Though, he still thinks we are all funded by some sort of “machine”. It never occurs to him that he’s fighting a guerrilla war and that most skeptics are self motivated.
Update: the UK telegraph has a similar story here
Scientist hits climate change skepticism – UPI.com
EDINBURGH,Scotland,April 9 (UPI) –Environmentalists and climate scientists, facing public skepticism, are losing the debate on global warming, a U.S. scientist who first raised the issue says.
James Hansen, director of the NASA Goddard Institute for Space Studies, who issued warnings about man-made climate change as early as the 1980s, said public skepticism is increasing even in the face of growing scientific acceptance of the reality of global warming.
“There is remarkable inconsistency between the scientific story and public story,” Hansen said in Edinburgh, Scotland, where he will receive the Edinburgh Medal at the Edinburgh International Science Festival this week, The Daily Telegraph reported.
Hansen said those opposed to major social and economic changes needed to reduce greenhouse gas emissions were attempting to undermine the scientific evidence.
“The science has become stronger and stronger over the past five years while the public perception is has gone in completely the other direction. That is not an accident.
“There is a very concerted effort by people who would prefer to see business to continue as usual. They have been winning the public debate with the help of tremendous resources.”
Without a dramatic change in public opinion, Hansen said,he fears future generations will inherit a world where global warming is out of control.
“Our parents honestly did not know what the consequences of continued development and reliance on fossil fuels as an energy source,” he said. “We can no longer claim that, as the science is now clear.”
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“James Hansen,director of the NASA Goddard Institute for Space Studies,who issued warnings about man-made climate change as early as the 1980s…..”
And how many of the predictions he has made since then have come true? All of them! I know this because I am on the FDR in my scuba gear (glub). Who are you going to believe, Hansen and me or your lyin’ eyes? /sarc
“The science has become stronger and stronger over the past five years while the public perception is has gone in completely the other direction.”
How does science that is “settled” become “stronger and stronger?” It’s done, it’s over, no further research needed, let’s pack our labs and go home. Oh, wait, people have not been sufficiently scared by our previous predictions, we need to revise them to make them even scarier and to reflect the predictions that never came true. Now, maybe they will pay attention! /sarc
Every time I see the name “James Hansen” and the title “director” and the letters “NASA” I am struck by a profound sadness. NASA once stoked the dreams we had for a better future through science and technology; now all they serve up through people like Hansen is fear and demands we retreat from the very future NASA pioneers helped bring about.
If I had won that $600 million lottery, I think I would “build” a resort island that has a zero carbon footprint relying soley on “sustainable” and “green” resources from the pre-industrial age. Only people who took horse and buggies to the coast and Chinese junks to the island port allowed. I bet I could charge these rich butt-holes hundreds of dollars a night to live in Stone Age splendor. It could even have a Flintstone theme for the kiddies.
Charlie Sheen also thought he was “winning”!
Frederick Davies says:
April 10, 2012 at 4:32 am
“Hansen on skeptics – we are winning”
No, we are NOT, he is just trying to lull us into a false sense of security; read this (http://www.dailymail.co.uk/debate/article-2127444/This-green-tax-conservatories-just-start-red-tape-nightmare-homeowners.html#ixzz1rcNOqFZf) and weep.
===============================
thanks FD, I left a comment (yet to be moderated) on the link you provided.
The poor man can find causation in correlation for everything else except his incessant barking and the increase in CAGW skepticism.
Harold Ambler says:
April 10, 2012 at 3:58 am
“Dr. Hansen, if youre reading this, I’m willing to switch income streams with you for a year longer, if you prefer.”
The last time Hansen talked about his income, he bragged about paying his taxes on the loot and owning a car that leaked oil.
I would also have to disagree with Hansen – I think THEY are the winners. Look at the BILLIONS in Climate Ca$h they’re receiving now from governments all around the world.
By the way, I would like to identify a new effect called “The Hansen Effect”. Every time there is a post here on some idiotic statement he’s made, all of of our trolls go into hiding. There is also a related phenomenon called the “Climate Ca$h effect” – again where our fossil fuel-using trolls suddenly go into hiding whenever there is mention made of the BILLIONS they receive in climate “science” funding…
Hansen says: “There is a very concerted effort by people who would prefer to see business to continue as usual.”
For once I agree with him! He is one of those people, and his usual business is to make large sums of money and (more importantly, I think, for him) to accrue prestige and praise from the useful idiots. The man is not a scientist; he is an anti-scientist. Once he crossed the line of honest debate and began to alter the temperature record he committed the one unforgiveable sin of science.
