MAJOR REPORT SAYS NO CHANGE IN ENERGY USE FOR DECADES

This report gives the details of a detailed look at our future energy use. Despite all the efforts from government and others to get us to move away from fossil fuels, this report informs us that any change will be marginal, and that, as we already know, the developing nations will increase their use of coal and oil far faster than we will reduce ours, leaving the world with more and more CO2 in the atmosphere. Lucky that it is not a major problem. 

TOP IPCC SCIENTIST ASSERTS THAT 75% OF REPORT WAS DELETED BY POLITICIANS

Here is the story in the Mail.

TOP CLIMATE SCIENTIST FORCED TO RESIGN FROM GWPF

Here are the details including a resignation letter from Prof Lennart Bengtssen who only joined the GWPF three weeks ago. Other scientists are now writing in to support him. See here . This shows the alarmist scientists in a very bad light and I expect it will rebound on them, giving more publicity than if they had simply kept quiet. It is no wonder that many scientists are afraid to speak out against this cult of alarmist science.

 

Mark Steyn has written a piece about this here.

Update - further support from Mike Hulme see here
 

UNIVERSITY ACADEMICS WANT TO PUT UP ELECTRICITY PRICE

Here is the story. It just shows the lack of joined up thinking these people have. They only see as far as their idealistic theoretical world allows them to. They imagine that putting up the price will allow more funding to insulate poor peoples homes, forgetting that by making electricity more expensive it will wipe out any savings gained by having insulation done.  We will all end up paying more to heat our homes and it won't make the slightest difference to the climate.

MASSIVE SOLAR FARM PRODUCES A TRICKLE OF POWER AT GREAT COST

This piece looks at the real truth behind the hype, and calculates the real output of a "massive" solar farm.

YET ANOTHER EMINENT CLIMATE SCIENTIST JOINS THE SCEPTICS

Gradually, the ice seems to be melting – if not at the polar caps, then at least in the climate debates: for the first time, a widely recognized expert has changed camps. Lennart Bengtsson , the Swedish climatologist, meteorologist and former director of the Max Planck Institute for Meteorology in Hamburg, has now joined the GWPF’s academic advisory council. Bengtsson’s arguments do not sound like the radicalism of old age. Rather, he exhorts his colleagues to be more prudent and empirical. For the uninitiated, this approach may be comforting, because the climate debate has long been a highly complex issue. Now, for the first time, an expert like Bengtsson admits that he and others like him fare little better: how the world’s climate will develop in coming years and decades remains pure speculation. --Hans Jörg Müller, Basler Zeitung, 7 May 2014  We urgently need to explore realistic ways to address the scientific, technical and economic challenges in solving the energy problems of the world and the associated environmental problems. I think the best and perhaps only sensible policy for the future is to prepare society for adaptation and change. In 25 years the world will have nine to ten billion people. This will require twice as much primary energy as today. We need to foster new science and technology. We need a more open approach, especially here in Europe, which includes the issues of nuclear energy and genetic engineering, in order to supply the growing world population with energy and food. --Lennart Bengtsson, Spiegel Online, 5 May 2014 My main conclusion from reading the U.S. National Climate Assessment Report is this: the phrase ‘climate change’ is now officially meaningless. The report effectively implies that there is no climate change other than what is caused by humans, and that extreme weather events are equivalent to climate change. Any increase in adverse impacts from extreme weather events or sea level rise is caused by humans. Possible scenarios of future climate change depend only on emissions scenarios that are translated into warming by climate models that produce far more warming than has recently been observed. --Judith Curry, Climate Etc., 6 May 2014 Attempts to stem sea level rises by reducing CO2 levels in order to “combat” global warming are a complete waste of time says a new report by two of the world’s leading oceanographic scientists. Over the last 150 years, average global sea levels have risen by around 1.8 mm – a continuation of the melting of the ice sheets which began 17,000 years ago. Such modest rises, argue oceanographer Willem P de Lange and marine geologist Bob Carter in their report for the Global Warming Policy Foundation, are far better dealt with by adaptation than by costly, ineffectual schemes to decarbonise the global economy. --James Delingpole, Breitbart London, 7 May 2014

NEW THREAT TO UK FROM ICELANDIC VOLCANO

Below is an article sent to me from the UK times. 


Sunday Times         27 April 2014
Britain faces climate chaos from toxic Icelandic volcano blast
Jonathan Leake, Environment Editor

Iceland’s Krafla volcano generates a fissure eruption — but on a far smaller
scale than the Laki event
BRITAIN’S greatest future threat may come not from flooding, terrorism or economic collapse but from a supervolcano erupting in Iceland, a Cabinet Office report is to warn ministers.

Such an eruption would blanket the UK and northern Europe with ash and toxic fumes, creating climatic chaos — including roastingly hot summers and bitterly cold winters, a cycle that could last several years, the report will warn.

The alert emerged from a study commissioned by the Cabinet Office from scientists at the Met Office, British Geological Survey (BGS), and the universities of Leeds, Edinburgh and others.

The scientists, who will detail their findings at the European Geosciences Union annual meeting in Vienna this week, found that such eruptions had happened before. The last was in 1783 but Iceland has produced at least three other large ones and more than 200 smaller ones in the last 1,130 years.

A paper, to be presented by Sue Loughlin, head of volcanology at the BGS, said that the study was prompted by the eruption of Iceland’s Eyjafjallajokull volcano in 2010, when volcanic dust over Britain and the Atlantic became so dense that hundreds of flights had to be cancelled for fear it would cause aircraft engines to seize up.

Loughlin will say it has become apparent that Eyjafjallajokull was a relatively small event so the chaos it caused showed that volcanic eruptions present a far greater hazard to the UK than had been realised — with the greatest threat coming from a so-called “effusive gas-rich eruption”.

Her paper warns that such eruptions “typified by the Laki eruption in Iceland in 1783-84, have been identified as one of the three highest priority natural hazards faced by the UK”.

It means the Cabinet Office’s civil contingencies secretariat will now rank the threat of a supervolcanic eruption in Iceland alongside an outbreak of pandemic influenza, similar to the one that killed up to 100m people globally from 1918-20, and on a par with a terrorist attack involving a nuclear device.

The 1783 event began when lava erupted not from a classic, cone-shaped volcano but from a 17-mile crack that appeared in the Earth’s surface within the Grimsvotn volcanic complex in eastern Iceland.

Over the following eight months the crack’s 130 craters poured out 3.6 cubic miles of lava and generated lava fountains nearly a mile high.

The volcano devastated Iceland, killing 80% of the country’s livestock; 20% of the human population starved to death.

For Europe, however, the biggest impact came from the plume of fine dust and gases, including 120m tons of sulphur dioxide, that were carried 10 miles into the sky where high-level winds pushed them southwest.

Loughlin and her colleagues have conducted an extensive study of weather and mortality data in Britain. Their report says: “Meteorological records show that there was extreme heat in the summer of 1783, followed by an exceptionally cold winter in the northern hemisphere. There were unusual thunderstorms, ball lightning and large hailstones.”

The impact on health was also huge. Sulphur dioxide breathed into the lungs forms sulphuric acid, causing inflammation that can be fatal. In Britain, about 23,000 people are estimated to have died — in a population that was far lower than today and with fewer older people.

For David Cameron and his ministers, perhaps the most sobering aspect of the scientists’ report concerns the social turmoil caused by the Laki eruption — mostly linked to crops failing because of the bad weather. In France, this could even have helped provoke the French Revolution of 1789.

The sheer power of Iceland’s volcanoes emerged from other work that found they had poured out 20.8 cubic miles of lava over the past 1,130 years. Grimsvotn alone has erupted 21 times, while Katla, another volcanic system, has exploded 25 times.

