MEDICAL JOURNAL SAYS CLIMATE CHANGE IS MORE URGENT THAN EBOLA

If you thought that the medical profession should focus on healing the sick, then you ought to read this article published by the BMJ (British Medical Journal). My reaction was to wonder why on earth the BMJ would be focusing its attention on the climate change debate instead of informing its members about the latest research into the world of medicine. When I visit a doctor I do not want to be lectured about global warming, but perhaps I am old-fashioned.

WHAT A WONDERFUL CLIMATE WE HAD IN THE PAST!

Here's another excellent post from Paul Homewood. He shows just how "wonderful" the climate used to be, in this case in China. He has looked at other examples in previous posts. His point is well made, there never has been a perfect climate. We simply have to accept the climate we have and learn to adapt to it.

ANTARCTIC ICE - RECORD HIGH CONTINUES

Here is a story that seems to have escaped the mainstream media. I have not seen it mentioned once on the TV news bulletins. I wonder why? Could it be that it might make the public ask a few awkward questions about the global warming narrative? Perhaps we will be told that it is caused by global warming, ah but there hasn't been any for 17 years someone might reply. "Oh, yes there has," an alarmist would reply. "Oh, no there hasn't," say the records!

REPORT ON THE LATEST CLIMATE SUMMIT

This report in the Telegraph by Christopher Booker shows that the nations of the world are still a very long way from agreeing about what to do to reduce carbon dioxide emissions. In fact Booker seems doubtful that any useful agreement will be reached at all. It is the expected response in light of the fact that reducing CO2 by any meaningful amount would cause severe negative economic consequences, and no political leader really believes otherwise. When you add on the proposed wealth transfer from richer nations to poorer ones the consequences are simply nuts. Booker has summed it up very well.

TEN WAYS TO TELL THE CLIMATE SUMMIT ISN'T ABOUT CLIMATE

This piece by Roy Spencer neatly makes the point that the latest climate summit, like all the others, is simply a front for political action. The climate is merely a convenient cover story, an excuse. Roy is one of the senior scientists behind the UAH satellite temperature data set, and he has a wealth of experience on which to base his opinion.

NEW MOLTEN SALT-COOLED NUCLEAR REACTOR COULD REVOLUTIONISE ENERGY PROVISION

Here is the article which explains the new technology which appears to have exciting possibilities for cheap, plentiful, safe electricity. This looks like a much better future than relying on thousands of wind turbines with all the problems of intermittent, unreliable electricity.

CLIMATE CHANGE "DENIERS" SHOULD BE TRIED FOR TREASON AND JAILED - ROBERT KENNEDY ET AL

This article gives all the details, though I could not get the brief video clip of Kennedy to work. Hopefully all this talk is just that, but when it comes from prominent politicians it does make you wonder if such totalitarian ideas could ever be enacted.

AUSTRALIAN MET OFFICE FORCED TO PUBLISH DETAILS OF TEMPERATURE ADJUSTMENTS

The article below explains the details. It has only happened because of the determined efforts of Jennifer Marohasy and Joanne Nova. Well done, and also credit to the Australian for having he courage to publish it. The climate change lobby is very powerful.

     The Australian
     September 11, 2014 12:00AM

Graham Lloyd
Environment Editor
Sydney

THE Bureau of Meteorology has been forced to publish details of all
changes made to historic temperature records as part of its
homogenisation process to establish the nation's climate change trend.

Publication of the reasons for all data adjustments was a key
recommendation of the bureau's independent peer review panel which
approved the bureau's ACORN SAT methodology.

BoM posted a new site on its ACORN SAT website on Monday, two weeks
after being questioned by The Australian about the transparency of
its homogenisation process.

Independent researchers had been calling for publication of BoM's
methodology for more than two years.

They described publication of the data as a "big win".

A spokesman for BoM said "publication of this table meets the Bureau
of Meteorology response to the recommendations of the Independent
Peer Review Panel".

The peer review panel commended BoM's homogenisation process but said
the bureau should be more open and transparent.

It said "a list of adjustments made as a result of the process of
homogenisation should be assembled and maintained and made publicly
available, along with the adjusted temperature series".

"Such a list will include the rationale for each adjustment," the
peer review panel said.

BoM has been under fire over changes to individual temperature
records where cooling trends had been changed to warming trends.

The bureau has said changes were necessary to compensate for
non-climatic factors such as a site move or change in measuring
equipment or in comparison with nearby sites.

Defenders of BoM have accused detractors of cherrypicking examples to
question the bureau's methodology and concentrating on "a few
potential errors in the data".

BoM was unable to provide The Australian with details to substantiate
their claim of a site move at Rutherglen in Victoria where the
minimum temperature trend had been changed from a cooling trend of
0.35C in the raw data to 1.73C warming after homogenisation. The
official station record said there had been no site move at Rutherglen.

ENERGY RETURNED ON ENERGY INVESTED (EROEI)

This article explains the meaning of this important concept. It is not something that has been mentioned in the media, but I think when you read about it you will think it should be. What it means is that most of the renewable energy systems that are currently being adopted are simply not viable to serve a modern society. Has anyone told our political leaders about this?  

ARCTIC ICE - WHAT IS THE TRUTH ABOUT THE MELTING?

This piece from "Not a lot of people know that" blog by Paul Homewood looks at the recent report that the Arctic ice is making a come back, and discusses the real reasons for the recent past when it has been melting. The truth the piece reveals is that there are several factors at work including ocean currents that have had a warming effect. These ocean currents have a warming phase for a period of years followed by a cooling phase. Reliable data on the Arctic just hasn't been long enough to  really show us what is happening.

CLIMATE SCIENCE IS NOT SETTLED

This essay by a prominent USA politician and scientist spells out the flaws in the "science [of climate change] is settled" mantra. As the article points out, there is plenty of disagreement on the details.

SCIENTISTS CALCULATE A "FAIR" SYSTEM TO TACKLE CLIMATE CHANGE

This Guardian piece gives some of the ideas from the report. The "solutions" they come up with are completely off the wall and no democratically elected government could accept the kind of payment suggested for the USA to come up with. It is nothing short of a massive wealth transfer scheme based on the increasingly dodgy science that climate alarmists are coming up with. All this in the face of a pause in surface temperature that has now lasted for 17 years or more. 

UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA VOTES NOT TO SELL ITS FOSSIL FUEL SHARES

This report shows that it is not easy to persuade universities to divest themselves of their fossil fuel stocks. In the real world universities want their funds to perform well and are not minded to be too dogmatic about which companies they hold. Common sense trumps dogma - this is something that idealists find hard to understand.

CAN WIND AND SOLAR REALLY COMPETE WITH GAS?

