SEA SURFACE TEMPERATURES CONTINUE TO FALL

Sea surface temperatures (SST's) have been falling for the past few months now and continue to do, according to Prof Roy Spencer. I am unable to give the link here due to computer problems, but it is on my list of links on the right hand side if you scroll down. This trend in SST is a prelude to a new La Nina condition which is likely to herald the onset of cooler temperatures across the globe.

USEFUL WEBSITE

One of the main purposes of this website is to provide links to other sites where useful information can be found, hence the extensive list of "links" on the right hand side. Today I have been told of this site which I believe will prove very useful in counter-acting some of the so-called science put out in the media, such as ocean acidification - see here.

CLIMATE MODELS CANNOT BE TRUSTED

This article looks at the role of computer models in science and highlights their limitations.

CLIMATE WARS IN USA POLITICS

This article shows what is going on in the USA where politicians are held to account much more rigorously than here in the UK. If only we had strong independent organisations with the cash to take on the government.

FIDDLED DATA LEADS TO HOTTEST JAN - JUNE

This article explains how a lack of temperature readings leads to an increase in warming. How long can this data fiddling go on we must ask?

CLIMATEGATE INQUIRY - NEW SCIENTIST CRITICISES IT

New Scientist, the best selling science magazine has criticised the latest climategate inquiry, headed by Sir Muir Russell - see here for the details. I am starting to think that these Inquiries have been so pathetic that they are having the opposite effect to what was hoped for, ie they are drawing more attention to the emails and what they really said.

PROF. CHRISTY ANSWERS QUESTIONS

One man who is respected by both sides of the climate debate is Professor John Christy. Here he answers questions on global warming. It is, as ever, an interesting exchange.

WESTERN CO2 CUTS POINTLESS AS CHINA POWERS AWAY ON COAL

There is one incontrovertible argument against unilateral cuts in CO2 emissions by the developed western nations, and that is that unless the new emerging giants such as China and India agree to the same cuts then the result will be that CO2 levels will simply go on rising as industries collapse in the West and the production moves to the new giants taking the wealth and the jobs with them. If you believe that China is embarking on a "low Carbon" economy then read this. The question is - why does our government attempt to deny this reality and saddle us with such futile policies as the Climate Change Act?

CO2 CAPTURE MAKES ELECTRICITY UP TO 80% DEARER

According to this article fitting so-called 'carbon capture' to coal-fired power stations would make electricity up to 80% more expensive. This is from a new US government report. Surely the Senate will not vote for such a scheme as carbon trading knowing that these costs will cause a fatal blow to both private consumers and industry.

SON OF KYOTO - PLAN B

This article in the Guardian looks at what the UN are now considering in what might be described as a last-ditch attempt to save their precious carbon-trading dream. Some of the commenters have seen through it and put it very well. No government dares to give away their wealth and prosperity, and that is what they would be signing up to.

SPIN AND PLOTS AT THE IOP

The IOP (Institute of Physics) made a submission to the inquiry into the Climategate scandal. The submission was quite critical of the CRU scientists. This article explains how the submission was undermined in order to reduce its effect. A very determined piece of work by those who want the alarmist view to prevail.

NEW CLIMATE MOVIE FOR STUDENTS

I have just heard of a plan to produce a new climate movie aimed at the youth market. Such a movie is surely needed with all the mis-information currently going through schools. To find out more about this project and how you may be able to help go to this website.

COMPUTER FAILURE MEANS BLOGGING LITE

I am sorry to report that I have been experiencing computer problems which has restricted my blogging efforts in recent days. I hope that readers will be understanding and use the excellent links on the right hand side. For news I recommend The Global Warming Policy Foundation (GWPF) and Watts Up With That (WUWT).

CRAZY CARBON TRADING WILL DESTROY EU INDUSTRY

This report shows how EU industries are 'offsetting' their carbon emissions by directly subsidising their competitors in China and India. How long can this crazy economics continue before EU industries collapse?

HOW RELIABLE IS THE TEMPERATURE RECORD?

The whole case for global warming depends on the records of temperatures and how reliable they are. This 200 page book is an in depth look at the issue. The findings in this account would give any reasonable objective person cause for concern. If you don't have time for 200 pages a summary can be read here by James Delingpole.