The government has now set up a volcanic ash advisory centre, run by the Met Office, to monitor Iceland’s 30 active volcano systems.

STANFORD UNIVERSITY TO SELL ALL ITS COAL STOCK

Here is the story. I think the headline figure of 18 billion dollars refers to the whole of their portfolio, and not the value of coal stock, which is probably quite small. I am sure there are plenty of other investors out there who will buy up the surplus stock, if it represents good value. This seems to come under the heading of "gesture dealing".

THE CLIMATE CHANGE LEGAL WAR

This story shows that lawyers are trying to muscle into the global warming area. I am not sure how such litigation is going, but it is a sinister development, potentially adding a further massive sum to the unfortunate taxpayer, who is most likely to end up paying.

NEW ALARMIST CLIMATE REPORT ISSUED IN USA

Here is an update on the report and the exaggeration used in it to try and boost flagging support for more tax increases to deal with the inflated problem.

SWEDES GIVE UP ON CARBON CAPTURE

This piece gives the details. It does seem to point out that capturing and storing CO2 is currently a non-starter. Someone should tell our climate change minister, Ed Davey. 

US EPA PUSHES UP ENERGY PRICES BY THE BACK DOOR

This article explains how the Environment Protection Agency (EPA) is gaining new powers from the Supreme Court to enforce ever stricter regulations on energy companies. This is causing higher energy prices for consumers and industry. A similar picture to that here in the UK, though they are regulating directly.

TOP LEVEL NZ GEOSCIENTIST DECLARES HIMSELF A CLIMATE CHANGE SCEPTIC

http://joannenova.com.au/2014/05/david-kear-former-director-general-nz-dsir-says-a-non-existent-threat/#more-35166> This article

gives the detailed explanation of why he has decided to speak out. It is always interesting to read the views of a senior scientist who makes this decision. It is not as if he needed to do this and so it is a voluntary act done as a sense of duty to his fellow man.

 

SINKING CITIES OUTPACE SEA LEVEL RISE BY 10 TO 1

Here is the link to the article explaining the research, which blames ground water extraction as one of the main causes of cities sinking.

NEW LECTURE FROM LORD LAWSON

Here is a link to the text of a recent lecture given by Lord Lawson. It is a very persuasive mix of logic and reason which we have come to expect from him. Well worth reading.

MONEY RUNNING OUT IN UN CLIMATE FUND

This article lifts the lid on the massive amounts of money that have been transferred from western nations to those in the developing world via the UN's Clean Development Mechanism. Now that growth in the West has slowed the vast sums have slowed to a trickle, and yet the bureaucracy lives on. Apparently western governments have pledged £100 billion a year by 2020. How nice of our government to promise to continue to give away our taxes in order to save us from global warming that stopped 17 years ago. No wonder UKIP are doing so well in the polls.

MANN'S HOCKEY STICK LAID BARE

Here is a great article which examines the working of Alarmist climate scientist Michael Mann. It covers six pages, though the pages are short and it does not take very long to read.  It broadly sketches out the case for the National Review in its defence against Michel Mann's libel action. After reading it you may wonder what possessed Mann in bringing this action.

NEW STUDY SHOWS CLIMATE CHANGE MAKES EXTREME RAINFALL MORE LIKELY IN SOUTHERN ENGLAND

This report unsurprisingly comes from the Guardian, and it shows no links to an actual paper. Here is a short extract from the Guardian "Friederike Otto, from the university’s school of geography and the environment, said: “It will never be possible to say that any specific flood was caused by human-induced climate change. We have shown, however, that the odds of getting an extremely wet winter [in the UK] are changing due to man-made climate change. Past greenhouse gas emissions and other forms of pollution have loaded the weather dice so the probability of the south of England experiencing extremely wet winters has increased.”

Only a few years ago the "experts" were saying the opposite http://www.telegraph.co.uk/earth/3334871/South-East-same-as-Sahara-for-drought-risk.html  "The South East of England will be at risk of serious water shortages which could lead to higher bills and rationing by 2030, according to a report published today." 

IS ANTARCTIC SHOWING SIGNS OF GLOBAL WARMING?

Her is an interesting post by the excellent Paul Homewood which looks at the evidence that temperatures in Antarctica during the past 2000 years have probably been warmer than the current period. And yet the alarmists insist on trying to make us believe that the present time is "unprecedented". 

FREE SPEECH ON CLIMATE CHANGE - THE DEBATE GOES ON

This piece looks at the hotly contested debate on whether to allow sceptics to speak or write their views on any aspect of climate change. As you will read, the so-called consensus people are a very intolerant lot.

GOVERNMENT CONTROL OF THE ENERGY MARKET CREATES WINNERS AND LOSERS

This newsletter explains how the UK government is now controlling the energy market, and just as in the former Soviet Union, this level of control is actually counter-productive, creating winners and loser by government policy.

DAME JULIA WRONG AGAIN ON FLOODS

This well researched piece shows what nonsense the Met Office Chief Scientist has uttered on the matter of the recent UK floods. She must surely realise that her credibility will be considerably reduced if she continues to make wild insinuations that are completely at odds with the facts.

THE FACTS HIDDEN IN THE LATEST IPCC REPORTS - THINGS ARE NOT AS BAD AS THEY CLAIM

This article by Bjorn Lomborg looks into the details of the latest IPCC reports and he comes to the conclusion that behind the scary headlines the reality is that the science is giving a more benign scenario.

NEW UK RENEWABLE ENERGY PROJECTS ANNOUNCED

This piece  on Paul Homewood's blog explains what is being carried forward and the massive cost to the UK population.

UK GOVERNMENT SHOOTS ITSELF IN THE FOOT

You would have difficulty making this up, if it wasn't true. Here is the report of the latest climate tax disaster being inflicted on it's ailing industry. The government, not content with the EU's carbon tax scheme, has introduced its own extra scheme to put taxes on CO2 emissions up even more. Then they realised that these taxes would destroy some of our energy intensive industries ands so they exempted them from paying them. Now we hear that the EU has told us that this is not allowed. Oh dear!

DEVELOPING COUNTRIES TRY TO ESCAPE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THEIR CO2 EMISSIONS

This report shows the attitude of developing countries like India to the idea that they should be subject to any binding agreement to cut emissions of CO2. They don't want to do it. They whinge about the developed nations having a "historical responsibility", but what they over-look is that unless they are prepared to submit themselves to cuts, the overall global emissions will simply go on rising, but I don't think they really care about this. This whole global warming/climate change theme is nothing more than a stick with which the developed nations can be beaten. The real goal is not cutting CO2, but redistribution of wealth.   

COULD GLOBAL WARMING BE CAUSED BY CHANGES IN OUR GALACTIC SURROUNDINGS

This article explains that our solar system is now moving through a more active part of the galaxy. Apparently we were not originally part of the Milky Way at all, but were in a much smaller galaxy called Sagittarius. The part of the article relevant to global warming is on the second section (part 2). Here is the paragraph in question:

"Implications in Global Warming?It has been postulated that this is the real reason for global warming since higher energy levels of the Milky Way are almost certain to cause our Sun to burn hotter and emit higher energies. Indeed, temperatures have been seen to rise on virtually all the planets in our system. This seems quite apart from any local phenomenon like greenhouse gases etc."

There is just one query, and that is I have not heard any evidence that our Sun is burning significantly hotter. Oh well, it's an interesting piece, and perhaps it causes an increase in cosmic rays.

WHY DO CLIMATE SCIENTISTS EXPECT MORE ACCURACY FROM LESS THERMOMETERS?