This piece on Bishop Hill looks at an article in the Financial Times which appears to claim that wind and solar can compete on price in some favourable locations with gas. It seems unlikely and after a little probing by the Bishop it looks as though there is at least some fudging going on. One has to wonder why these claims are made when they are so easily shot down after a bit of digging.

GREEN TAXES THREATEN NORTH EAST INDUSTRIES

This article explains how a coalition of all three main UK political parties has come together to plead for less imposed taxes on energy. If not, they say that many companies cannot survive against international competition from countries that do not impose such taxes.

At last our politicians are waking up. Read their debate here with some words of wisdom from those who realise that their constituents jobs are on the line. 

ANNOUNCING THE OZONE HOLE RECOVERY WAS POLITICAL PROPAGANDA

That is, according to this article by Matt Ridley. He makes a very convincing case, as usual. We must all be aware that we are being manipulated by some very cunning people who are very determined to get their way.

UPDATE ON THE DATA-FIDDLING IN OZ

The story of the Australian Bureau of Meteorology (BoM) being found to have altered (homogenised) the temperature data has been reported in a major newspaper, resulting in some admissions by the BoM, see here. Of course many of the main media, both in Australia and here in the UK have failed to report the story at all.  

STOP PEOPLE OWNING THEIR OWN CAR SAYS LABOUR MP

This article explains how Alan Whitehead MP for Southampton Test has suggested that private car ownership should be a thing of the past, in order to "beat climate change". To think that this man was elected by the citizens of Southampton, my nearest city, and he repays their trust by wishing to take away their cars.

MAJORITY OF CONSERVATIVE MP's DO NOT BELIEVE IN CAGW

This article refers to a recent survey of UK politicians and finds that almost half of them are climate sceptics. It is even higher among Conservatives with around 70%. Of course this was an anonymous survey and it is still a big step for any politician to come out as a sceptic. Most would think that this will alienate a section of their voters and so they will keep quiet. 

SHALE REVOLUTION TO BRING DOWN WORLD FOOD PRICES

The Financial Express, 19 August 2014 (http://www.financialexpress.com/news/shale-gas-to-drag-world-agro-prices-lower/1280505/0)

Tejinder Narang

Diminishing ethanol demand will trigger a fall in corn prices and also lead to lower wheat & rice values.

The "gale of shale" is hitting the US and the world with surplus energy. In 2000, shale was 2% of natural gas supply; in 2012, it was about 37%; and will be about 65% within the next two decades. The US is poised for shipping out shale gas in liquefied form as net exporter of energy. According to some analysts, crude oil prices may be clipped by 30% (say, from $100 to $70 per barrel) in the foreseeable future. American motorists are consuming less gasoline, thereby limiting the blend of biofuels like ethanol. The "energy security" lobby of the US is no longer supportive of biofuels.

Ethanol is produced from corn in the US. (Brazil and India produce ethanol from sugarcane.) Apart from human consumption, corn is extensively consumed by livestock as animal feed. About 970 million tonnes of corn is produced worldwide-the largest single crop in the world. Wheat is around 700 million tonnes, rice is 470 million tonnes and soybean about 300 million tonnes.

The US's maize output, the highest among all countries, is about 360 million tonnes. Out of this, 36% (130 million tonnes) of corn is consumed for ethanol. With sufficiency and viability of shale gas, the future demand of ethanol will shrink, resulting into demand compression of corn, especially in the US, and its price will move southwards in the coming years.

SHALE REVOLUTION TRANSFORMING THE WORLD

 Wells sunk as little as three years ago are being fracked again, the latest innovation in the technology-driven shale oil revolution. Thanks to the dual-deployment of horizontal well drilling and hydraulic fracturing, oil and gas firms have unlocked massive new reserves across the United States, completely transforming America's energy fortunes in just a matter of years. It's a common but very serious mistake to predict the future based on what holds true today. In this case, those who have predicted the demise of the shale revolution may soon be forced to eat their words. The pace of technological change is accelerating, redefining possibilities along the way. --Walter Russell Mead, The American Interest, 20 August 2014 (http://www.the-american-interest.com/blog/2014/08/20/refracking-ready-to-rejuvenate-shale-revolution/)

CLIMATE CHANGE IN ANCIENT EGYPT WITH NO CHANGE IN CO2

This piece on the climate changes in ancient Egypt show how dramatic changes in climate are nothing new and do not require any change in CO2 levels in order to occur.

GLOBAL WARMING POLICIES HAVE LED TO WAR AND TERRORISM

This article explains the reasoning behind the headline. It is clear that by not exploiting fossil fuels fully, the West has become reliant on unsavoury regimes, and pushed up the price of them. It's a disaster of their own making and all too avoidable.

BIAS AND FRAUD FROM THE WARMIST PROPAGANDIST MOVEMENT

This report describes in clear language just what was wrong with the paper by Cook et al which received such wide coverage by an uncritical media. It was cited by several very prominent politicians, and yet now its reputation lies in tatters. It has been completely discredited in the brief report linked above. Not only is their own reputation discredited, but it has discredited the whole warmist cause that it was designed to support. 

UK MET OFFICE DIVERSIFY INTO WIND ENERGY

This report explains how the Met Office are now in business to promote wind energy as well as their weather forecasting. Some might say there is a conflict of interest between their role of advising the government on climate change science and offering services in the field of wind turbines. If their climate change forecasts turn out to be wrong then the wind turbines may also turn out to be a bad deal.

UN HAS COMPETITION TO FIND CLIMATE ACTIVIST TO LOBBY ITSELF

This news story at the BBC tells us a lot about how the UN works. It seems that the UN are not content to wait and see what the public thinks, they are intent on grooming activists to come to their meeting and "persuade" the delegates to act in the way they want them to. Isn't this the ultimate circular argument?

MATT RIDLEY - "WHATEVER HAPPENED TO GLOBAL WARMING?"

Here is a good article by Matt Ridley that just about sums up the current state of play regarding this long-running scare. The more the alarmists bluster, the more foolish they look, as the real world unveils the shortcomings of their precious computer models.

PAUL NURSE ATTACKS CLIMATE SCEPTICS USING THREATENING LANGUAGE

This piece describes the views of Sir Paul Nurse the current chairman of the British Science Association. His outburst shows contempt for those who don't agree with his views. He seems blinkered to any other interpretation of the data and models.

JONATHAN PORRITT - LET POOR COUNTRIES CUT DOWN THEIR FORESTS

Here is the article containing the extraordinary view of Prince Charles's advisor.