CLIMATE POLICY RISKS UK RECOVERY

Climate change policies risk major damage to the economic recovery

A preoccupation with 'green' energy policies at any cost undermines the competitiveness of manufacturing industry

A newly published report from the independent think tank Civitas reveals that the increased costs of energy arising from 'green' energy policies are set to increase significantly. Increased costs will hurt manufacturing at a time when much depends on the sector to generate the economic growth the country needs, and to rebalance the economy.

In British Energy Policy And The Threat To Manufacturing Industry, Ruth Lea and Jeremy Nicholson examine the impact of the recent Labour Government's policy on energy prices. They argue that Labour's aim to reduce carbon emissions and increase the proportion of energy generated from renewable sources, significantly increased costs for energy consumers. Lea and Nicholson's analysis provides a timely warning because under the new Coalition Government, energy policy could be as damaging to manufacturing industry as it was under Labour.

Business electricity bills already incur a 21% 'surcharge' because of 'green' commitments

Lea and Nicholson cite evidence that the recent Labour Government's climate change strategy hiked up electricity bills. For example, BERR estimated in 2008 that the 'surcharge' on electricity prices, attributable to climate-change policies, amounted to an extra 14% for domestic users and 21% for business. Furthermore, DECC's The Renewable Energy Strategy (2009) suggested that these surcharges could be as high as 33% and 70% by 2020 respectively.

Lea and Nicholson highlight the two major legislative commitments responsible:

1. The Climate Change Act (2008) - including a legally binding target of at least an 80% cut in greenhouse gas emissions by 2050.

2. The EU's Renewables Directive (2008) - under which the UK must meet 15% of its final energy consumption through renewable sources by 2020.

Britain will bear a greater cost than other countries

This country is particularly badly placed for such commitments. First, Britain is starting with a very modest renewables industry, so the burden of the EU's Renewables Directive will be substantial:

'The proportion of renewables to total energy consumption in 2005 was just 1.3%, compared with an EU27 average of 8.5%.' (p.6)

Secondly, even without the extra costs associated with climate change policies that are due to be imposed, Lea and Nicholson argue, Britain's industrial electricity prices already tend to be amongst the highest of any major economy. This puts British business and, in particular, energy intensive users at a cost and international competitiveness disadvantage. Moreover, given the expected increases in the climate change surcharges, Britain's cost disadvantage will almost certainly increase, thus undermining competitiveness further.

'Such extra costs would inevitably tilt the balance for many businesses and render them unviable in Britain.' (p.10)

Energy intensive industries to be hardest hit
- with a domino effect on downstream industries

Energy intensive users, including steel, glass and ceramics, bulk chemicals, industrial gases and cement, are especially vulnerable. These are important contributors to GDP not only in their own right but also because of their inter-dependent relationship with 'downstream' industries. As Jeremy Nicholson comments:

'Britain is already losing energy intensive businesses because of the lack of competitiveness... There is no doubt that high energy prices have already been a factor behind industry closures.' (pp.10-11)

Lea and Nicholson outline specific examples of the layers of 'fall out' from such closures - for example, the INEOS Chlor plant in Cheshire manufactures chlorine and caustic soda which are vital inputs to a wide-range of 'downstream' industries including disinfectants, plastics, pharmaceuticals, soaps and detergents.

'Rather than import the basic chemicals, many of the downstream businesses would migrate to countries where they were still domestically produced for reasons of reliability of supply and transport costs.' (p.13)

Policy must help rather than hinder

As the economy struggles to emerge from the economic crisis of 2008-2009, it is widely assumed that the manufacturing sector will contribute positively to the general recovery and the rebalancing of the economy. Under these circumstances, the report calls on the new Coalition Government to ensure that manufacturing industries are supported by policies that help rather than hinder their competitiveness to enable economic growth and therefore lead to fewer public spending cuts. According to Ruth Lea:

"The economy desperately needs a competitive and thriving manufacturing sector if it is to prosper. Competitive energy prices are vital to the success of manufacturers, especially energy intensive users. Government energy policies are, however, remorselessly driving up energy costs thus risking the 'migration' of manufacturing plants to economies where the costs are lower." To read the full booklet use this link.

COULD CFC's HAVE CAUSED GLOBAL WARMING?