God may not play dice but he has a sense of humor:
Beam him up Scotty…
Maybe they’ll give him the “Glasgow Kiss” before he leaves too. I’d pay to see that.
Timiboy sez: “The Science is now clear? But I thought it was settled years ago. In fact, they were so certain in 2007 it beats me that they are even studying it any more.”
–This is hilarious. Exactly like the doomsday end of the world preacher who kept revising the date of the apocalypse. Hansen is in a cult and needs to be deprogrammed.
Hansen is right about the tremendous resources on the skeptic’s side. They are called brains.
pwl says:
April 10, 2012 at 12:27 am
I’ve received a sum total of $0.00 for my scientific skepticism on any topic.
I have so much income from this pastime, that even one thousandth of this sum would be the same, exactly. I bet Dr. Hansen simply can’t solve a difficult equation like this.
“Hansen said those opposed to major social and economic changes needed to reduce greenhouse gas emissions were attempting to undermine the scientific evidence.
“The science has become stronger and stronger over the past five years while the public perception is has gone in completely the other direction. That is not an accident.”
Hanssen’s “logic” doesn’t make good sense. As Davy Crockett once said, it doesn’t even make good nonsense. It’s possible , and logically consistent to believe that additonal CO2 WILL prouce more warming, as the CAGWers attest, yet believe that the good of condinuted industrial production outweighs the bad of additional warming. It is also logically consistent to belive that additional CO2 will lead to additioanl warming, and that warming will be a GOOD thing- something to strive for.
To sum up, different people can accept the same theory, but still take different political stances depending on their differing views and goals.
@Andrew
>>Scandelous and shameful. Shameful and scandelous. And he gets a medal for it. What does that say about Edinburgh. I thought Scots had more sense.
____
Yep. This makes as much sense as Obama being awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for nothing at all. Eventually they’ll be trying to convince us the moon is made of green cheese. Unfortunately, quite a few people will obediently nod their heads and never question this new “revelation.”
– – – –
Anthony,
I suggest independent thinkers (skeptics) move away from military terminology when discussing the broad scientific /social /economic /ethical aspects of climate related dialogs. We can take a higher level of discussion without warfare references.
John
Hansen is a victim of group think. I am sure he honestly believes it is a fact when he says “the science of global warming is getting stronger and stronger.” He will have perceived the deluge of alarmist papers, spoken only to like minded fanatics.
He probably has never heard of the names of Richard Lindzen or Akasofu, or if he has, it is only in conversation with fellow fanatics, where they are routinely dissed and dismissed in the most sneering manner.
How could anyone possibly have an appreciation of the sceptical science in such an environment? And Hansen is not just anyone. He is a zealot with a mind so closed that no chink of light can ever penetrate the darkness. The more he speaks, the more we shake our heads in disbelief.
The raw data does not matter, when you can cook the books.
Yes, Hanson’s delusional and beyond repair. Yes, the AGW cabal is losing. But here in the U.S., we’re going to be paying dearly for accepting their delusions for some time to come. The Supreme Court ruled CO2 a pollutant giving the EPA authority to regulate its’ industrial production. No new coal electrical generating plants will be built ,and older facilities will go off line because of this nonsense.
I’ll believe we’re actually winning when government funding of Green Industries cease, and a new administration places a gag on CO2 regulation. We can’t afford to wait for another Maunder minimum to prove a point. Right now, Hanson is still way ahead of us.
I did not know that they gave medals for LYING!
Leave it to the Brits to celebrate just about anything.
Tell me again—why does he still have his job at NASA?
Non-New Yorkers won’t realize that “FDR Drive” (aka East Side Drive) was meant. Also, Hansen was talking about the West Side Drive. Not that both wouldn’t be inundated per his sea level prediction.
“growing scientific acceptance of the reality of global warming. ”
Where?
Cogito, ergo tamen dubito.
“The science has become stronger and stronger over the past five years”
Time to ask Dr. Hansen and/or NASA exactly what is being referred to here.
Much like Vicky Pope said there was evidence but linked to a page Met Office page with no evidence at all, still haven’t received an explanation for that from the Met Office.
The comments against established science on this site, again as I have stated in other places on this blog, are ridiculous.
Hansen is talking about American conservative public opinion, not public understanding globally.
Many Americans live in a bubble of consumerism, and all align their beliefs in opinions along political lines.