by Judith Curry
It’s time to declare victory against climate stupidity and move on.
Well, the definition of victory here is about as fuzzy as that for the Iran war. Here is a summary of why Climate Etc. is being euthanized:
- Major progress has been made in the climate debate and the political climate has changed
- My interests have evolved in other directions
- The logistics and cost of keeping the blog running are substantial.
State of the Climate Wars
There have been some decisive battles in the past two years, notably President Trump’s election, the DOE Climate Report, and widespread acknowledgement that RCP8.5 is an implausible emissions scenario. As a result, many news agencies have dropped or substantially reduced their climate desk, we don’t hear about climate change so much in the media (particularly as related to extreme weather events). Also, we can’t underestimate the impact of substantially reduced funding for climate-related NGOs, with USAID and other funds drying up.
The leaders of the climate alarmism movement have not conceded defeat but have done much whining, notably over President Trump and the RCP8.5 scenario. They are still trying to discredit the authors of the DOE Report. Triggered by the DOE Report, they have mostly stopped flogging the warming/extreme weather link, although there is a hardcore group that is committed to extreme event attribution as a mechanism to support litigation against fossil fuel companies. With the demise of the extreme weather link, the climate alarmists are now focused on climate “tipping points,” which simply doesn’t resonate with the public (extreme weather events were much more alarming).
But most importantly, the whole issue has lost its political relevance. During the past several months we have watched the entire world panic over loss of access to Middle Eastern oil, and major concerns raised about the need for massively more electricity to support data centers. Putting a tourniquet around our energy supply in the name of eliminating CO2 emissions is a much worse idea now than it was even a few years ago, and that seems to be widely recognized (even in Europe). Most tellingly, the World Economic Forum (WEF) has dropped climate change as an issue, now focusing on AI (and health).
We are perhaps at an inflection point; one can only hope that the climate enterprise will redirect its efforts away from flogging the CO2 climate control knob mantra and towards understanding regional climate variability, particularly as influenced by natural variability, to support efforts at reducing vulnerability to weather extremes. And figure out how to better work with nature to support our needs for food, water, energy.
JC moving on
When I was planning my retirement for Georgia Tech, I viewed Climate Etc. as a hedge against becoming bored in my retirement. Ha! Seems that it is impossible for me to become bored, too many interesting things to do and to learn about and to ponder.
After publishing my book Climate Uncertainty and Risk, and co-authoring the DOE Climate Report (I have prepared revisions to my sections, who knows when this will ever be published), I frankly don’t have much more to say on the topic of the climate wars. I have no interest in battling with the likes of Michael Mann, Andrew Dessler, et al. (does anybody still care what they have to say?)
Apart from the climate wars, I remain very interested in the fascinating and complex climate system, I erratically consume new research as I come across it (which can be pretty random sometimes). But most of climate science has become BORING . . . too much mega-modeling and politicking, and not enough thinking. In any event, I no longer have an interest in writing for the public on these topics.
My professional interests are more focused on extreme weather on timescales from hours to a year, which is the focus of my company Climate Forecast Applications Network (CFAN), along with decision making under uncertainty and risk science. It’s a fascinating time for weather forecasting, and CFAN is deeply immersed on the new opportunities afforded by AI. I write reports on a range of related topics, which are sent to CFAN’s clients (they are not made public). I continue to do consulting on climate-related topics, supporting litigation and developing regional, decadal scale scenarios to support risk assessment for specific client needs.
I’be been pretty quiet on twitter (I can’t bring myself to call it X) for the last several months, maybe I should step up my commentary there — I still have alot to say, and short comments responding to a paper or news item is about the right level of effort at this point.
Now that my granddaughter is in high school (yes she is very interested in science), I have been paying more attention to what is going on at the universities, which I abandoned in disgust almost a decade ago.
Personally, after a big downsize and moving into a much smaller and simpler place, Peter and I are focused on our new dog Lucy, after our previous dogs Bruno and Rosie succumbed to old age. And establishing the garden at our new place.
A peaceful life with family and friends, exploring the world and its new developments from my laptop, and having a blast with AI.