GLOBAL WARMING HAS BEEN ON HOLD FOR 19 YEARS - NEW PAPER

Here is an article in the Mail which explains the new paper. We are now witnessing a very prolonged pause indeed and those advocating catastrophic warming will have to come up with something convincing pretty soon. People are often too trusting, but most are not stupid.

UK GRID ASKS FOR EXTRA ELECTRIC POWER SUPPLIES ASAP

This item gives the details. It appears that due to some power stations going down the fine line between supply and demand is getting rather thin and power cuts are a possibility.

ARCTIC MELTDOWN MYTH EXPOSED

This article in the Mail simply exposes the exaggeration that has been going on. While there is no doubt that the Arctic has been warming in the recent past, this has happened in the past and could easily be largely due to natural causes.

CLIMATE SCIENTISTS TO APPORTION BLAME TO CO2 FOR EXTREME WEATHER EVENTS

Remember in the latest IPCC report that they admitted that it was not possible to attribute blame for individual extreme weather events to increases in CO2. Well now it appears that some climate scientists want to go to that extra stage. This article on Joanne Nova's blog has all the details including a link to an article in New Scientist which had the original article. The repercussions of this, as the article says, are potentially massive as they suggest that it could lead to weather forecasts telling us that some extreme event was made worse by CO2. Whether they can get away with such outrageous exaggeration is something else.  As this is not (yet) mainstream science I expect a number of climate scientist will speak out against it. We will just have to wait and see. 

JUDGE GRANTS INJUNCTION AGAINST ANTI-FRACK PROTESTORS IN UK

This article explains how fracking company Cuadrilla has helped local farmers obtain an injunction preventing anti-fracking people from setting up an encampment on their land. At least it is a small victory for the law-abiding people who just want to get on with their lives without being disrupted by rent-a-mob groups. Well done that judge!

GREENPEACE IN PANIC OVER EUROPE NEW COAL- FIRED POWER STATIONS

This article looks at the way Germany and other EU states are building new coal-fired power stations. Greenpeace are panicking that we are all doomed as reported in the Guardian. Apparently the increased CO2 emissions across the EU will almost wipe out the UK's savings. So why are we bothering, you may ask?

OBAMA ACCUSED OF ATTEMPTING TO BYPASS SENATE OVER NEW CLIMATE DEAL

This article has the details. It would be very difficult for Obama to get a climate change treaty through the senate, so some suspect he will try and by-pass them. In doing so he would also be ignoring the voters, but he does not need to face them in a third presidential election, so he may not care.

NOW EU TO BAN HIGH POWER VACUUM CLEANERS

First they banned incandescent light bulbs, now they are to ban powerful vacuum cleaners as set out here. Clearly this will only make a miniscule difference to CO2 emissions, but it is still an imposition on the public. Unless there is a show of resistance our leaders will take it as a green light to take more radical measures. If they are to keep to their plan to de-carbonise the country there will be much more stringent measures to come. I wonder what might come next, patio heaters, Christmas decorations?

UPDATE:
Here as expected is an article containing a list of other appliances being considered for the same treatment.

HUNDREDS OF METHANE VENTS DISCOVERED OFF THE USA COAST

This report gives the details of the new discovery. It is not being suggested that the gas is entering the atmosphere, but nevertheless it is yet another example of how much we have still to learn about what is happening on our planet. It is also an opportunity for new technology to use this as a new fuel source.

USA METEOROLOGICAL SOCIETY SPLIT ON GLOBAL WARMING

This post gives the lie to all those attempts to maintain that scientists are "97% certain" that humans are causing the climate to change. It refers to a recent survey of members of the USA Meteorological Society, the result of which shows that only just over half of them are in that category. That is the reality.

AUSTRALIAN MET. BUREAU FIDDLING THE DATA

This paper looks at the evidence which is quite compelling. This needs to be much more widely known. How can computer-altered data be better than the original? Such alterations are being made without the public being even aware of it. There are very few scientists who are prepared to speak out. Jennifer Marohasy deserves great credit for doing so.

SUNSPOT CYCLE LATEST UPDATES

Here is an article to keep us updated on what is happening on the surface of our nearest star. Many scientists believe that it is the sun which controls our climate. 

ARE SOLAR PANELS GOING TO BECOME THE MAJOR ELECTRICITY SOURCE OF THE FUTURE OR NOT?

This article says they will, whereas this one says it is unlikely, and this new book says it has been a financial disaster in Spain. I am in no position to forecast what will happen, but even if new types of solar panels become much more efficient, I find it hard to see that battery storage will solve the issue of night time storage.

WIND FARM NEEDS 700 TIMES MORE LAND THAN FRACKING SITE

This article gives the details that show that in order to produce the same amount of energy, a wind farm needs 700 times as much land as a site for fracking. This neatly compares the two energy sources and shows their intensity. 

37 HOURS SAVED BY GERMANY AT A COST OF $110 BILLION

This article explains that the Germans are spending these eye-watering sums on wind and solar energy to delay the doubling of CO2 by just 37 hours . It includes an interview with Bjorn Lomborg who makes the claim. Yet more arguments that show how the developed world is getting very poor value for money.

1.5 MILLION UK JOBS AT RISK FROM EU GREEN POLICIES

Green policies imposed by Brussels are endangering 1.5m UK jobs by saddling manufacturers with high energy costs, an influential group of business leaders has warned. A report published on Wednesday by Business for Britain (BfB), a Eurosceptic lobby group, says that EU policies are to blame for up to 9 per cent of costs on energy bills for industrial companies and warns this could rise to 16 per cent by 2030. Manufacturers are now considering moving their operations to countries where energy is cheaper, risking "devastating" job losses in the UK, it warns. --Emily Gosden, The Daily Telegraph, 13 August 2014 (http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/newsbysector/energy/11029681/EU-green-energy-laws-put-1.5m-UK-manufacturing-jobs-at-risk.html)

UK HEATWAVE PREDICTION NOW OFFICIALLY DROPPED

In previous posts I have referred to a prediction made by Piers Corbyn of Weather Action that the UK would be experiencing a heat wave in August. After the colder than usual weather at the start of the month, due to ex-hurricane Bertha, it was looking unlikely. I have now heard from Piers that he no longer expects a heat wave. His forecast did not allow for the track taken by Bertha which has moved the hot air out of the way.