One very strange fact that many people are unaware of, is that today the climate scientists determining the average temperature of the surface are only using around 25% of the measuring stations that were in use during the 1960's. Read the details here. Even at the largest number, there were only just over 6,000 measurements used to compile the record, which seems a fairly small number, bearing in mind the huge size of the Earth's surface. Even worse these thermometers are not evenly spread. In fact, as might be expected the bulk of them are in the USA and Europe, with only a very few in large parts of Africa and even less in the polar regions. What happens is that the vast gaps in the thermometer coverage are being filled in by what should be called "educated guesswork". It is this record, it must be remembered, which is used to form the basis of all the evidence that the planet is heating up and to make the demands for highly expensive action to reduce carbon dioxide emissions to stop it.

AUSSIE ATTORNEY GENERAL STANDS UP FOR FREE SPEECH ON CLIMATE CHANGE

Here is the story from the Guardian. Judging by the comments the Attorney General's views are not popular with many Guardian readers. Those of a more democratic mind-set should support him

WORLD TEMPERATURE RECORDS AVAILABLE VIA GOOGLE EARTH

Here is a link to the article on WUWT website. While there is much cynicism about the motives of the CRU in providing this data, it is nevertheless interesting to see and could be a valuable resource.

SVENSMARK SEEMS TO BE RIGHT AFTER ALL

This report looks at a new paper which concludes that the solar-cosmic ray theory which shows how small variations in the sun's output can have a much greater influence on the formation of clouds due to an increase in cosmic rays reaching the Earth.

NEW CLIMATE REPORT BY THE NIPPC SAYS "NO CAUSE FOR ALARM OVER CLIMATE CHANGE"

Here is an article about the new report and its completely contrasting conclusion over the rate of global warming. The NIPPC rely on observations, whereas the IPCC rely on predictions from computer models.

PACIFIC ATOLLS UNAFFECTED BY RISING SEAS

Here's welcome news for the inhabitants of Tuvalu or Kiribati. Although it is not welcomed by the climate alarmists who are trying to insist that dangerous sea level rise is happening. 

NO A LEVEL FOR STUDENT NOT "ON MESSAGE" WITH CLIMATE CHANGE

This piece by Christopher Booker looks at the way students are being forced to accept climate propaganda in order to pass their exams.

IPCC BARS THE MEDIA AND WELCOMES ACTIVISTS

This report highlights a little known fact that the IPCC does not allow reporters to attend the final sessions at which the Summary for Policy-makers is agreed. However they do allow the likes of Greenpeace and Friends of the Earth to remain, leaving the impression that they are far from neutral scientists merely reporting the facts.

CLIMATE CHANGE PLAN B - REMOVE CO2

According to this article the final report from the IPCC concentrates on Plan B for the prevention of excess global warming, which is to remove excess CO2 from the atmosphere. Just one problem - there is no known way to remove sufficient CO2 to make any difference. Apart from that, which countries will agree to do it?

HOW CLIMATE CHANGE CONQUERED THE US CAMPUS AND THE UK SCHOOLS

This article looks at how environmental activism has penetrated deep into the education system of the USA. This report seems to chime with the release of this booklet by the GWPF. This is not exactly new news, but nevertheless seeing it documented does highlight that it is still going on, and gradually tightening its grip. I suspect it will take some time for it to go away.

SEA LEVEL RISE DECREASING - NEW PAPER

This article looks at the statistics which show that since the pause in temperature rise the rise in sea level has also decreased.

BBC CLIMATE PROPAGANDA HIGHLIGHTED

This article highlights a very biased piece on the issue of crop yields being affected by global warming. Of course the obvious question is what warming? The piece includes a world map which is colour coded in a most biased way to try to scare readers. 

UK BEGINS TO EXPLOIT MASSIVE COAL RESERVES UNDER NORTH SEA

This article will get climate alarmists frothing at the mouth. It came as a complete surprise to me, though when you read it, what it actually says is that the coal is not being mined, but it is being subjected to an underground coal gasification process. This really is good news for those not of an alarmist mind set, as it should lead to cheaper gs prices and plentiful supplies of chemical feedstock.

1875 THE COLDEST TIME ON GREENLAND FOR 10,000 YEARS SAYS SCIENTIST

This report tells the story. The measurements were made by a science expert using ice core data.

BEWARE OF THE GREEN DOOMSAYERS

This article by Peter Hitchens looks at the quasi-religious attitude of those who believe in the impending climate catastrophe.  

10 THINGS THE ARCHBISHOP NEEDS TO KNOW ABOUT CLIMATE CHANGE

Here is a good rebuttal by Paul Homewood to the alarmist rant from the former Archbishop of Canterbury, Rowan Williams. Paul is really doing excellent work on his prodigious blog.

ANIMALS AND HUMAN SUFFERING WITH WIND FARMS

This article looks at a number of cases of harm alleged to be caused by nearby wind farms. It includes death as well as birth defects inflicted on animals. Not a good situation for anyone to have to face.

'SOCIALISM OR EXTINCTION' STUDY DEBUNKED BY PROFESSOR

This article looks at the maths behind the "study" which claims that humans cannot survive unless they become true socialists and share things equally. Professor Briggs has debunked the thing by showing that it is all based on subjective inputs that are no better than plucked out of the air.

WHY DID THE MET OFFICE TRY TO HIDE THE EARLY PART OF THE CENTRAL ENGLAND TEMPERATURE RECORD?

The central England Temperature Record is the oldest in the world and it is used prominently on the Met Office website. "Not A Lot of People Know That" is an excellent website by Paul Homewood. Paul has discovered that, although the record starts in 1659, the prominent graph begins in 1772. Paul has highlighted that this early section shows a remarkable rise in temperature between the 1690's and the 1730's of over 2 degrees Celsius, much steeper than the recent rise in the late twentieth century. Here is link to the graph and the article.    

WOOD BURNING STOVES TO BE BANNED IN USA

Draconian new rules are causing misery to many in the USA according to this report. These rules are not being made by government but instead by the Environment Protection Agency (EPA) who are doing so on the grounds that they emit small particles of soot, though many say that the soot is trivial and the amount is far lower than in a car occupied by a smoker.

More on this here

BIG ROWS OVER SO-CALLED "CLIMATE IMPACTS" AS NEW REPORT LAUNCHED

This article by Roger Pielke seems to have caused a big fuss, due to criticism from a large number of readers, most, if not all, of whom have an ulterior motive. The upshot of all this is that the website owner has given a grovelling apology to the two leading critics described in this piece in the Huffington Post. As I put in my own comment on the website, there is clearly no consensus on the effect of climate change, indeed many would ask - what climate change after no temperature rise for 17 years.

BBC APPEAR TO CARE MORE ABOUT 3 POISONED BIRDS THAN HUNDREDS CHOPPED BY WIND TURBINES

This piece on Bishop Hill looks at a report on the BBC website about bird of prey deaths in Scotland due to poisoning, which have increased from 3 to 6.  The piece then looks at the number of birds killed by wind turbines in the USA and attempts to estimate a figure for those killed in Scotland. Although it is only an estimate the figure is likely to be in the hundreds, and yet the BBC seem to ignore this. The inference being that the turbine deaths are in a "good cause" and "unavoidable".  

MORE ON THE NEW IPCC REPORT ON IMPACTS

Here is an analysis by Matt Ridley who has detected a more muted tone on the alarmist rhetoric in the latest proclamation by the IPCC. It will be interesting to see how this report is treated in the media when it actually gets released next week.

THE GREEN ECONOMY

This article by the Scientific Alliance looks at the green jobs situation in the light of the recent announcement by Siemens and Associated British Ports to invest £310 million in wind turbine manufacturing.   

