“An example of how the report misses an opportunity to be informative. It gives a huge range of possible rises in sea level, using words like ‘reasonable’ and ‘useful.'” Continue reading NAS on National Climate Assessment: ‘Without any estimates of uncertainty, its doubtful whether any policy maker could use this information’
NAS on National Climate Assessment: ‘By overemphasizing the role of climate change, the report may encourage one-sided solutions’
“Multiple stressors are critical, but by taking such a climate-centric perspective, the report distorts the reality of these complex stressors and inadvertently sets up a perspective that reducing emissions will “solve” these problems.” Continue reading NAS on National Climate Assessment: ‘By overemphasizing the role of climate change, the report may encourage one-sided solutions’
NAS on National Climate Assessment: ‘The report is amazingly optimistic about the quality of the regional-scale projections’
“The present CMIP process shows that the variability between the models within a scenario is as large as the variations between scenarios. When you go beyond temperature into variables such as precipitation, the models diverge even more and that they cannot replicate the observational record on a regional scale.” Continue reading NAS on National Climate Assessment: ‘The report is amazingly optimistic about the quality of the regional-scale projections’
National Research Council review of National Climate Assessment: Report is ‘myopic’; ‘Models not especially good’; ‘Need honest assessment’
EU rejects effort to prop up carbon credits
The EU will flood the carbon market with another 900 million tons of credits, sure to force already low carbon prices even lower. Continue reading EU rejects effort to prop up carbon credits
Acting EPA boss: We might go after existing coal plants — Apparently unaware of McCarthy-Senate deal nixing coal plant rules
“[T]hat’s certainly something that will be on the table in this next fiscal year,” acting EPA Administrator Bob Perciasepe told reporters last week. Continue reading Acting EPA boss: We might go after existing coal plants — Apparently unaware of McCarthy-Senate deal nixing coal plant rules
John Kerry gives Chinese free pass in new US-China climate pact; China only to do what is ‘nationally appropriate’
The escape clause for China is the phrase “nationally appropriate action by the United States and China.” China has long said global warming was caused by the West and is the West’s responsibility to resolve. Continue reading John Kerry gives Chinese free pass in new US-China climate pact; China only to do what is ‘nationally appropriate’
EU to vote tomorrow on propping up carbon market; Delay sought in issuance of 900 million tons of permits
“With prices languishing at less than €5 per tonne – because of a glut of the carbon allowances that allow companies to pollute without penalty – it risks instead becoming an embarrassing EU policy failure.” Continue reading EU to vote tomorrow on propping up carbon market; Delay sought in issuance of 900 million tons of permits
Obama’s think tank presses Interior Secretary for coal lease moratorium on federal lands
“Absent a moratorium and reform, Interior is poised to approve 3.5 billion tons of new coal mining, which would be an unprecedented expansion of federal coal extraction. DOI cannot facilitate these massive extraction projects without undermining President Obama’s commitment to address climate change.” Continue reading Obama’s think tank presses Interior Secretary for coal lease moratorium on federal lands
Houston Chron blogger attacks Apollo-era NASA officials for saying climate change research ‘corrupted’ by politics and special interests
“The bottom line for me is that I wouldn’t ask a climate scientist to launch me into space, and I wouldn’t ask a rocket scientist to program the dynamical core of a global circulation model.” Continue reading Houston Chron blogger attacks Apollo-era NASA officials for saying climate change research ‘corrupted’ by politics and special interests
Study: China represents 68% of increase in global CO2 emissions, India 8% from 2000-2010
Flashback: The 1997 Byrd-Hagel Resolution against the Kyoto Protocol was based on the omission of developing countries from emissions limits. Continue reading Study: China represents 68% of increase in global CO2 emissions, India 8% from 2000-2010
Greenpeace summarizes the evolution of ‘Born Wrongborg’
“I must admit being somewhat jealous of Bjorn Lomborg. Here’s a man who has managed to create not just a successful career, but something of a global media empire, off the back of nothing more than being consistently and publically wrong.” Continue reading Greenpeace summarizes the evolution of ‘Born Wrongborg’