-energy-developing-world
Funding Issues
Obama: ‘We Are Going to Contribute $3 Billion to the Green Climate Fund’
By Terence Jeffrey, CNS News, Nov 15, 2014 [H/t Timothy Wise]
Nations pledge $9.3 bn for Green Climate Fund: Germany
By Staff Writers, AFP, Nov 20, 2014
Britain Pays Twice Its Fair Share To Green Climate Fund
By Ben Webster, The Times, Via GWPF, Nov 21, 2014
http://www.thegwpf.com/britain-pays-twice-its-fair-share-to-green-climate-fund/
GWPF Calls For Halt To UK Low Carbon International Climate Funding
By Staff Writers, GWPF, Nov 18, 2014
http://www.thegwpf.com/gwpf-calls-for-halt-to-uk-low-carbon-international-climate-funding/
Climate Research needs Re-direction
By Viv Forbes, AUCSP, Nov 22, 2014
http://theclimatescepticsparty.blogspot.com.au/2014/11/the-science-is-settled.html
The Political Games Continue
Secret Science Reform Act of 2014: a step towards transparency
By Luboš Motl, The Reference Frame, Nov 20, 2014
http://motls.blogspot.com/2014/11/secret-science-reform-act-of-2014-step.html#more
Why Does Washington Want to Hide Science Data From the Public?
By Nicolas Loris, The Daily Signal, Nov 18, 2014
White House taunts GOP on climate change: ‘I don’t believe they can stop us’
By Ben Wolfgang, Washington Times, Nov 17, 2014
http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2014/nov/17/white-house-taunts-gop-climate-change/
Podesta Says Congress Can’t Stop Obama On Climate
Editorial, IBD, Nov 18, 2014 [H/t Timothy Wise]
The Insiders: Congress can derail Obama’s global warming fantasies
By Ed Rogers, Washington Post, Nov 14, 2014 [H/t Timothy Wise]
Cap-and-Trade and Carbon Taxes
Carbon taxes would be ATM for Congress
By William O’Keefe, George Marshall Institute, Letter, Nov 16, 2014
Subsidies and Mandates Forever
Worldwatch Institute’s Case Against the PTC (1984 vs. 2014)
By Robert Bradley, Jr, Master Resource, Nov 21, 2014
“How is it that wind, with a 4000-year head start, is such a small player in the energy scene?” asked Howard Hayden. “Could it be—just possibly—that the answer has something to do with physics instead of economics and politics?”
EPA and other Regulators on the March
Business boiled over EPA’s water rule
By Timothy Cama, The Hill, Nov 18, 2014
EPA’s next regulatory tsunami
By Paul Driessen, WUWT, Nov 18, 2014
http://wattsupwiththat.com/2014/11/18/epas-next-regulatory-tsunami/
EPA chief Gina McCarthy vows to push major initiatives despite GOP threats
By Joby Warrick, Washington Post, Nov 17, 2014
EPA Finalizes Changes to MATS Startup and Shutdown Rules
By Sonal Patel, Power, Nov 19, 2014
EPA moves on new slate of emissions standards
By Lydia Wheeler, The Hill, Nov 21, 2014
http://thehill.com/regulation/225070-epa-moves-on-new-slate-of-emissions-standards
[SEPP Comment: The manufacture of sinks and toilets is a threat to human health?]
Energy Issues – Non-US
China Invest $73Bn In Global Oil Production
By Paul Homewood, Not a Lot of People Know That, Nov 21, 2014
http://notalotofpeopleknowthat.wordpress.com/2014/11/21/china-invest-73bn-in-global-oil-production/
Ineos to invest £640m in UK shale gas exploration
By Staff Writers, BBC, Nov 20, 2014 [H/t GWPF]
http://www.bbc.com/news/business-30125028
Lower Oil Prices Carry Geopolitical Consequences
Analysis, Stratfor Global Intelligence, Nov 3, 2014 [H/t GWPF]
http://www.stratfor.com/analysis/lower-oil-prices-carry-geopolitical-consequences#axzz3JcUBKjyd
Overoptimistic
By Andrew Montford, Bishop Hill, Nov 18, 2014
http://bishophill.squarespace.com/blog/2014/11/18/overoptimistic.html
[SEPP Comment: Does the UK National Grid windpower capacity estimate fail to account for cold, windless nights?]