MASS EXTINCTION FORECASTS ARE GROSSLY EXAGGERATED

This report looks at a leaked copy of the new report about to be issued by the IPCC and finds that claims of mass extinctions of species due to climate change are a gross exaggeration. The draft report includes a surprising admission by the IPCC -- that it doubts its own computer simulations for species extinctions. "There is very little confidence that models currently predict extinction risk accurately," the report notes. The IPCC admits that there is no evidence climate change has led to even a single species becoming extinct thus far.

NEW IPCC REPORT TO BE ISSUED NEXT WEEK

This article from the BBC looks at the forthcoming report from the IPCC about the impacts of climate change. One scientist has already pulled out, claiming that the report is far too alarmist. The whole problem is that most of it is "guesswork" based on computer projections. I note that they seem to be hedging their bets - I particularly enjoyed this piece, "British winters are likely to become milder and wetter like the last one but cold spells still need to be planned for, says the UK Met Office. Summers are likely to be hotter and drier, but washouts are still on the cards, it adds". So now we know!

Another report believes the report may include a line likely to be hotly contested if it survives a final review by IPCC delegates gathered this week in Yokohama, Japan: "Estimates agree on the size of the impact [of climate change] (small relative to economic growth) but disagree on the sign." 

IPCC DOES U TURN ON BIO FUELS

This article in the Telegraph explains how the IPCC has completely changed its mind on growing crops for energy. Whereas it used to be in favour of such things it is now opposed. I wonder what this will mean for the UK's Drax power station which is currently converting from coal to wood? The trouble with all this mind-changing is that it can have very expensive consequences. 

MAIL ON SUNDAY KEEPS SHINING A LIGHT ON ENERGY ISSUES

This article in the Mail on Sunday covers several different points. The main piece is about new developments in nuclear fusion - apparently it is now nearer to becoming a practical proposition as several of the more difficult problems are being overcome. How ironic it would be that after spending billions on wind turbines and solar panels that  nuclear fusion should become a reality!

The second part of the piece is about heightened concerns that wood pellets being shipped across from the USA to burn in the UK's Drax power station to replace some of the coal it currently burns. These concerns are from various green organisations, who seem to have at last seen the light.

Finally there is a bit about a BBC Scotland executive who is suggesting that climate sceptic scientists should not have a voice in discussions on air. Disgraceful censorship.

MORE CONFLICTS OF INTEREST IN LATEST IPCC REPORT

This post reveals more self-promotion by supposedly independent IPCC lead authors.

EVIDENCE SHOWING THAT GLOBAL WARMING IS SLOWING DOWN

Here is a very interesting chart which shows that the global warming over the past 60 years is about a third lower than the warming of the previous 60 year period.

NO SIGN OF CLIMATE CATASTROPHE

This article looks at the ever louder claims of Armageddon alongside the continued failure of the climate to warm.

CLIMATE CHANGE LEAVES AMERICANS COLD SAYS SURVEY

When it comes to climate change, Americans aren't exactly hot and bothered. A Gallup survey released Wednesday finds that climate change ranks almost dead last on a list of 15 national priorities, slightly ahead of "race relations." Just 24 percent of respondents said that they worry about climate change a "great deal," while 26 percent said they worry about it a "fair amount." A full 56 percent of respondents said they only worry about climate change "a little" or "not at all." According to the survey, the findings mark "the lowest level of worry about the environment more broadly since Gallup began measuring this in 2001. --Stephen Calabria, The Huffington Post, 12 March 2014 (http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/03/12/climate-change_n_4949266.html?utm_hp_ref=green)
One of the most interesting, and to many most important, public opinion puzzles of our time is the evidence that the American public simply does not share a sense of urgency or a perception of the need for urgent a_ction on the issue of climate change. Our recent report (http://www.gallup.com/poll/167879/not-global-warming-serious-threat.aspx)  on how worried Americans are about a list of 15 issues shows that the quality of the environment and climate change were only one away from the bottom of the list. Almost no one mentions the environment or climate change in response to our question asking them to name the most important problem (http://www.gallup.com/poll/167873/americans-cite-jobs-economy-gov-top-problems.aspx)  facing the country. This is puzzling to many people who believe that global warming is one of the most important issues facing humankind. --Frank Newport, Editor-in-Chief of Gallup, 14 March 2014
(http://pollingmatters.gallup.com/2014/03/why-are-americans-not-more-worried.html)

Despite the increasing vehemence of climate change alarmism, people stubbornly refuse to get alarmed and indeed, opinion poll after opinion poll finds that climate catastrophe is now firmly stuck at the bottom of their list of concerns. But why? --The Pointman, 20 February 2014 (http://thepointman.wordpress.com/2014/02/20/why-isnt-the-alarmist-propaganda-working/)

LATEST CLIMATE TALKS GETTING NOWHERE

The UN Climate Circus met in Bonn, Germany last week, though with the exception of dedicated Green news outlets and blogs the whole event passed with no main stream media attention, such is the state of global warming fear fatigue these days. The UN backed Green Climate Fund (GCF) is still struggling for money and there is a GCF board meeting scheduled for May to decide how to distribute the money, always assuming that the GCF board members have decided whether to fly First or Business Class to Bali for the meeting. --Tory Aardvard, 17 March 2014 (http://toryaardvark.com/2014/03/17/un-climate-talks-in-bonn-fail/)

Levels of trust between leading developing countries and the USA and EU member states appears to have hit a new low after a week of UN climate talks in Bonn. India, China and 24 other countries in the Like-Minded Developing Countries (LDMC) group say the brunt of greenhouse gas cuts must be made by industrialised countries. The US, EU and Switzerland say the global climate deal scheduled to be agreed in Paris next year will only work if all countries make commitments, which they say was agreed in 2011 in Durban. --Sophie Yeo and Ed King, Responding to Climate Change, 17 March 2014 (http://www.rtcc.org/2014/03/17/trust-deficit-blocking-progress-at-un-climate-talks/)

WOULD YOU BUY AN ELECTRIC CAR?

This piece highlights the cost of electric vehicles. They are very expensive when new, and depreciate very rapidly. Not a great deal for the very small number of people who buy them.

PUBLIC SUPPORT DOUBLING ELECTRICITY PRICES

That is the logical conclusion of this survey, though I suspect the result would be rather different if they knew the figures. It simply shows how little the public know about what is happening to their energy.

EU CLIMATE TARGETS TO BE INCREASED

According to this report. I just cannot believe they will go through with this policy which, unilaterally would cripple their industry. I suspect it is contingent on others taking a similar stance.

LOCAL CLIMATE INFO WEBSITE OPENS IN CANADA

This article refers to a new website which gives local climate information for Canada. It is being put together using official sources of data by Canadian professor, Ross McKitrick. It sounds like an excellent initiative.

BBC CONCEALS UNPALATABLE DETAILS OF UK ELECTRICITY CRISIS

This article on EUReferendum blog looks at a new BBC programme recently aired which covered the upcoming electricity shortage. Although it revealed some serious problems, certain issues were omitted, such as the use of diesel generators to cover the shortfall. 

UK GOVERNMENT EXTEND PROTECTION FOR INDUSTRY FROM CLIMATE POLICY COSTS

This article gives the details which show that the government understands that its policies to increase the cost of energy are seriously damaging vital industries. How ironic that it is now having to protect industry from these ruinous policies in order to save it. Some might ask - if the biggest users of energy have to be exempt from the policies, then what is the point of them in the first place?

OH NO! SYDNEY OPERA HOUSE COULD BE UNDER WATER

Here is the latest scare story de-bunked. These kind of scares are making a laughing stock of the whole case for climate alarm. When will they learn to be sensible.

THE CO2 EMISSION RECORD

Here is a website I came across recently which claims to show the record of CO2 emissions from 1750 to the present. It shows no methodology as to how it has compiled these statistics, but no doubt most people will take them as being the best estimate we can get. I will add it to my list of links for future reference.