This article refers to a new peer-reviewed paper which suggests that CFCs, rather than CO2, were responsible for the recent warming of the 1980's and 1990's. The paper, which can be read from a link in the article, concludes that, since CFCs have now been banned and are declining, the future leads not to warming but to cooling. An interesting hypothesis.

MP SAYS RUSELL INQUIRY WAS INADEQUATE

This report in the Daily Express says MP Graham Stringer, who was on the original parliamentary inquiry into the leaked climate emails, has called the latest review by Sir Muir Russell 'inadequate' and wants parliament to look into it further.

More on this here

SCRAP THE CLIMATE ACT!

The new coalition government, in the person of Nick Clegg (Deputy PM), has started a website in which members of the public are invited to put forward legislation that they want to see scrapped. One suggestion on the site is the scrapping of the Climate Change Act which sets out the UK's unilateral programme of decarbonisation.

The link to the suggestion is Here. I have added it on the side bar for ease of finding it. I'm sure Nick Clegg would love to see this measure receive your support (NOT!). I have no doubt they will avoid repealing this, but wouldn't it be delightfully embarrassing if it got so much support that they squirmed a bit. Before you can comment and rate an idea you have to register which is quite easy to do.

SCHOOL CLIMATE PROPAGANDA

Here is a new site which highlights the on-going propaganda emanating in our schools. There is no doubt that there is a very big effort being promoted to indoctrinate school students. Since the Gore film case this has taken other forms. Visit this blog to see what's happening.

RUSSELL REVIEW CALLS FOR MORE OPENNESS

This report gives details of some mild criticism of the CRU. As mentioned in a previous post this review was more whitewash than criticism, but nevertheless it had to find some faults.

ARCTIC SHOWS NO SIGN OF WARMING

This report confirms that the Arctic has not continued to warm as forecast by the computer climate models.

CLIMATE MODELS ARE FLAWED

This article refers to new research confirming that current computer climate models are unreliable as they are based on incomplete information. This backs up the fact that their predictions have not been born out by events in the real world.

ANOTHER BUCKET OF WHITEWASH

This report confirms the Muir Russell report was another feeble review into the climategate emails. We have now had three whitewashes which is no surprise to most. However they do not fool anyone who has read these emails which clearly show that these scientists were working to conceal the weakness of their work and trying to prevent other scientists from getting their work published while preventing their own data from being accessed.

SO MUCH FOR AN "INDEPENDENT" INQUIRY

Here, if proof were needed, is the evidence that the Oxburgh Inquiry was a feeble attempt to whitewash those involved in the CRU email scandal. How can these people be allowed to get away with it? Is there no one in parliament who can hold them to account?

THE HYPOCRISY OF POLITICIANS

This article highlights the sheer hypocricy of the New Zealand PM over climate change from stating his scepticism to his introduction of an emission trading scheme. How can voters support such behaviour?

WARMIST LIES AND PROPAGANDA

This article is an excellent example from WUWT Blog, which shows how alarmist propaganda is used to deceive the population.

ANOTHER THEORY FALLING OUT OF FAVOUR

The problem with understanding such massive and complex things as climate ans ocean circulation is that there is still so much we simply do not know. In this interesting article the ocean conveyer theory which has been taught as a fact for around 50 years is know seriously being challenged by leading experts.

PEAK OIL DEFERRED

This piece explains the latest thinking on the world's oil supply and demand. Interestingly their conclusion this time is almost the opposite of that of last year. It makes you wonder whether one should place any credence on these predictions at all.

G20 ABANDONS PLEDGES ON CLEAN ENERGY

This piece from the Earth Times (not a publication I often refer to!) makes a very interesting observation on the recent press release from the G20 - 'They went through this document with a vacuum cleaner to remove any reference to clean energy. In the Pittsburgh G20 summit (in September 2009), there were 8 references to 'clean energy' - in this one, there is zero," WWF climate expert Kim Carstensen said.

I don't believe this could happen by accident. Clearly there must be major disagreements on this issue.

DATA FIDDLING GOES UP A GEAR

This report on WUWT explains how a lack of thermometer readings seems, inexplicably to lead to a greater degree of warming. How very convenient some might say!

A REAL DANGER FROM CO2

This report highlights a real danger from CO2 when it is in very high concentrations. In this case it is being emitted naturally by volcanic activity, but this could be caused if the gas is artificially stored undeground and then leaks out. It is certainly something which cannot be ignored, just like the storage of nuclear waste.