Blog logistics and costs
Climate Etc. is a really old blog in terms of blog years – since 2010. Since then, WordPress has modernized and upgraded. Hacking/security has become a growing issue. The way that Climate Etc. was originally set up is fairly obsolete. Starting in 2022, the blog started having technical issues. WordPress required new plugins for the website to operate in the way that I had been using it. Not sure how many of you noticed, but there have been 2 major blog crashes, and periodically things would stop working such as commenting.
I found a company that would trouble shoot the blog, fix as needed, deal with all the WordPress cr@p and security issues. In looking at my account, over the past 4 years there have been 19 tickets opened, for a total cost of $16K. Now, could I have found someone trustworthy and capable to take care of the blog that would have been cheaper? Maybe, but I’ve frankly just lost interest.
I have set up an account on Substack; if I am ever motivated to resume blogging, that is where I will be. I can also make extended posts on twitter (X) although that is more awkward for anything at all technical. Anything newsworthy that I write I will send to WUWT.
But frankly, beyond this current post I’m not seeing any blogging or other public writing in my future.
Eulogy
Climate Etc. isn’t dead yet, but it is in hospice, and all life support is being removed (I’m not paying any more $$ to support the blog). We’ll see how long the patches, etc. that I’ve already paid for will keep the site accessible.
An experiment that started in 2010 in the wake of ClimateGate, Climate Etc. has exceeded my wildest expectations. It has been one of the highlights of my career, and I am endlessly grateful to all of you who have participated here (especially guest bloggers) and to the new friends and colleagues that I have found from the blog. My book Climate Uncertainty and Risk is a culmination of the topics that we have explored on the blog, and is the legacy of this blog.
While writing this post, I have reminisced about the denizens and “characters” that have come and gone on this blog. An amazing cross section of people with diverse expertises from many different parts of the world.
My deepest thanks to all of the guest posters and commenters that have contributed to making Climate Etc. a vibrant, stimulating and occasionally influential place. My very best wishes to each of you.
One only can be grateful for all the years that you have managed Climate Etc.!
It has been and still is one of the best sources of climate information on the web.
Wish you a lot of joy in your new life as AI adept and watching the scientific progress of your granddaughter…
Thank You
Many, many thanks for all of your work and effort. You have been a shining beacon of reason and integrity – and you are very much appreciated.
Time moves on.
Thank you for all your contributions to the truth.
victory here is about as fuzzy as that for the Iran war.
Victory? Iran is still standing and Trump actually believes in true western fashion that a deal can be done with islam, when the aims of the ummah are very clear. Nothing has been won other than time for islam to regroup.
In the UK we have the inverse of the US. The climate scare is doubled down on day in day out.
“”for many of us, this heatwave will feel even hotter. Where the forecast is a maximum of 35C, it may feel like 41C.”” – Al Ja Beeba
If only there were the hint of a breeze, but there isn’t. So if it’s 35C the 41C is obviously coming from Heathrow Airport or Kew Gardens; ie class 5 (junk) accuracy.
Your third para. is spot on. Until we get an honest MSM owner the scam will continue, fed all the time by Mad Ed et al.
The markets seem to suggest that a meaningful resolution, no matter how bad, will lead to a moderated oil price with WTI currently trading at ~$70/bbl.
Related to Islam and the UK, I recently saw a video from a blond haired blue eyed young woman from Bath lamenting that she is routinely harassed and followed by “migrants.” She said even though she was sexually assaulted (groped) by one, she could not even legally carry pepper spray to protect herself and she is in fear that it will happen again.
WTH.
It’s her fault 🙁
Two tier justice
Is bear spray illegal in the UK? I live in Canada and if you go hiking in the deep woods and natural parks you have to carry bear spray because there are lots of hungry bears out there. Mama bears with cubs are very aggressive and attack any humans that gets close to the clubs.
Is pepper spray illegal in Ireland and the EU? If not, we could set a smuggling operation and get really rich. I have another idea: small designer extendable bats. Push the button and the bat extends to fighting length.
Anything is illegal, including words, if used against a muslim in the UK.
My daughter carries one of these “bats”, it is called a baton. You don’t push a button, though, you just shake it hard downwards to extend it.
She is a serving Police Officer.