ENVIRONMENT SECRETARY PUTS PEOPLE BEFORE "ECO-SYSTEM"

In his latest Telegraph column Christopher Booker explains the response of Owen Paterson to the recent flooding in Somerset. 

HOW USEFUL IS BIOMASS?

Here is a good piece from the Scientific Alliance on the value of biomass as a fuel. The answer is that while it is of some use in reducing CO2 emissions, there is still a significant cost to this.

UK FLOODS NOT UNPRECEDENTED

This report looks in detail at the UK rainfall records and finds that the recent high rainfall is not a long term record at all. It's not even as high as 2000 to 2001. I wonder why the Met office have not been more forthcoming with these facts?

EU CHEMICAL INDUSTRY "COULD BE GONE IN A DECADE"

That is the stark warning from Jim Ratcliff in this article. The Ineos boss gives the clearest possible explanation of why the EU has become so uncompetitive, and reducing carbon emissions is high on the list. Sadly the EU is not even reducing the world's emissions. It is simply exporting its industrial jobs to China and India who are emitting the CO2 for us.   

IPCC BURIES GOOD NEWS - CLIMATE LESS SENSITIVE TO CO2 THAN PREVIOUSLY THOUGHT

This report by the GWPF looks in detail at evidence buried in the latest IPCC report to uncover the fact that there is evidence that shows that the climate is less sensitive to CO2 increases. What a surprise that the IPCC does not want to emphasise this point in the summary issued to policymakers.

CLIMATE ALARM DRIVES UP INSURANCE PREMIUMS

This is according to Warren Buffet, the investment billionaire, as per this article. It is well known that fear drives markets and we all pay for this, whether we believe it or not.

UK SHALE RESERVES UP BY 50%

This BBC report tells the story of how the estimates for reserves of shale gas under the North East of England have been increased by 50% as a result of survey work. This is excellent news for hard-pressed gas consumers, but bad news for climate alarmists.

PINE FORESTS AGAINST GLOBAL WARMING

This BBC article explains how the chemicals released by pine trees reflect the sun's rays, acting as a natural thermostat. So there's a new discovery. How many other natural ways to reduce solar input are there which are still to be found?

CLIMATE WAR MORE IMPORTANT THAN THE SCIENCE

This article looks at the behaviour of climate alarmists in the way they fight the "enemy" in any way possible without seeming to care about the effect it has on the actual climate.

MICHAEL MANN LAW SUITS LATEST

The long-running saga of climate scientist Michael Mann and his various law suits is updated here on Judith Curry's blog.

BILL GILES LOSES THE PLOT

Bill Giles is a retired UK weatherman. Here is a good piece from Paul Homewood's blog, Not a Lot Of People Know That, in which he blows apart Bill's recent claims on UK and London's future weather. It is sad that a former weatherman could be caught out making such silly claims, but that seems to be the way for those who become so wedded to something, that they lose all sense of reality. 

AT LEAST 20% OF THE ENTIRE EU BUDGET WILL BE SPENT ON CLIMATE CHANGE

Check it out here and then wonder, like me, what all this is about. Who is benefitting from all this tax being siphoned off in a completely non-transparent way.

ANTARCTIC GLACIER MELTED AT THE SAME RATE 8000 YEARS AGO

This article gives more evidence that this glacier's melt rate is not necessarily a cause for concern as it has happened in the past, like a lot of things to do with the climate.

BAIT AND SWITCH IN THE CLIMATE DEBATE

Here is a great article which I recently came across. It is a thoughtful piece which explains how alarmists try to twist the arguments on to ground where they have stronger arguments, rather than debating the actual issues raised by sceptics. Warren Meyer is a very perceptive man.

SHORT VIDEO OF MET OFFICE GUESSING THE CLIMATE

This video is very embarrassing for the Met Office, in particular, Dame Julia Slingo, as it witnesses her "forecasting" drier winters only two years ago, following two very dry winters. She then, of course blames these dry winters on global warming. It is priceless stuff and reduces her credibility to zero. Who could now take anything she forecasts any more seriously than someone with a handful of damp seaweed. No wonder they nick-name her "Senna the Soothsayer".

TESTIMONY FOM TOP CLIMATE SCIENTIST - "WE DON'T KNOW ENOUGH"

This article explains what Judith Curry told the USA senate recently. It has attracted little publicity, but nevertheless it is important as so few working scientists of her seniority are prepared to speak out frankly. Her words are damning for the alarmists.

COUNCILLOR BLAMES WEATHER ON CO2 EMISSIONS

In my local district council the following question has been tabled for this evening's meeting by one of the small band of Liberal Democrat members:

COUNCIL MEETING – MONDAY 24 FEBRUARY 2014

PORTFOLIO HOLDER QUESTIONS UNDER STANDING ORDER 22A

From:  Cllr D Harrison (Liberal Democrat)

To:  Cllr E Heron, Environment Portfolio Holder

“On the 24 October 2011, Conservative Councillor Derek Tipp submitted a motion to Council, seconded by Conservative Councillor Allan Glass, on Climate Change. During the debate, Conservative Councillors supported the motion and indeed voted it through. It called on the Government, urging it not to make commitments to reduce carbon dioxide emissions further or faster than other major industrialised nations.

How many more extreme weather events, causing hardship to businesses and communities all around the country and a great deal of extra work for our staff, will it take to make your fellow Conservative Councillors think again about trying to influence government policy in the wrong direction?”

 

As you can see it refers to a motion I submitted back in 2011 which was passed by an overwhelming majority. I am sure Cllr. Heron will have no difficulty in explaining to Cllr. Harrison that extreme weather events occur randomly and do not herald a change in the climate. The inference of his question is that Harrison welcomes radical and costly measures to increase the rate of reduction in CO2 emissions. He may find this is not the most popular stance.

 

I will update this post after the meeting

UPDATE - Poor Cllr. Harrison had difficulty being heard above the laughter as he attempted to convince a sceptical council that he seriously believed that CO2 was responsible for the recent flooding. Cllr. Heron gently mocked his naivety. His follow-up question was lost amidst further hilarity. Oh dear!

MET OFFICE MADE ANOTHER DUD FORECAST

This report in the Mail reveals that the Met office computer was of no use again in predicting a long range forecast of a few months. They have stopped giving out these forecasts to the public. The question is - why do they bother at all?

More on this here.

UK INDUSTRY IN THIRD WORLD-STYLE SHUTDOWNS

This piece describes the situation where factories are having to shut down to avoid massive energy bills, with staff sitting in the cold.

BURNING BIOMASS SOME PERTINENT FACTS

Here is another excellent piece from Matt Ridley which looks at the facts about burning wood as is being done in the UK's Drax power station. It is not nearly as environmentally friendly as the alarmists would believe.

EXCELLENT ARTICLE ON UK STORMS FROM MATT RIDLEY

Here Matt Ridley explains how the insults being hurled at climate sceptics are misplaced and unnecessary as the alarmists still hold nearly all the cards. Only the facts are on the side of sceptics.

THE HOCKEY STICK STORY

The hockey stick is central to the climate alarmist case and its credibility has been completely demolished by statisticians Steve McIntyre and Ross McKittrick. The problem is that understanding the issue is very difficult for non-statisticians and so despite the fact that the hockey stick is not credible it is still being used. Here is an excellent readable account of the rise and fall of the hockey stick.