CALIFORNIANS SPLIT OVER REFINERY'S FUTURE

 Essentially, you have on one side overwhelmingly white, often very-affluent greens, allied with powerful Democratic politicians, arrayed to obstruct the refinery. On the other side, you have minorities, many of them union members, whose livelihoods and high-paying jobs depend on the refinery. Many of today's progressives not only are determined to protect their privileges, but seek to limit the opportunities for pretty much everyone else. --Joel Kotkin, New Geography, 4 August 2014
(http://www.newgeography.com/content/004455-democrats-risk-blue-collar-rebellion)

MOST AMERICANS ARE CLIMATE SCEPTICS - NEW SURVEY

Only 41 percent of Americans believe that 'most scientists agree that climate change is happening now caused mainly by human activities.' --James P. O'Toole, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, 10 August 2014 (http://www.post-gazette.com/news/politics-nation/2014/08/10/Survey-Climate-Change-Impact/stories/201408100110)

USA CLIMATE POLICY ON COAL NOT EFFECTIVE

This report looks at the policy of the Obama administration to stop lending money for the building of new coal-fired power stations around the world. The idea was to set an example for other nations and international organisations to follow, and so stop the building of them. But, as the article explains, this has not worked and hundreds of new plants are being built using other sources of finance. A good example of a free market working.

MURRY SALBY - OSTRACISED FOR DARING TO PRESENT A PAPER WITH A CONCLUSION THAT CONTRADICTS THE GLOBAL WARMING HYPOTHESIS

This piece gives a good account of the problems faced by scientist Murry Salby when he tried to publish a paper which gave an alternative explanation of the change in atmospheric CO2 concentration. His story reveals a lot about the unhealthy way that climate science is carried out.

SCOTTISH INDEPENDENCE SEEMS TO BE GONE WITH THE WIND (TURBINES)

This article from Christopher Booker looks at the dream of Scotland's First Minister, Alex Salmond, of supplying all their electricity from wind turbines. It is this policy, as well as his insistence that he will share the pound, that is causing his independence dream to be dashed on the rocks. Personally I would love to see Scotland go its own way, as it exerts far too much influence on the UK Parliament, as well as costing us a disproportionate amount of money. However it will not happen as the scots are far too canny to let go.

UK GOVERNMENT WINS APPEAL TO REDUCE SUBSIDY TO COAL POWER STATION CONVERTING TO BIO-MASS

The UK government has successfully appealed against a court ruling which would have meant that the owners of the coal-fired Drax power station would have qualified for a higher subsidy.

This report gives the details. It appears that the government has reneged on an earlier agreement to grant the higher subsidy. What does this mean for other companies who think about agreeing to accept the government's bribes?

UK TREES ARE UNDER THREAT - BUT NOT FROM CLIMATE CHANGE

As a local councillor here in the New Forest I often read reports concerning the threat of climate change on the trees, but I find no evidence to back up these claims, other than a reference to the computer forecasts for future warming by the Met Office. But here is a report that shows where the real threat to our trees comes from. It is not climate change (there has been only a very slight change in climate which our trees have been coping with over thousands of years) it is from diseases brought into this country by the import of timber and living trees without any serious checks being carried out.

0.0004 DEGREES CELSIUS - THE AMOUNT THE UK HAS REDUCED SURFACE TEMPERATURE

Here is a very good piece calculating the effectiveness of the UK's climate change policy, using the IPCC figures to do it. The result is in the headline, a saving of 0.0004 degrees Celsius. An amount so immeasurable that it clearly demonstrates that the policy is not just a failure, but utterly pointless. And that is for a cost of £100 billion.

UK SUMMER INTERRUPTED BY RAIN AND WINDY WEATHER

The "hot August" being forecast for the UK is not with us today as we feel the effect of the remnants of ex-hurricane Bertha pass over us. It is certainly nowhere near a hurricane, more of a breeze with accompanying light rain (which is much needed) but it feels more like autumn than summer. I certainly don't dismiss the heat-wave forecast as Piers Corbyn of Weather Action has a good track record of getting his forecasts right (see below). Interestingly the Met Office has made no mention of it. In fact next week's forecast is for more clouds and rain with fairly average temperatures.

Here is an extract from the Weather Action website: "The unique power of the forecasts has also been proven by the profits on Scientific Weather Bets with William Hill at odds and verification organized independently by the UK Met Office.
In 4,000 Weather Test Bets over 12 years with William Hill, Weather Action forecasts made a profit of some 40% (£20,000).  The Odds were statistically fair and set by the Met Office before being shortened by William Hill by a standard 20%; the results were then provided by the Met Office for William Hill to settle each bet. Piers Corbyn was excluded by the bookies from such account betting in 2000." 

MEDIEVAL WARMING - MORE EVIDENCE IN PORTUGAL

This article shows that the climate in Portugal is not changing in line with CO2 increases, but rather with the North Atlantic Oscillation and other natural changes. The article re-enforces the fact that we know very little about many aspects of the climate and until we know a lot more we will not be able to predict the future climate. 

DIESEL DRIVERS TARGETED IN UK PATICULATES CRACKDOWN

Here is the article which explains the actions of the London borough in fining diesel drivers for leaving their engines running while idling.

USA EXPERIENCES MASSIVE INCREASE IN USE OF THE TERM "EXTREME WEATHER"

This article looks at the way the media, and in particular the TV news, are reporting any unusual weather events by using the term "extreme weather". There appears to be a concerted effort to influence the public to believe that more "extreme weather" is occurring at the present than was the case in the past. As climate scientists have testified, this is simply not the case, but that message is never explained.

IS IT THE SUN AFTER ALL?

The following report is from the Canada Free Press, 6 August 2014 (http://canadafreepress.com/index.php/article/65111) I do not necessarily endorse its contents, but I put it on the blog merely to show that these predictions are being put forward by serious people. Those who make precise predictions lay themselves open to being proved wrong - very quickly in the case of those beginning in 2014 or 2015. We will not have long to wait!

Jack Dini reports that we may be witnessing the sun's last dying gasps before entering into a long slumber. The impact of that slumber on Earth's climate remains the subject of growing scientific speculation.

In 2008 William Livingston and Matthew Penn of the National Solar Observatory in Tucson, in a controversial paper that contradicted conventional wisdom and upset global warming theorists, predicted that sunspots could more or less disappear after 2015, possibly indicating the onset of another Little Ice Age. They stated, "The occurrence of prolonged periods with no sunspots is important to climate studies, since the Maunder Minimum was shown to correspond with the reduced average global temperatures on the Earth." The Maunder Minimum lasted for approximately 70 years from about 1645 to 1715, and was marked by bitter cold, widespread crop failures, and severe human privation.

There has been increasing evidence in recent years to support this supposition that global warming is linked with solar activity.

In 2011, three papers suggested the Earth could be heading for a 'little ice age' as solar activity drops once again.

Other research also confirmed that solar effects could bring on little ice ages. Sarah Ineson and her colleagues report that changes in the Sun's emissions of ultraviolet radiation coincided with observed cold winters over southern Europe and Canada between 2008 and 2011.