Energy Issues — US
Fossil Fuels Industries: Time to Stand Tall! (book review of Alex Epstein’s The Moral Case for Fossil Fuels)
By Erin Connors, Master Resource, Nov 20, 2014
https://www.masterresource.org/fossil-fuel-utility/fossil-fuel-manifesto-proud/
Using Coal, Oil and Gas, the Moral Choice
By H. Sterling Burnett, Heartland, Nov 18, 2014
http://news.heartland.org/newspaper-article/2014/11/18/using-coal-oil-and-gas-moral-choice
[SEPP Comment: Another review of Epstein’s book.]
Cheap-Oil Era Tilts Geopolitical Power to U.S.
By Rich Miller, Bloomberg, Nov 19, 2014 [H/t GWPF]
http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2014-11-20/cheap-oil-era-tilts-geopolitical-power-to-u-s-.html
[SEPP Comment: If Washington does not prevent it.]
If You Like Your Utility Rates, You Can Keep Your Utility Rates
By Steven Hayward, Power Line, Nov 19, 2014
Chinese Threat To U.S. Power Grid Closer Than Thought
Editorial, IBD, Nov 21, 2014
http://news.investors.com/ibd-editorials/112114-727669-china-cyberwar-may-be-closer-than-thought.htm
Winter Gas Crunch Again Threatens New England
By Thomas Overton, Power, Nov 18, 2014
Decline and fall of coal
By Zack Colman, Washington Examiner, Nov 17, 2014
http://www.washingtonexaminer.com/decline-and-fall-of-coal/article/2556187
ERCOT: EPA Clean Power Plan Will Further Complicate Reliability in Texas
By Sonal Patel, Power, Nov 19, 2014
Fracking to be permitted in Virginia national forest
By Timothy Cama, The Hill, Nov 18, 2014
Washington’s Control of Energy
3 Reasons to Build the Keystone XL Pipeline
By Meredith Bragg & Nick Gillespie, Reason, Feb 17, 2014
http://reason.com/blog/2013/02/17/3-reasons-to-build-the-keystone-xl-pipel
Keystone Senate Defeat Shows Which Party Is Extreme
Editorial, IBD, Nov 19, 2014 [H/t Timothy Wise]
Senate Democrats stiff Mary Landrieu on Keystone XL pipeline; green lobby wins
By Stephen Dinan and Ben Wolfgang, Washington Times, Nov 18 2014
http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2014/nov/18/keystone-xl-pipeline-senate-dems-filibuster/
Power Sector Fossil Fuel Revenues Decrease While Renewable Energy Grows Rapidly
By Aaron Larson, Power, Nov 19, 2014
[SEPP Comment: Growth in renewables are due to subsidies and mandates.]
Oil and Natural Gas – the Future or the Past?
NARUC Addresses the Marriage of Gas and Renewables
By Bentham Paulos, Power, Nov 19, 2014
“Power system demands are changing to put a premium on flexible grid operations, and gas-fired power is the best choice for increasing flexibility.”
[SEPP Comment: What is flexible about a system, such as wind, that fails without notice?]
Lower Oil Prices Slow Fracking, but Kill Solar
By Bill Gunderson, American Thinker, Nov 18, 2014 [H/t Timothy Wise]
http://www.americanthinker.com/articles/2014/11/lower_oil_prices_slow_fracking_but_kill_solar.html
Nuclear Energy and Fears
UK’s Nuclear Future In Danger Amid Mounting Areva Losses
Aby Adam Sage & Tim Webb, The Times, Via GWPF, Nov 19, 2014
http://www.thegwpf.com/uks-nuclear-future-in-danger-amid-mounting-areva-losses/
IAEA Issues 2014 Edition of Climate Change and Nuclear Power
According to IAEA Director General Amano: Energy Demand to Grow Dramatically, But Carbon Footprint Must Be Reduced
By Bruna Lecossois, IAEA, Nov 20, 2014
http://www.iaea.org/newscenter/news/iaea-issues-2014-edition-climate-change-and-nuclear-power
Link to report: Climate Change and Nuclear Power 2014
By Staff Writers, IAEA, 2014
http://www-pub.iaea.org/books/IAEABooks/10771/Climate-Change-and-Nuclear-Power-2014
[SEPP Comment: Playing on the fears of global warming/climate change to promote nuclear power.]