THE MEDIEVAL WARM PERIOD - WORLD-WIDE EVIDENCE

Supporters of climate alarmism always tell us that the medieval warm period was not a world-wide phenomenon, but that it only occurred in northern Europe. That was the line taken in the climate course I have been doing. If they were to admit that the medieval warm period occurred world wide, then they would have to explain why no catastrophic consequences took place. This article/a> shows that studies all over the world have revealed a medieval warm period. It appears to be one of the best kept secrets in climate science 

More evidence Here

POLITICIANS CLAIM "FLOODS ARE DUE TO CLIMATE CHANGE"

This BBC news item highlights both Labour and Conservatives falling over themselves to claim that climate change was a factor in the recent floods, despite he fact that "mainstream" climate scientists have claimed this is not so. See this article. When politicians start to claim they know more than the experts you know politics is leading the science.

THE THINGS THE COMPUTER CLIMATE MODELS LEAVE OUT

This piece from the Watts Up With That blog looks at the phenomenon of "dust devils" and the important part they play in cooling the surface. They may seem to be a small part of our climate, but they are, apparently not included in the computer models which are claimed to predict our future climate. In fact they are just one out of many things that cannot be modelled, which is why the predictions are so inaccurate. Without them the whole climate scare falls flat.

VOTE GREEN, GO TOTALITARIAN

This piece on the BBC refers to an announcement from the (tiny) UK Green Party that all ministers and senior civil servants who do not share their view of global warming should be sacked. I wonder how they would go about finding the views of all these people. Maybe they will have to sign a statement or even swear an oath. The mind boggles.

UK FLOODS NOT CAUSED BY GLOBAL WARMING

This article reports on Lord Lawson's comments on the issue. It is nonsense that some alarmists try to blame global warming (aka climate change) on the current floods. As Lawson says, there is no scientific evidence for this.

LATEST ON SEA LEVEL RISE

This report give the tide gauge data for the UK south coast and compares this with the forecast rise made by the Met Office. I know readers will be surprised to find that the forecast is way higher than the data. This kind of thing is so common that some people think it may be deliberate.

BACK TO WORK

I am now getting back to normal after my holiday. On returning I have gone through all the emails and letters, and caught up with all the back-log. In particular I have covered the missing weeks of my online climate course. As I expected the course is heavily biased towards an alarmist point of view. My aim is to put forward comments to try to show that there is more than on side, but of course I am seriously outnumbered. Nevertheless I hope to make a few students read something they would never look at and read otherwise.  

NO BLOGGING UNTIL 11 FEB.

I am putting up my carbon footprint by flying to the Canary Islands and will not have time to blog. For the benefit of readers in the UK I can report that is hot and sunny. Just the sort of weather to be out doors and to relax in.

FINAL FIGURES FOR GLOBAL SURFACE TEMPERATURE DATA SETS

Here is a good summary of the 2013 global temperatures from the four leading data sets. The conclusion is that the pause continues.

FRACKING PROTESTORS TURNING UP THE HEAT

This piece describes the recent goings on here in the UK where anti-frackers are trying to intimidate the firm that is trying to assess the potential for gas underneath us.

ONLINE CLIMATE COURSE UPDATE

Regular readers may recall that I signed up to take part in an online climate change course. I am now in the third week and a few controversial matters have cropped up as you can see if you look at the clip here. At ten minutes in there is a piece on the residence time of CO2, where Prof Lenton asserts that CO2 could remain in the atmosphere for up to "hundreds of thousands" of years, and at twelve minutes the infamous Mann Hockey Stick graph was pushed forward. I believe the majority of students are firmly in the alarmist camp, but I still try to gently point out the fact that, although I accept that CO2 is a greenhouse gas, there are many points, like those pointed out in the clip, where there is fierce genuine disagreement on the science.    

MEDIEVAL WARM PERIOD - HOW WARM AND HOW EXTENSIVE WAS IT?

The debate on the extent of global warming often leads to a discussion on the Medieval Warm Period and so it is useful to look at the evidence for its extent and warmth This piece looks at this and shows that it was in fact very widespread, in contradiction to the IPCC which states it to be confined to northern Europe.

HOW LONG DOES CO2 REMAIN IN THE ATMOSPHERE?

This is a critical question which has a bearing on the degree of warming that could be expected from a given amount of gas emitted, and it is actually the subject of huge controversy (like much associated with global warming). This article gives a good account of it and explains why the IPCC version is not correct.

EU LEADERS PULL BACK FROM THE BRINK ON ENERGY POLICY

This report by the Scientific Alliance spells out the dangers of current policy and looks at the new announcement. Although the language is nuanced, there seems to be a clear change of emphasis, and without the severe penalties the remaining goals look sure not to be achieved.

GRIDWATCH - SEE WHAT ENERGY SOURCES ARE POWERING THE GRID

This website gives the current split between the various energy sources, and it is interesting to see the variation of the wind component.

LINDZEN AND CHOI - CLIMATE SENSITIVITY MUCH LOWER THAN PREDICTED BY THE IPCC

This paper is now over two years old, but it is an absolutely vital contribution to the debate with its ground-breaking conclusion that climate sensitivity is only 0.7C instead of the 1.5 to 5C claimed by the IPCC.

EU TO DITCH BINDING RENEWABLE ENERGY TARGETS

This Telegraph article gives the details of this important U-turn in EU policy. At last the leaders of the EU have realised that the current policies are a failure, and only lead to uncompetitive industry and job losses.

AUSTRALIAN HEATWAVES ARE NOTHING NEW

This is a useful article which puts recent heatwaves down under in context. What we are seeing are extremes of weather, which have occurred in the recent past. We are always being told by climate change "experts" that we should not confuse climate (at least 30 years of data averaged out) with weather which is simply the day to day variation.

LARGE DISCREPANCY FOUND IN USA TEMPERATURE DATA

Here is the detail. It will be interesting to see if the agency responsible acknowledges the error and alters their records.

CLIMATE DATA IN CONFLICT

This piece looks at the paper that compares a number of different data sets that record the temperature records for China. The conclusion seems to be that they simply cannot be trusted as none of them agree. The question is - can we trust the data in other parts of the world?

EARTH IS SLOWLY COOLING SAYS NEW STUDY

This report looks at the new evidence which comes from tree rings, which I personally do not have much faith in as a proxy for temperature, as they can be affected by several other things, such as rainfall, sunshine etc. I merely put it forward as a piece of research, just like Mann's Hockey Stick.

IS THE SUN GOING TO SLEEP?

This short video clip shown on Newsnight explains that the sun is going very quiet and some scientists believe that this could have a profound effect on our weather, causing a mini ice age over the next 20 or 30 years.

PEAK WIND TO COME BEFORE PEAK OIL

This report looks at the predictions made by BP about future energy demand and it basically says that fossil fuels will be the main fuels for the next 20 years at least. This inevitably means that CO2 emissions will continue to rise. This is no surprise to readers of this blog, though it may come as a surprise to the global warming fear mongers.

UK WINS BATTLE TO STOP EU REGULATIONS ON FRACKING

This report explains that the EU has dropped its attempt to bring in regulations to restrict the development of shale gas. This is in large part due to pressure from the UK. This is a set back for the anti-fracking brigade in the UK who will now have to carry on their fight as the wells are drilled.

OBAMA UNDER PESSURE FROM BOTH GREENS AND FOSSIL FUEL LOBBY

This article looks at the pressure President Obama is under from both sides of the climate debate. With mid term elections coming up shortly he seems to be in trouble. 

MORE EVIDENCE OF GOVERNMENT COLLABORATING WITH NGO's

This piece looks at what is going on in the USA, but it is the same in many other nations all over the world. This is why it is going to be so difficult to end this CO2 religion.

IS OPINION ON GLOBAL WARMING SHIFTING IN OZ

This piece suggests that the tide may be turning. The new government is no doubt having some influence, but as the media begins to print more pieces of a sceptic persuasion the idea that the "science is settled" is beginning to crumble.