And Katja Matthes and colleagues report that simulations with a climate model using new observations of solar vulnerability suggests a substantial influence of the Sun on the winter climate in the Northern Hemisphere.

A 2014 paper by Chinese scientists reported the impact of carbon dioxide on climate change may have been overstated with solar activity giving a better explanation of changes in the Earth's temperature. The paper found 'a high correlation between solar activity and the Earth's averaged surface temperature over centuries,' suggesting that climate change is intimately linked with solar cycles rather than human activity. Indeed, the study says that the 'modern maximum' - a peak in solar activity that lasted much of the last century corresponds very well with an increase in global temperatures.

Russian scientists foresee an even more dramatic situation. They predict that a little ice age will begin in 2014.

In their book, The Neglected Sun, authors Fritz Vahrenholt and Sebastian Luning pose that temperatures could be two-tenths of a degree lower by 2030 as a result of an anemic sun, which would mean warming getting postponed far into the future.

Note that these reports are from researchers around the world.

Nick Hallet observes, "The research shows that the current warming models of the IPCC seem to underestimate the impact of natural factors on climate change, while overstating that of human activities. Solar activity is an important ingredient of natural driving forces of climate. Therefore, it is valuable to investigate the influence of solar variability on the Earth's climate change on long time scales."

Add to all this a very recent paper that says the modern Grand maximum of the sun (which occurred during solar cycles 19-23, i. e., 1950-2009) was a 'rare or even unique event in both magnitude and duration in the past 3,000 years.' Unfortunately, it was beyond the scope of this paper to address the potential impact of solar activity on climate. Yet the reconstruction leaves a very big question unanswered-What effect did the Grand maximum have on Earth's climate? As a 'unique' and 'rare' event in terms of both magnitude and duration, one would think a lot more time and effort would be spent by IPCC and others in answering that question. Instead, as noted earlier, IPCC scientists have conducted relatively few studies of the Sun's influence on modern warming, assuming that the temperature influence of this rare and unique Grand maximum of solar activity, which has occurred only once in the past 3,000 years, is far inferior to the radiative power provided by the rising CO2
concentration of the Earth's atmosphere.

NEW UK GREEN DEAL CLOSED AFTER SIX WEEKS

This article looks at the demise of the latest government funded "green deal". This time they were giving the money away, whereas previously it was a loan scheme where people had to pay it back through their energy bills. Unsurprisingly the take-up was much greater - so great that it ran out of money in 6 weeks. It all makes me wonder if our government has any common sense at all.

UK FORECAST TO HAVE THE "HOTTEST AUGUST FOR 300 YEARS"

This article has the details. Apparently the jet stream has become very elongated and buckled and this will bring very hot air from Africa, according to Weather Action spokesman Piers Corbyn. 

STATE CONTROL TAKING OVER UK ECONOMY

If you think that the western world has a free-market economy, then read this and you will realise it is vanishing faster than the snows of Kilimanjaro. The UK government are "consulting" on the criteria it will use to decide which companies will be forced to pay higher electricity bills to cover the so-called "green levies". Can't they see that this is a giant step towards complete control over who can operate in the UK and who will be forced to close?

CORAL ISLANDS SAFE FROM SEA LEVEL RISE! - NEW STUDY

Here is the good news (unless you are the rulers of a coral atoll who is expecting a massive subsidy!) which ought to mean that we hear no more stories of these islands being swamped by rising sea level, but I rather doubt that this will be the case.

WELCOME TO MY TURKISH READERS

I am very pleased to see from my blog stats that I have been viewed by more Turkish residents than UK residents. I have known for a long time that by far my biggest readership is from the USA and I am very pleased to welcome you, but I am a little puzzled by the interest from Turkey. If you are viewing the blog from Turkey and can write in English, please let me know why you come to the blog and what is happening in Turkey in the field of climate change.

HISTORY RE-WRITTEN - THE TRUTH ABOUT MARY SEACOLE

Here is the story of how a historical figure, Mary Seacole, has been re-written by the politically correct establishment in order to provide a historical heroine for the many black and brown members of our society. While it would be nice if there was a historical heroine for them to look up to, it is quite wrong for one to be invented. For one thing it was always likely that it would be found out in the end, which is what has happened. The result of this is that we lose trust in what we are being told. This has a parallel with climate change, where what we are being fed is now being exposed as incompatible with the data. If this continues it will eventually discredit the government and the authorities, just like the Mary Seacole make-over.  

GREEN MP ASKS FOR DISSENTING MP TO BE REMOVED FROM CLIMATE COMMITTEE

Here is the story including the letter from Caroline Lucas, the only Green Party MP, in which she asks Ed Miliband to remove Graham Stringer MP from the committee for voting against supporting the conclusions of the latest IPCC report. Yet another example of the undemocratic ways of the green mentality. 

USA BILLIONAIRE FOUNDATIONS FUND GREEN ACTIVISTS

This article tracks where the money comes from and finds that it is a complex trail through a number of organisations until it finally gets to the activists. Huge sums are involved which just shows the strength of the green lobby.

TWO MPs VOTE AGAINST ACCEPTING IPCC REPORT

Here is the detail of the vote by the Climate Committee and the reasons why the two MPs, Peter Lilley and Graham Stringer, did not support the majority of committee members who accepted the IPCC report without question.  I think we should salute those two MPs who are prepared to stand out against the servile majority. The fact that both of them are scientifically qualified gives their view added importance. It is something that should give everyone with an open mind pause for thought.

GERMANS PAYING DEARLY TO BALANCE THE GRID

This article looks at the German electricity grid and how the increase in intermittent renewables has caused increased problems in balancing the grid, preventing power cuts. Just as in the UK they have to pay a high price for the extra electricity required at a few seconds notice to come on-stream.

GW, PHLOGISTON AND DR LIBBY'S PREDICTIONS

Here is an interesting essay looking at the evidence for global warming compared with the old phlogiston theory of combustion. It wryly compares the fate of Lavoisier, who debunked it with the calls by one climate alarmist for sceptics to be guillotined. 

UK TO BE "OPENED UP FOR FRACKING"

According to this article in the Telegraph. We can look forward to a lot of green groups protesting. It will be interesting to see how it all ends - hopefully in decent amounts of gas.

UK SUBSIDY POT DRIES UP FOR WIND FARMS

This article may be good news for opponents of wind farms. There is a finite amount of government money available (of course it is much too big!) but it may be an obstacle to some of the off-shore proposals like the Navitus Bay proposal off the south coast of England.