Alternative, Green (“Clean”) Solar and Wind
Eco-Paradise Lost: Wind Power Bleeds Investors
By Alexander Wendt, Focus Magazin, Trans by Philipp Mueller, GWPF, Nov 20, 2014
http://www.thegwpf.com/eco-paradise-lost-wind-power-bleeds-investors/
Huge solar plant lags in early production
By Michael Blood, AP, Nov 17, 2014 [H/t Clyde Spencer]
https://www.yahoo.com/tech/s/huge-solar-plant-lags-early-192346351.html
Solar – the greatest market opportunity world has seen
By Giles Parkinson, RE New Economy, Nov 14, 2014 [H/t Timothy Wise]
http://reneweconomy.com.au/2014/solar-seen-greatest-market-opportunity-world-seen-48873
Solar farms will still need subsidies far beyond 2020, industry admits
Solar Trade Association says large solar farm will need subsidies until 2025-2028, despite claiming last month that all solar panel projects could be subsidy-free by 2020
By Emily Gosden, Telegraph, UK, Nov 19, 2014
[SEPP Comment: Few things are as permanent as a temporary government subsidy program. See link immediately above!]
Alternative, Green (“Clean”) Energy — Other
EPA punts on renewable fuel mandate decision
By Laura Barron-Lopez, The Hill, Nov 21, 2014
http://thehill.com/policy/energy-environment/225002-epa-punts-final-2014-renewable-fuel-mandate
Alternative, Green (“Clean”) Vehicles
Germany’s Sole Electric Car Battery Plant To Be Closed…Yet “Another Setback” For Germany’s CO2 Reduction Target
By P Gosselin, No Tricks Zone, Nov 16, 2014
Carbon Schemes
Carbon Capture and Burial — a Biocidal Policy
By Viv Forbes, American Thinker, Nov 18, 2014 [H/t Timothy Wise]
http://www.americanthinker.com/blog/2014/11/carbon_capture_and_burial__a_biocidal_policy.html
California Dreaming in Texas
Japanese bullet train in Texas in seven years
Private company plans to build high-speed rail line between Houston and Dallas, America’s fourth and fifth largest cities.
By Larry Ewers, Spero News, Nov 11, 2014
Health, Energy, and Climate
Claim: Climate change will slow China’s progress in reducing infectious diseases
By Anthony Watts, WUWT, Nov 20, 2014
[SEPP Comment: Early 20th century warming did not slow America’s progress on infectious diseases.]
Health Canada Windpower Study: Playing Politics (Grubered up North)
By Lisa Linowes, Master Resource, Nov 18, 2014
https://www.masterresource.org/health-safety-wind/health-canada-politics/
Oh Mann!
Feverish Times for Climate Change Analyses in Virginia
By Sierra Rayne, American Thinker, Nov 19, 2014
Environmental Industry
First DDT, now neonics—the harmful effects of “environmentalist”-sponsored, baseless pesticide bans
By Staff Writer, ACSH, Nov 20, 2014
Other Scientific News
Jurassic climate was far more complex than previously known
By Staff Writers, Dallas TX (SPX), Nov 19, 2014
Seventy years ago today, a science policy milestone
By Jessica Arriens, NSF, Nov 17, 2014
http://www.nsf.gov/news/news_summ.jsp?cntn_id=133384&WT.mc_id=USNSF_51&WT.mc_ev=click
Link to Roosevelt Letter:
The White House, Nov 17, 1944
https://www.nsf.gov/od/lpa/nsf50/vbush1945.htm#letter
Virus fingered as top suspect in West Coast sea star wasting disease
By Cheryl Dybas, NSF, Nov 17, 2014
http://www.nsf.gov/discoveries/disc_summ.jsp?cntn_id=133281&WT.mc_id=USNSF_51&WT.mc_ev=click
Other News that May Be of Interest
China’s New Global Leadership
By Jeffrey Sachs, Project Syndicate, Nov 21, 2014
http://www.project-syndicate.org/commentary/china-global-leadership-by-jeffrey-d-sachs-2014-11
[SEPP Comment: The International Monetary Fund projects China will overtake the US as the world’s largest economy by the end of 2014.]