UN CLIMATE CHIEF BACKS COMMUNISM TO FIGHT CLIMATE CHANGE

Here is the report. It just shows the real attitude of the United Nations leadership, and the direction they would like the nations of the world to take. So now we know. 

ALBEDO CHANGES ARE INCREASING NOT DECREASING

This piece explains that despite a decrease in Arctic ice area, the increase in the Antarctic ice area more than compensates for it. So, logically this extra high albedo ice should reflect more sunlight into space, thus cooling the planet.

UK GREEN PARTY LEADER FLOUNDERS IN TV DISCUSSION

This clip from a recent Daily Politics show is of an interview of the leader of the UK Green Party leader, a woman called Natalie Bennett who, from her accident seems to have spent a lot of time in Australia. (The only Green MP is Caroline Lucas who seems to have relinquished her position as party leader in order to give her more time to man the picket lines on anti-fracking demos.) The interviewer is the redoubtable Andrew Neil, with the other guest on this segment being the excellent Matt Ridley. Bennett seems to have learnt two things, one being that 97% of scientists agree that global warming is real and the other that "urgent action is needed to save the planet". No matter what the question, one or both of these answers was required. Her problem is that the evidence seems to conflict with her belief and parroting these phrases cannot change the facts.

Many readers will remember Andrew Neil's robust questioning of Ed Davey, the Climate Change Minister a little while back.

ALARMIST REPORT CLAIMS "SEA LEVELS TO RISE 8 FOOT"

Here is the report in my local paper. It is typical of the way journalists publish stories without including any evidence for them. The account even contradicts itself. At one point it says:

"The scientists and oceanographers reveal sea level changes have rapidly increased above natural standards since the industrial revolution."

A little later it says: "They concluded the sea-level was “just within” natural expectations, but was still quite fast by natural standards."

In the same paper there is an editorial comment headed "Can we prevent an 8 foot sea level rise?" It looks remarkably like naked propaganda. I wonder why the paper wants to take this stance.

To read the history of sea level click here. 

CHINA APPROVES MASSIVE NEW COAL CAPACITY

This article gives the details. It certainly is a big increase on the 2012 figure and dwarfs the puny emission cuts being made, at great cost, here in the UK

WIND FARMS TO BE PAID BILLIONS TO DO NOTHING

I know it sounds unbelievable, but I did mean to write BILLIONS, it is not one of my typos. Read it for yourself here. However you look at this, it is a colossal waste of money and we will all be paying the price for this.

 

GEO-ENGINEERING AS A MEANS OF CONTROLLING THE EARTH'S TEMPERATURE

This radio programme looks at the idea of using geo-engineering to prevent the planet from warming. It is being researched as a serious option if needed. The programme discusses the alternatives and the ethics of deliberately seeking to alter the climate. I suspect it would lead to a whole new area of argument if it was carried out. Some nations would benefit while others would not. One can imagine different nations seeking to gain an advantage by carrying out their own experiments.

SUPERVOLCANO COULD GO OFF WITHOUT A TRIGGER

This article gives the details. An eruption of this size would instantly put an end to any pretence that global warming was a problem, just as a man would quit worrying about his hair loss when having a heart attack.  

WIND TURBINES - THE HIDDEN TIME BOMB

This article looks at the serious problem concerning wind turbine gearboxes. I hope for all our sakes that the government have looked at this seriously. If not, our electricity bills look like they could be even more expensive.

CLIMATE PRAT AWARDS 2013 - THE RESULTS

Here are the results of the poll for the Climate Prat of the Year 2013. Some readers may have voted when the link was posted earlier in the year Here

UK FOREIGN OFFICE FUNDS CLIMATE PROPAGANDA TARGETTING CHILDREN

Here is the detail of an attempt at scaring the young into believing the planet is doomed. It is shocking to find that it is partly funded by the UK government. What a waste of taxpayers' money.

FREE ONLINE CLIMATE COURSE

Here is a link for those who are interested. Of course the thing is being run by those in the alarmist camp, so you must be prepared to listen to their version of events. I have signed up in order to take part in discourse with the "other side", but I look forward to the challenge.

SUN GOING INTO COOL MODE

Here are the details of our sun's latest progress as it has now fully reversed its magnetic poles. It will be very interesting to see if our planet's surface temperatures track the sun or CO2 levels more closely. 

JUDITH CURRY INTERVIEW

Here is an interview with climate scientist Judith Curry, who is known for her willingness to speak out even if she does not agree with the global warming mantra, one of the few working scientists to do so.

LITHODID CRABS - ARE THEY THE NEW POSTERCHILD FOR CLIMATE ALARM?

Here is the background to this unlikely scenario. They're not quite as cuddly as polar bears, but some are claiming that they are invading the Antarctic. The report, however is reassuring, so don't have nightmares. (It would make a good horror movie though!)

THAWING PERMAFROST WOULD NOT LEAD TO INCREASE IN CO2

This research contradicts some theories, that thawing permafrost in a warming world would cause extra CO2 to escape into the atmosphere. Not that there seems to be much warming at present, but it is comforting to know that another myth has been busted. Happy New Year to all readers of this blog.

SEVEN GW ALARMIST SETBACKS FOR 2013

Here they are. Perhaps someone could set them to music to make a festive jingle, though I'm sorry to say it won't be me. Even so, they make a fitting end to 2013 and give us hope that 2014 will bring forth a more balanced and rational debate over the climate and the issue of our collective CO2 emissions. I wish all my readers a happy and peaceful New Year.

FRACKING MOB HEADS NORTH TO CAUSE DISRUPTION

Here is the latest instalment of the fracking story in the UK. It would seem to be sensible to carry out operations in say 10 sites at once and so split up the protestors, or at least confuse them. Even of they don't have enough equipment to actually carry out 10 operations at once they could send some lorries with dummy equipment and use diversionary tactics.

EU FIRE-HOSES £ MILLIONS AT GREEN LOBBY GROUPS

This report from the Telegraph gives the details of how £ millions of taxpayers money is being given to green lobbying groups such as WWF and FoE who use the money to "lobby" the EU to spend more money on global warming projects and put more directives in place to support their views. As the Taxpayers Alliance says it is simply a money go round carousel of waste.

OBLITERATING THE DECLINE

This piece shows how those producing a surface temperature data set, NCDC, have on several occasions altered the figures from the past downwards and those for the present upwards, the result of which is to transform a decline in temperatures into an increase.

On the same tack This post compares the temperature data from NCDC with that of satellite organisation RSS over the contiguous US. The comparison is very revealing in that the satellite figures are only two thirds of those from NCDC. What is going on? Which figures are the most accurate?

"FREE SPEECH" WEBSITE BANS CLIMATE SCEPTICS FROM COMMENT

This article gives the details of the decision by a website called Reddit which claims to be "a haven of free speech", well not any more. I have known moderators at the Guardian take a similar stance, and it is quite common on alarmist sites such as Real Climate. Clearly some people of the alarmist persuasion are getting rattled by the power of truth and so resort to the only way to keep their faith going - complete censorship of any other facts. 

IPCC UNMASKED

This submission to the UK parliament by Donna Laframboise gives a detailed insight into the workings and failings of the IPCC. I hope it will have an impact on our MP's as well as the wider public.

FRACKING REPORT ALTERED BY GREEN GROUPS

A report about the pro's and con's of fracking was altered negatively in response to input from green NGO's who were invited by the Minister for Climate Change, Ed Davey, to take part. He did not invite those in the fracking industry to take part. That is according to this article in the Telegraph. 

GOODBYE TO THE UK CHEMICAL INDUSTRY ?