THE GLOBAL GOVERNANCE DREAMERS' CONFERENCE

At one time back in the 1920's people used to dream of a utopia in which everyone had a "fair share" of the world's wealth. They called it communism. Today there are still people of the same mind set, but now they are more likely to be under a "green" umbrella. This article looks at one set of dreamers, including our future king, who would surely lose out under the "world governance" that these people claim to desire. Why haven't they learnt anything from history? Haven't they seen that the people who reach the top of any such regime are ruthless autocrats who simply want to control others for their own ends. The nice people never make it. In any case world governance is a dream too far even for the most ruthless, as he or she will meet others who will crush him (or her) long before they get anywhere near the top prize.

RICH GREEN GROUPS TO BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE FOR THEIR ACTIONS

This article looks at the underhand way in which organisations such as Greenpeace have been trying to prevent fossil fuel industries from carrying out their lawful activities. These green campaigners are only too ready to use the legal system to gain their own ends, but now the tables are being turned and they are finding themselves in the dock.

GLOBAL TRENDS SURVEY ON THE ENVIRONMENT

Here is a list of the questions and the answers given. Some of the answers are in conflict with one another, so to me it suggests how daft some members of the public are. You might think such people would be easily brain-washed and perhaps that explains some of the results.

Here is a discussion of the results.

DEEP OCEANS COOLING - NEW PAPER

Yet more evidence that the oceans are not gaining heat more quickly comes from this report. Yet more evidence to show that the so-called "missing heat" has not gone into the oceans. More on this here

EU ON COURSE TO MISS 2020 CO2 EMISSIONS TARGET AND LOWER 2030 TARGET

This report looks at the latest figures from the EU, and they seem to be struggling already. They appear to conclude, quite rightly, that their economic performance is more important than their emissions target, which it clearly is.

Update - Meanwhile the UK carries on regardless - See here

UK OUTGOING ENVIRONMENT MINISTER SPEAKS OUT

This article by Owen Paterson recounts his problems as the UK Environment Minister, where many people thought he did a very good job, but this was not enough to prevent David Cameron from sacking him in the recent reshuffle. He is very candid in his account, particularly about the opposition to his policies from the green lobby - some of whom are a very unpleasant bunch.

GREENPEACE BEING SUED IN CANADA

This article gives the details of how a large timber company is suing Greenpeace for damaging its business by spreading lies to its customers. If proved the allegations could cost Greenpeace millions of dollars.

JOHN CHRISTY AN UNBOWED SCEPTIC

This article looks at the views and the work of the award-winning climate scientist, Professor John Christy. Although, sadly, some scientists are said to have shunned him, he remains true to his own convictions. He is a man of great principle and courage.

EARTH'S MAGNETIC FIELD WEAKENING FAST

Here is the link to the article. Some scientists think that the Earth's magnetic field has an effect on our climate as it controls the amount of solar radiation that enters the atmosphere, which in turn affects cloud cover. A weak field lets in more radiation allowing more seeding of clouds.

SUPER EL NINO ODDS FADING

The Warmists hope that a super el nino will push up global temperatures are now fading according to this article. Of course el nino's are a natural phenomenon and nothing to do with man's emissions of CO2, but some of the believers in climate alarm are desperate for anything that might raise global temperatures. 

NEW ENERGY AND CLIMATE MINISTERS NOT GREEN ACTIVISTS

This Guardian article looks at the views expressed by the new ministers appointed in the re-shuffle by David Cameron. It appears that they are not ideologically driven to "save the planet" at any cost which is at lest some good news for us climate realists, though it will not please the green activist brigade.

SEA LEVEL MEASUREMENTS - A TALE OF CONFLICTING DATA

This article gives the latest paper on sea level. It shows that the latest satellite measurements, after being "adjusted" are completely at odds with the tide gauges and the results from the earlier Grace satellite data. What is going wrong?

INDIA ATTEMPTS TO HOLD THE WEST TO RANSOM OVER CLIMATE DEAL

This article sets out the position of India on a climate change deal. They won't act until the developed nations put "substantial" amounts of money into a climate fund. What the developed nations should do ( but may not) is tell them to either cut their emissions or face the consequences. If they really believe that cutting CO2 emissions is essential then they will act. If they do not then they are simply after the money.

"HELPFUL" ADVICE TO SAVE THE PLANET

This report gives the silly consumers advice on how to save both money and the planet. It is yet another example of the nanny state telling us what is good for us. 

GROUPS PUSH FOR CLIMATE SCIENCE ON SCHOOL CURRICULUM IN USA

,a href=http://thehill.com/policy/energy-environment/211989-groups-push-for-climate-science-in-classrooms#disqus_thread>This article

explains what is going on. The danger, of course, is that what is taught could amount to propaganda in what is a very political branch of science.

GERMANY IS NOT A GOOD MODEL FOR OUR ENERGY POLICY

This piece compares the German energy policy to that of the UK and shows that, if reducing CO2 is the aim (which I do not), then the UK is doing rather better. Our electricity is also cheaper at present, though not compared with the USA. In the long term the UK policy is just as mad as the German one, and we will both be in the export business - exporting our industry and jobs to the likes of China and India! 

LORD LAWSON SPEAKS OUT ON BBC RULING

This Mail article by Lord Lawson gives his comments on the BBC ruling. It is a disgrace that a so-called impartial broadcaster can stifle debate in the way it seeks to do.

More on this here. And here

EU GRAVY TRAIN FUNDS GREEN ACTIVISTS

This piece gives the details of payments by the EU to a range of green activist group. It is a familiar story of how the EU uses these organisations to further its agenda by buying their support.

POLITICS, ECONOMICS AND CLIMATE CHANGE NEGOTIATIONS

This article discusses the issue of chemicals used in air conditioners and refrigerants which can damage the ozone layer and also cause global warming. You will see from the article that there is a complex relationship between the use of these chemicals and the economies of the various nations.

BBC HAS LOST ITS BALANCE TO GREEN ACTIVISM

Here's an excellent article by Matt Ridley which completely destroys the BBC's credibility. If they don't reverse this foolish policy then it is time they were privatised.

UK TO ROLL OUT £200 SMART METERS NEXT YEAR

This Mail article give the details of this very costly and highly technical scheme. It risks becoming the next big disaster for the government who have a very poor record when it comes to large scale computer projects. The idea that consumers are going to cut usage of fuel is highly unlikely. How many people are going to stare at a monitor and disconnect appliances? It seems unreal to expect they will. It is much more likely that they will simply hide the monitor and carry on regardless.

THE RAGE OF THE CLIMATE CENTRAL PLANNERS

This article is very well written and summarises the intolerance of the warmists who want to control our lives because they believe they know best.

WHY GREEN ENERGY IS ECONOMIC NONSENSE

This article by Roger Helmer explains why the current UK energy policy does not make economic sense. It seems extraordinary that they still cling to it in the face of such clear facts proving it is nonsense.