Ten Arguments against Obama’s Executive Action
By Robert Charles, American Thinker, Nov 17, 2014
http://www.americanthinker.com/articles/2014/11/ten_arguments_against_obamas_executive_action.html
Returning bears pose dilemma in Europe
By Staff Writers, Nals, Italy (AFP), Nov 16, 2014
http://www.terradaily.com/reports/Returning_bears_pose_dilemma_in_Europe_999.html
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BELOW THE BOTTOM LINE:
Claim: ‘the pause’ is caused by small volcanic eruptions
By Anthony Watts, WUWT, Nov 19, 2014
http://wattsupwiththat.com/2014/11/19/claim-the-pause-is-caused-by-small-volcanic-eruptions/
If 97% of Scientists Say Global Warming is Real, 100% Say It Has Nearly Stopped
By Paul C. “Chip” Knappenberger and Patrick J. Michaels, CATO, WUWT, Nov 18, 2014
The New Consensus: 100 Percent Of Scientists Agree That Global Warming ‘Stopped’ Or ‘Slowed Down’
By Michael Bastasch, Daily Caller, Nov 19, 0214
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When will they, CO2 believers, ever learn? Where have all the money gone?
Could you use the term “Oil Sands” instead of “Tar Sands”. Even the left wing media in Canada stopped saying tar sands and says oil sands instead.
“tar sands” is a pejorative dreamed up by the left wing. In fact, there is NO tar in these sands, only oil, and they should properly referred to as “oil sands”.
Thanks, The Week That Was is always interesting, a wide view.
Number of the Week: 1.42 times area of USA (all territory)
Globes are useful to see the sorts of things mentioned. Large nice globes are expensive but I still reach for one occasionally. Mostly I use Google Earth.
Can the Google folks provide a function that allows selection of a spatial area, say Queensland, or a physical feature, say the Arctic Ocean and then affix a handle that allows one to be moved over the other as a semi-transparent overlay. There are some such applications available but I have not found an elegant one.
John, it’s not that easy because all map projections distort the size of landmasses one way or another.
Better to look up the numbers.
“1) Never homogenize; 2) Carry all uncertainty forward; 3) Look at the data; 4) Define your question; 5) Only the data is the data; 6) The model is not the data; and 7) Don’t use statistics unless you have to (most statistical models stink and they are never checked on new data, the only true test). ”
Exactly what I do with the temperature series I build.
I realize that this is slightly OT, but given that historically, carbon dioxide concentrations rise and fall following temperature, is it not possible for the current observed rise in those levels to have been caused by (say) the medieval warm period? It’s about the right time delay.
I’ve been saying that for years.
But Ferdinand E has shown that the isotope signature of the atmosphere does indicate it comes from burning fossil fuels. And we are burning fossil fuels so it’s not unreasonable.
For me, with the huge exchange of CO2 with the oceans it isn’t proven either way. But if I had to take a punt I’d bet the rise in CO2 was from man’s industrialisation.
Some of the increase is due to fossil fuel use. But the real question is this:
Is the rise in CO2 harmful in any way?
I’ve asked Ferdinand. He says no. I say no. If anyone says yes, they need to post evidence of global harm from the added CO2. Otherwise, the default position is that CO2 is harmless.
I didn’t say the increase was harmful. I have no evidence for that.
Don’t look to me for such evidence – if I had it I’d be grabbing my Nobel Prize.
I’d like to see the proof of that. How long can carbon dioxide stay in the ocean?
If the increase in CO2 is human-made so be it. My main concern WRT CO2 historically is that every time CO2 gets to its historically highest levels we get re-glaciated. So how does that CO2=warming pan out?
No, it’s undocumented clam farts, bubbling to the surface.
xyzzy,
CO2 can stay in the ocean just about forever. Do you know what created the White Cliffs of Dover?
Also: proof of what? You don’t say.
MCourtney says:
Don’t look to me for such evidence – if I had it I’d be grabbing my Nobel Prize.
I hereby award you the Nobel Prize! The same one M. Mann awarded himself.
Goose/gander.
Off topic, I have not been able to load either the DMI arctic page, nor Tropical Tidbits for several days now. I am also unable to use Microsoft updates during this same period of time. The other day I had read that Microsoft update is currently unavailable to everyone, including Win 7 and 8 users. Is anyone able to link to the DMI COI arctic info, or Tropical Tidbits?
DMI link…http://ocean.dmi.dk/arctic/meant80n.uk.php