Apologies for interrupting off-topic from the real world, but here’s the latest Met Office report for my area (and I’m just a few miles north-east of the centre of the “heat dome.”) https://weather.metoffice.gov.uk/maps-and-charts/temperature-map#?bbox=%5B%5B49.7847493624892,-4.844970703125001%5D,%5B52.33192416048046,3.5925292968750004%5D%5D&model=ukmo-ukv&layer=temperature
At 16:00, only Heathrow and Charlwood (right off the west end of the runway at Gatwick) are showing 35C. Kenley, the nearest believable, is only showing 33C.
Yet, when I go back to my main weather report at https://weather.metoffice.gov.uk/forecast/gcpe4jfzg?new-design=false#?date=2026-06-24, I’m told it’s already 37C where I am!
I’ll capture the screen snapshots – and the 17:00 measurements – and send them to Charles. We might possibly have caught the Met Office exaggerating their own measurements.
Top man.
At least you are getting the data from your local station, as questionable as that may be. My local Met office station, Chertsey, Surrey redirects me to Heathrow. I’m very curious about the rationale of that. I know that the station has recently been surrounded by a solar farm and the temperature readings will now be totally worthless, but there are plenty of places they could have re-sited the station that would give more accurate data for the area. Or maybe they are just content to report that leafy rural Surrey is now as hot as Europe’s busiest airport. Suits the agenda, dontcha know.
Accurate data?
Not wanted.
If you click on the chart it will expand full screen and become clear. Click on the “X” in the circle to contact the chart and return to Comments.
Everyone already knows. You’re the only one who thinks no one does.
The deadender editors are still clinging to El Nino like it’s some floating scraps from the Titanic.
We here in Southern California are looking forward to the “godzilla” El Nino. It will bring rain when (if) it arrives. I’m sorry for other parts of the world that will not get good outcomes from the impending El Nino, but we can use the rain.
Amen to that! Same for Central Wyoming. We’re PRAYING for any massive deluge; it would NOT be a curse, but a blessing. Trust me. We’ve seen massive areas of the desert(s) from Montana to Arizona, and Colorado to Nevada, under Red Flag advisories. Grassland fires have been unwelcomely random. So much of the West is tinder-dry; any small spark would be a wildland fire disaster.
I live in Burnaby, B.C and I remember when there was severe drought in So. Cal. quite awhile back, there was a proposal to refurbish LCC and use these to as tankers to bring water So. Cal. This idea was nixed because it would be too expensive.
And when the rains fall in California it will immediately transition to “Climate Crisis” is causing mudslides and xxx people were made homeless or dies.
I hope I am wrong, but I stand by this prediction until proven wrong.
When did California NOT have hot dry summers with risk of wild fires and some winters where extreme rainfall events caused landslides?
Seriously, if you can’t live with the reality of California, it would be best to go live somewhere with lesser extremes…..
Don’t hold your breath waiting for the rain. We here in Australia have been told also to expect an El Nino which for us means a significant drought. So far though, at least in our area, we appear to have a pretty close to average winter rainfall. if it’s raining, it pretty much isn’t an El Nino. Maybe it is still coming, as it does tend to arrive here at somewhat random intervals but at the moment, I reckon we are getting your rain, half a world way.
Thank you for your contributions to climate common sense. Enjoy your “retirement “ phase 2 and good luck on helping your granddaughter find an institution committed to helping students learn how to think, not what to think.
Thanks, Dr. Curry, for your courageous efforts, but you simply have to look at BBC News to see that the climate fraudsters will never abandon carbon di-taxable.
I enjoyed reading Climate ETC over the years, with a big shout out for “Planning Engineer” for his posts. Sad to see it go but fully understand Dr. Curry’s need to move on.
This is sad news.⠀Prof. Curry’s blog was a lonely tower of integrity rising above a sea of disinformation.
Looking at the Amazon extracts of Climate Uncertainty and Risk, Judith (around p. 500) says that “CO₂ has infrared emission spectra, and thus acts to warm the planet.”
She goes on to say, “The above facts are strongly supported by scientific evidence.”
Clause two (“and thus…“) is presently unknowable,and sentence two is objectively wrong.
I wish Judith only well. But candidly she shows no good grasp of uncertainty, much less its quantification.
And her leap from the IR-activity of CO₂ to climate warming is the absolutely unjustifiable classic of alarmist scientific naivete.
About the political corruption of the entire field, I’m sure she’s dead on.