ANTARCTIC ICE KEEPS ON GROWING

This is not something you will hear on the main news bulletin, since it does not fit in with what the warmists are claiming, but see here for the details. If we had proper balance on our news broadcasts there could not be such scaremongering.

More on this topic here

GREEN MADNESS - ENERGY BILLS TO RISE TO SUBSIDISE COAL AND GAS PLANTS

http://www.thegwpf.org/green-madness-energy-bills-to-rise-to-subsidise-coal-and-gas-plants/>This article

explains what the UK government are planning to do to keep the lights on with an increase in wind power. Not only is the stand by power costly, but it also reduces any CO2 emission savings. A double whammy!

BBC SPEND 0.5 MILLION POUNDS ON MASSIVE "SURVEY" TO ADVANCE CLIMATE CHANGE AGENDA

This article in the Mail explains the details of the survey carried out in Asia. It makes it clearer than ever that the BBC is not an impartial broadcaster when it comes to climate change, and so it cannot be trusted. 

NGO CONSPIRACY LAID BARE

This report gives the details of the inter-linking of the many green charities and arms of government. It really is a tangled web. One that's practically impossible to unravel.

SCHOOL DIRECTOR CALLS TEXTBOOK CLIMATE CHAPTER "PROPAGANDA"

http://www.lehighvalleylive.com/bethlehem/index.ssf/2014/06/saucon_valley_school_directors.html>This piece

gives the details. He may not have been able to persuade his colleagues to support his view, but he deserves credit for speaking out against the tide of propaganda that is sweeping our schools.

MET OFFICE CLIMATE FORECAST A LAUGHING STOCK

This report looks at the forecast made by the Met Office for global temperature rise by 2014 from 2004, and finds that, surprise, surprise, it is  a long way out.

OFFICIAL LIES AND STATISTICS

This piece looks at the way official climate statistics are being misused to create a false picture of what is happening. They are still trying to pretend that temperatures are rising when they are not.

DATA TAMPERING COOLS THE PAST

This article by Christopher Booker looks at the evidence that a major organisation that stores climate temperature data is replacing the temperature record with computer generated versions of the past which are "cooling the past" which in turn makes the present appear warmer.

IPCC SAY THAT CO2 IS NOT LIKELY TO CAUSE CATASTROPHE

Yes, that headline is not a typo - that is according to This article by Matt Ridley. He has read all the detail in the IPCC reports that most of us do not have the time, inclination, or the knowledge to do, and he has discovered that they do not actually say that we are going to get the much trumpeted catastrophe. He then looks at the massive cost of what is being done and concludes it is not worth it. Now to get the Western governments to change course!

FISH STOCKS INCREASE WHEN IRON IS ADDED TO THE OCEAN TO MOP UP CO2

Here is the gist of it:
120 tons of iron sulphate is added to the ocean to increase plankton which mops up CO2, which boosted fish catch by over 100,000 tons – We get a lot of fish and solve the so-called CO2 climate problem
About 20 months ago, an American businessman conducted a massive ocean fertilisation test, dumping around 100 tonnes of iron sulphate off Canada’s coast, it has emerged the Canadian government may have known about the geo-engineering scheme and not stopped it. Satellite images confirmed the claim by Californian Russ George that the iron has spawned an artificial plankton bloom as large as 10,000 square kilometres. Now it appears that the fish catch in the area was boosted by over 100,000 tons.
http://nextbigfuture.com/2014/06/120-tons-of-iron-sulphate-dumped-into.html

CLIMATE IN THE ALPS NOT AS WARM TODAY AS IN THE PAST

This article highlights something that is seldom, if ever, heard in the mainstream media - an inconvenient fact that destroys the myth that today's climate is the warmest since the last ice age. The truth is that the climate has warmed and cooled several times, showing that there are other natural forces at work.

PUTIN USING GREEN GROUPS TO STOP FRACKING IN EUROPE

This article in the Mail claims that the Russian leader is using Greenpeace and others to generate and increase opposition to fracking, which leaves Europe dependant on Russian gas. 

PUBLIC PERCEPTION OF CLIMATE CHANGE

This article from the excellent Scientific Alliance looks at a recent report into the public's perception of climate change. Their findings were that the public were more likely to "engage" with the notion when it referred to climate effects that had directly affected them, rather than abstract things which they had not experienced. Things like the recent floods in the UK were particularly relevant. Of course the important point that is never mentioned in the majority of media articles is that the IPCC state that no heavy rainfall period can be attributed to warming of the globe, which to date has remained very small. It is only computer projections of the future that give significant warming and the real data does not show it.

THE "HIATUS" AND ITS HUGE IMPORTANCE

This article by Ross McKittrick looks at the lack of global warming for the past 17 years and its massive importance for the whole CO2 hypothesis if it continues for a few more years.  

ANOTHER PREDICTION GOES UP IN SMOKE

Here's the story of how scientists back in 1997 were predicting permanent El Nino's were likely within the next decade. How wrong they were. It seems they cannot resist making predictions, yet they always turn out wrong. They would do far better to keep quiet.

LATEST CLIMATE TALKS END IN FAILURE

Here are the details of the latest bondoogle. It is starting to look like a pattern. Hardly surprising really, as the Western governments start to wake up to the fact that they are simply handing over money and jobs without any real cuts in CO2 being made by the world as a whole. The whole thing is a pointless charade, but no government dare admit it. What a farce!

GREENPEACE HAVE LOST THEIR WAY

Here is a good article that looks at the campaigning of Greenpeace. In particular it criticises their opposition to coal and nuclear power as the main sources of cheap reliable electricity - the only way that the developing world can raise themselves out of poverty. 

GREAT WEBSITES

This website does not claim to know all the answers on climate. Its purpose is to give links to articles which have something of interest on the subject, or something related to it. In that regard I have just come across two great sites. I have provided permanent links at the top of the links section on the right. The first is The Right Climate Stuff written by a group of retired NASA scientists. The second is an excellent source of climate data Climate4You. Both are well worth looking at.  

MY ARTICLE IS PUBLISHED

Here it is on the website of Conservative Democracy, so please have a read. I am giving a brief talk to members at their next meeting in July at the invitation of the chairman. 

FIRED FOR PUBLISHING SCEPTIC VIEWS ON CLIMATE CHANGE

Here is the story of another professor being sacked for taking a sceptical line on climate change. Such heresy will not be tolerated. To many the whole subject seems much more like a religion than a science.

GEOTHERMAL HEAT IS MELTING ANTARCTIC PENINSULA ICE

According to this report that is a major cause of the melting, rather than global warming.

