How Much Should the Public Know about Climate Science?

A must-read (6 pg.) editorial comment in the October issue of Climate Change by climatologist Dr. Richard C. J.  Somerville, Distinguished Professor Emeritus, of Scripps Institution of Oceanography, University of California.

Consider his words when you vote on Tuesday.  The Republican Party has become the anti-science party with regard to climate change – the greatest threat to humanity now and in the future.  As President Obama told John Stewart of the Daily Show:

You are not voting for the next election, you are voting for the next generation.

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Monckton KO’d in Recent Debate

Update (July 18, 2011): Monckton told he’s not member of House of Lords. Clerk of parliaments publishes letter on Lords’ site saying peer is not and has ‘never been a member of the House of Lords’.

In a recent debate at The Philosophical Society (Debating Club) for University College Cork, Ireland, on October 4, 2010, Lord Christopher Monckton was defeated by Graham Parkes by a vote of 100 – 3.

Climate Change Impacts on Mediterranean Ecosystems

“Mediterranean ecosystems are among the most threatened on Earth. More than 41 percent of their land has been converted to farmland and urban uses. Worldwide, only 5 percent of their natural area is protected.  Most people understand the plight of tropical rainforests, where habitat loss exceeds habitat protection by 2 to 1. In other words, for every acre of rainforest saved, two have been lost to conversion or development. In Mediterranean habitats, the disparity is much greater. For every acre of Mediterranean habitat saved, eight acres have been permanently lost” (Shaw, 2010).“By 2100, the Mediterranean biome is projected to experience the largest proportional loss of biodiversity of all terrestrial biomes due to its significant sensitivity to multiple biodiversity threats and interactions among these threats” (Klausmeyer and Shaw , 2009).      

Shooting the Messenger with Blanks

As detailed in previous blog posts (Wegman-gate: Alert Congress & the Media and Science by Error and Trial), and by this recent Washington Post letter from Rep. Joe Barton (R-TX), Dr. Michael E. Mann is once again being questioned (attacked) about his paleoclimatology research.  I thought it might be constructive to see how Dr. Mann’s published work stacks up against other, more recent temperature reconstructions.

Climate Change Impact on Grasslands & Savannas

According to the IPCC (2007),  temperate grasslands are important for maintaining soil stability and carbon storage and they also provide food for wild and domestic animals. Tropical savanna systems possess significant wild animal diversity that supports tourism revenue and subsistence livelihoods (food, medicinal plants, and construction material), in addition to cultural, regulating and supporting services.  These ecosystems appear to be more sensitive to climate change than previously thought. 

USA Today: Wegman is Being Investigated

According to USA Today, “Officials at George Mason University confirmed Thursday that they are investigating plagiarism and misconduct charges made against a noted climate science critic.” 

In my previous blog post, Wegman-gate: Alert Congress & the Media, I asked readers to alert the media and their elected officials about the Wegman Report.  As detailed in John Mashey on Strange Scholarship in the Wegman Report, the Wegman report was “a facade for a PR campaign well-honed by Washington, DC ‘think tanks’ and allies, underway for years.” 

I hope you will join me in writing to media and government contacts to ask them:

“USA Today is covering this story. Maybe you should look into this also?” 

Science by Error and Trial

I sent the following letter to my elected representatives and to many media outlets.  I hope that you will also consider writing to voice your concern.

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The Attorney General of the state of Virginia, Ken Cuccinelli II, is attempting to force the University of Virginia to turn over email communications and other documents related to the climate science research of Dr. Michael Mann who worked at the University between 1999 and 2005.  This is Cuccinelli’s second attempt to question the integrity of Dr. Mann’s work.  A Virginia judge has already ruled against Cuccinelli’s first attempt.

Making a Mountain Out of a Molehill

What the 10:10 No Pressure Video Represents

Related Post: A Modest Carbon Proposal by Jonathan Swifthack

A Modest Carbon Proposal by Jonathan Swifthack

I have posted this on behalf of my close friend, Jonathan Swifthack:

On Friday, October 1, 2010, a British “green group” known as 10:10 uploaded a video advertisement called No Pressure.  In the opening scene, a school teacher explains that 10:10 wishes us all to reduce our carbon footprint by 10%.  When a few children are hesitant to join the movement, they are blown to pieces and the blood and gore fly.  The ad was pulled within hours.  Of course, those on both sides of the global warming debate expressed their shock and outrage.  I agree.  I am SHOCKED, just SHOCKED that 10:10 suggests that we blow up our children!  What a dumb idea. 

Instead, we should be EATING OUR CHILDREN.