Well said.
Neither the physics nor the geology support CO2-based climate alarmism. Given that the Democrats are lurching further to the Left by the day and the Republicans are busy, well, being themselves, the idea that climate alarmism can be held at bay by political means is illusory.
In other words, it’s time to get serious about exposing the phenomenological physics at the heart of climate modeling itself in addition to justifiably calling out the very real failure of the GCMs to produce meaningful results.
Good points. Her fortitude and demeanor were/are commendable. In her writings, “uncertainty” seemed more about the doubts of practitioners and investigators, not so much the formalized treatment of error and related concepts in measurement and computation. The latter are more consequential. Dr. Curry’s emphasis on natural variability is well placed.
I didn’t go to Climate Etc often, but there were some really great articles. Notably one from January this year about “educating” an AI to “understand” science rather than hype in the climate arena.
And I do hope that Judith takes the same path on AI as she has done on climate “science.” Seek truths. Ask questions, see that not all is well, investigate, and publish her ideas. We need minds like hers to be focused on what, when the climate change scare eventually dies, could well become the next excuse for tyranny.
A great log by a great woman!
“It’s time to declare victory against climate stupidity and move on.” True, but our technocratic betters have no plans to move on. They have long since decided that carbon footprints are a great way to track, monitor and control the populous through the banking system. Once instituted they can switch from carbon to tracking whatever as a means of control. It’s not about climate or emissions; it’s about fear and power. While past empires and states used currency debasement, internal passports, and rationing to dominate populations, they were always limited by the sheer physical scale of the world. The integration of CBDCs, Digital IDs, and carbon metrics with data centers represents the first time in human history that the logistical means exist to enforce a total, self-executing loop of economic and physical compliance. Have a great day.
As soon as Trump is out of office, it will all be back with a vengeance.
Likely, but we can always hope that additional intelligent people get involved in the government.
Judith,
A missed opportunity.
Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy:
“So long and thanks for all the fish.”
You have led the charge as only few could do and we muchly appreciate all you have done.
We will miss your wisdon and information, but wish you much happiness in your simi-retirement. I will continue to look for your ocasional comments in the future. One dog love to another.
Please don’t drink and type.
Typos occur when sober.
Typos are not the same as slurring.
Please try to be nice.
A mature comment would have merely suggest the poster go back and update the post to correct those simple errors.
BTW, not everyone is proficient with a keyboard.
A very thoughtful and informative essay to go bye on. Thanks, Judith.
Being a dog person, I hope Lucy will be a joy. I’ve found they are all different individuals. Harry Truman popularized the expression that if you want a friend, get a dog. I concur.
Dogs are good people. 🙂
“But most of climate science has become BORING . . . too much mega-modeling and politicking, and not enough thinking.” Appreciate the MEGA- as it is not limited to climate research but we just got shown the impressive movie (PRESSURE) about Eisenhower’s actual meteorological problems with D-Day. Probably not intentional but it had a good ‘wet’ example of which he presciently warned of later as a president. I think I saw this maybe early on from The Viscount Monckton of Benchley’s 30 March 2009 testimony to the US House Committee on Energy and Commerce with, of course, lots of graphs. Most probably was covered here. All you from the “old countries” we came from hang on.
There is still lots of nonsense published in ocean ‘research’ as part of our apparent “Crisis Culture.”
Thank you Dr. Curry for your integrity, fortitude and willingness to confront the climate inquisition. You have made a big difference.
We thank you for your service 🙂
been great reading Dr Curry’s work. Sad to read her more recent personal and professional attacks on Peter Ridd tho.
Amen to that. I wish you success in achieving that goal.
Well, dear Madam, I thank you for the excellent work you have done over all these years, even though I only became acquainted with your work rather late.
I wish you all the best in your future work.
Don’t be a stranger here at WUWT.
Thank you, Dr. Curry, for all your efforts in the battle against the spreading of human ignorance and misery that is the Climate Industrial Complex! Against the infinitude of human stupidity we can never claim total victory, but we can hope that the Master Entertainer and Comedian-in-Chief will cause the vile and corrupt to expose themselves to the ridicule and opprobrium they so richly deserve!
The Climapocalypse: the most expensive and potentially deadly fraud in human history!