Here is an interesting piece from Paul Homewood. He looks at the work of the Tyndall Centre, which is a government funded think tank linked to global warming. Their thoughts seem to mean that the UK chemical industry just won't be viable in the future low carbon world that is mapped out by the Tyndall Centre. The problem for the government and the rest of us is that the chemical industry provides billions of pounds for the country as well as large numbers of jobs, many of them well paid.

EARTH WAS WARMER IN ROMAN AND MEDIEVAL TIMES

This new research confirms once again that the present time is not unprecedented warmth. This idea that the world hasn't been warmer for thousands of years is just another piece of propaganda designed to make us all believe the AGW hype fed to us by the government.

HARNESSING THE TIDE, COULD IT BE THE FUTURE?

This article looks at this technology and how it is being applied in France. The big question is - how much will it cost, specially the maintenance in such a highly corrosive environment?

EU BACKS DOWN ON FRACKING RED TAPE

This piece on Bishop Hill updates the situation regarding fracking regulations being considered by the EU which some believed might be enough to stop fracking from being viable altogether.

NEW UK FRACKING SITES UNVEILED

This piece gives the details on a map of the UK. It seems to include a part of my own area the New Forest. I am sure there will be a great deal of controversy, but if we are to keep gas prices under control and improve fuel security the government must drive this through.

TOP CLIMATE SCIENTIST CONS HIS BOSSES BY PRETENDING TO BE A SPY

Here is the story. It is an extraordinary tale of someone making up such a huge lie that everyone believed him until someone decided to check out the facts. It's a bit like some of the work done by the Environmental Protection Agency for whom he worked. They seem to be a gullible bunch. It was lucky he wasn't doing anything important and he would have been missed.

More on this here at the GWPF

INDEPENDENT CLIMATE EXPERT HIGHLIGHTS SERIOUS ERRORS IN IPCC REPORT

The sensitivity of the climate to increases in CO2 concentration lies right at the heart of the hypothesis of anthropogenic global warming (AGW). In his evidence, independent climate scientist, Nic Lewis has reported a bias in the way the IPCC has calculated the value of TCS (Transient Climate Sensitivity) which, surprise, surprise, gives a much higher value for the temperature rise caused by a CO2 increase.

This report has been submitted to the UK parliament committee which is looking at the latest IPCC climate report. If you read his evidence, which is fairly easy to follow, though you have to accept some of his details of Bayesian statistics (unless you happen to be an expert), you will see that the IPCC appear to have over-looked some critical matters. It looks clear that they are either not up to the task, or, more likely, they are simply pulling the wool over the eyes of the public and, more importantly, the politicians. (Though the politicians are more than likely willing participants in this deception.) I wonder how the leading proponents in this charade will try to discredit Nic Lewis's evidence.

More on the submissions to the UK parliament can be found on Judith Curry's blog here  A list of all the submissions is available here on the UK parliament's website.

CLIMATE EXTREMISTS BECOMING MAINSTREAM ACTIVISTS

This article is both annoying and also worrying for those of us who are rational. In it you will read of a supposedly mainstream conference, funded by our taxes, in which the speakers are promoting extremist anti-capitalist views, trying to reduce our standard of living. This is what we are up against - not a bunch of ageing hippies waving placards, but extremists in suits with well paid jobs warning us that our standard of living must fall. It's a crazy world.

AXE THE CARBON TAX SAYS ENERGY COMPANY CHIEF

This article in the Telegraph gives the details. It is becoming ever clearer that the UK cannot impose crippling new taxes on its people and industry while other developed nations do not.

UK MAY DITCH ITS CO2 REDUCTION TARGETS

This piece looks at the remarks made by Lord Deben when asked if the UK would go it alone if other developed nations don't match the UK's targets. His announcement, probably made through gritted teeth, is what any sane person would have to admit. The alternative, to carry on unilaterally, is just insane - though for a while that is what we will do (and indeed have been doing). What they will try to pretend is that others are continuing to match the UK, even though it seems clear that they are not and will not. 

Here is the true situation of what is happening in the real world where over 1200 coal-fired power plants are in the pipeline. So whatever the UK, or for that matter the EU, do, the world's emissions are only heading one way - up!

NEW CARBON TAX TO FORCE COAL-FIRED POWER STATIONS TO CLOSE EARLY

This article in the Telegraph looks at the warning given by a power company boss that the new government floor price on carbon will cause them to shut down their coal-fired power stations even earlier. This will bring the supply situation to a very fine margin before cuts could be seen. 

SCIENTISTS PREDICT GLOBAL COOLING THROUGHOUT THE 21ST CENTURY

This report refers to a scientific paper which concludes that a combination of cycles will lead to cooling throughout the rest of this century. If this were to happen it will be interesting to see at what point the governments will decide to ditch their emission reduction policies.

WIND FARM NOISE LATEST

This article gives the evidence that wind turbines do create unacceptable noise, despite the attempts of the industry to conceal it.

DESERTS GREENING DUE TO RISING CO2

This report gives the details of this little reported benefit of increasing CO2 levels in the atmosphere.

THE TRUE HISTORY OF SEA LEVEL

This article describes how sea level has changed over the past 18,000 years since the coldest part of the last ice age. Even since the Roman optimum sea level has dropped so that places that were ports at the time of the Romans are now some miles from the sea.

WE ARE ALL PAYING A HEAVY PRICE FOR THE UN WAR ON COAL

Here is an excellent piece by Donna Laframboise reminding us of the heavy cost of closing down perfectly good coal power stations, and all for a very tenuous reason.

WIND TURBINES KILL OVER HALF A MILLION BATS

Here is the detail of this shocking destruction of wildlife.

WIND TURBINES SAVE LITTLE OR NO CO2 AT ALL

This study shows that there is no good reason for the mad dash for wind turbines in the UK, or anywhere else in order to halt global warming. It is simply a very expensive symbolic gesture.

IS CO2 SAVING US FROM A NEW ICE AGE?

This article explains a piece of research that is leading some scientists to think that it is human emissions of CO2 and methane that are keeping the next ice age at bay. They even suggest that human emissions started several thousand years ago, which is controversial.  

JAPANESE TO DEVELOP METHANE HYDRATE

This piece confirms that the Japanese are intending to have a large scale extraction plant for collecting methane hydrates from the sea-bed within six years. Once this technology has been developed there is the potential to tap into the vast reserves of methane in sea beds across the world.

THE REAL REASON FOR HIGH ENERGY BILLS

This piece by Roger Helmer MEP explains why our energy bills are rising so steeply. He mentions the things that others choose to ignore.

GREEN JOBS MYTH EXPOSED

This piece looks at the official government figures on green jobs and calculates the financial cost of each job. The results do not look very encouraging. 

GOVERNMENT CUT OF £50 OFF ANNUAL ENERGY BILLS IS DWARFED BY FUTURE INCREASES

This article from the excellent David Rose in Sunday's Mail looks at the future energy price rises needed to comply with the emission reduction targets and compares it with the cut of £50 put forward by the government. There is no comparison.

PEAK OIL STILL FAR OFF AS SHALE REVOLUTION MARCHES ON

Here is an interesting article from Matt Ridley describing the amazing new oil and gas reserves being taped using fracking of shale rock. Those who claim that we will see a steep rise in gas and oil prices must ignore the evidence in Matt Ridley's piece. We must hope Matt is right.

Alternatively Here is another slightly less optimistic view. What needs to be considered is, just how much new science and technology will change the future prediction - the unknown unknowns. 

EXTREME WEATHER EVENTS - NEW REPORT SHOWS NO INCREASE

This report gives a very thorough and readable account of the frequency and intensity of extreme weather events around the world over the past century and concludes that there is no clear evidence of any increase either in intensity or severity. Will someone please tell our political leaders who seem determined to believe the opposite?