SCOTLAND MISSES CO2 CUTS TARGET

This article gives the details. Scotland has the most demanding emission reduction targets in the world (as they are led by their Independence Party, full of left-wing green activists) so its hardly surprising that they have not managed to achieve them. What is surprising is that the Scottish people have not yet woken up to the crazy gang that is leading them to disaster. But our government is not likely to point this out as they would like to follow their example, if only they could do so without wrecking the economy even quicker.

UK START BUILDING DIESEL GENERATORS TO BALANCE THE GRID

Here is the story on the BBC website. This confirms earlier reports that this was being planned. Has anyone done the sums to see if any CO2 is being saved at the end of the day?

ABBOTT AND HARPER AGREE NOT TO TAKE ANY CLIMATE ACTION THAT WILL HARM THEIR ECONOMIES

This article gives the details. At last some common sense from the developed nations. Surely now others will follow.

NEW MEXICO FRACKING BAN COULD BE ENDED

This article looks at the details. The ban is in a part of New Mexico and voters seem to be punishing the politicians who put it in place. What a contrast to the UK, where the politicians are in favour and a vociferous number of voters are against.

MET OFFICE FORECAST OF SUMMER DOWNPOURS IGNORES EVIDENCE

This article examines the evidence from weather records to see whether summer daily rainfall is linked to warmer or cooler periods, and finds cooler periods give a stronger link. But why should we believe a few records when the forecast is made by nine months work by a huge computer? 

SPANISH GOVERNMENT TO U-TURN ON ITS RENEWABLE ENERGY PAYMENTS

This report gives the details. It is a salutary tale and leaves many investors understandably very angry. Surely many other national governments will be looking at what is happening in Spain. Once a government has reneged on its commitments it is difficult to see how it can restore trust. How could they be so stupid?

NATIONAL TRUST DOES A U TURN ON FRACKING

This article looks at the amazing U-turn by the NT and its director general, Dame Helen Ghosh. Last October she had an "open mind", but now she is "absolutely opposed". Has she been leant on? 

CHINESE WHISPERS ON CO2 LIMIT TURN OUT OT BE WRONG

This report looks at the initial understanding and the later clarification which was to announce that it was incorrect. So it seems that it is business as usual for China. This makes the latest USA attempt to close down coal fired power stations seem futile.

CARBON CAPTURE BREAKTHROUGH

Here are some details of this new process for capturing CO2. If it is as good as it sounds then it could solve the whole issue of CO2 emissions and end the demand to end the use of fossil fuels. 

U.S. STATES MOVE TO COUNTER NEW LAWS ON CO2 EMISSIONS

This article on the GWPF website explains how several states are looking at moves to water down the effect of new regulations being made by the EPA. The regulations will lead to increased cost for electricity as existing coal powered plants are forced to close.

PROFESSOR POINTS OUT FLAWS IN USA CLIMATE REPORT

Here is the evidence submitted to the US Senate Committee by Professor Botkin,  a very experienced and senior figure in the world of science. It is well worth reading through and calmly he demolishes much of the recent USA Climate Report.

MAJOR MUSEUMS ENGAGE IN SCARY GW SCIENCE FICTION

Just as we are entering our 17th year without global warming, directors of major museums around the world are ratcheting up their alarmist exhibits to try and convince their patrons that the climate is somehow getting worse. Here is an article to give the details of what is happening. It seems so blatant that I don't understand how they can get away with it. But unfortunately most of the public are unaware of the truth. It is simply propaganda.

UK CLIMATE MINISTER TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTIONS

Here is an opportunity to ask the UK Climate Minister a question. Looking at the website, the question will need to be cleverly phrased, as any obviously sceptic questions would not be likely to get selected.

UK ON-SHORE WIND TARGETS CUT

This article explains how Lord Deben has changed his mind over the number of on-shore wind farms required in the UK. It seems odd that he has made such a U-turn in such a short time. Is this a sign that the government is softening its policies?

EU TWIST FACTS TO FIT POLITICAL AGENDA SAYS CHIEF SCIENTIST

This report gives the details. This confirms what many already know, that scientists will produce a report that confirms what those who pay for it want to see. Scientists are no longer free to reach the conclusions the data dictates. How sad.

DOES THE US EPAs ATTACK ON CO2 EMISSIONS BREAK FEDERAL LAW?

This article looks at the policy of the USA's Environment Protection Agency to classify CO2 as a pollutant, thereby enabling the Agency to bypass the government and go ahead and attack CO2 emissions directly. This policy is now being challenged as being illegal on the grounds that the science was not independently reviewed.

A PROPER ENERGY POLICY MEANS TOUGH CHOICES

Here is an excellent letter, which was recently published in the Times. It sets out the simple truth, that any government which fails to ensure that a reliable, affordable electricity supply is maintained will suffer the wrath of the voters. Both Labour and the current Conservative/Lib Dem coalition will be hoping for a mild winter ahead of next May's general election. A cold one could lead to power cuts, maybe just what UKIP's Nigel Farage needs.

THE UK HAS BEEN FRACKING FOR DECADES WITHOUT ANY PROBLEMS

I just came across this report relating to the debate on fracking. Although it is a few months old it seems extremely relevant to the issue. All those protestors who thought fracking was completely new need to get better informed. Unlike wind turbines which are an expensive irrelevance, fracking will be a profitable venture and produce vital energy for the UK. 

UK TO BOOST FRACKING PROSPECTS WITH NEW LAW ON LAND ACCESS

This BBC article looks at the new report showing large deposits of shale oil in the south of England and the new proposals for land access by the government to encourage drilling.

CLIMATE PAPER REJECTED FOR BEING "UNHELPFUL" TO ALARMISM

This article gives the details of a climate science paper by a leading expert and four colleagues was rejected by a scientific journal for being "unhelpful" and "uninteresting", when it showed that the IPCC had exaggerated climate sensitivity to CO2 by a large margin. Yet again we see how a cabal of alarmist scientists are attempting to prevent any adverse or critical papers from being published. 

NORTH KOREA FIGHTING CLIMATE CHANGE

That is according to this article which quotes a piece from the Guardian newspaper. It came as a surprise to me as I thought they already had one of the smallest carbon footprints due to the great shortage of power in the country. I expect they are turning a disaster into a triumph and hoping for more hand outs from the West.

SOLAR SCIENTISTS STILL NOT CERTAIN WHETHER SUNSPOTS CYCLE IS REACHING GRAND MINIMUM

Here is a report on what is happening with our sun. Like the climate, the sun's behaviour is difficult to predict.

IS A SUPER EL NINO ON THE WAY?

http://www.thegwpf.org/is-a-super-el-nino-on-the-way/>This article

looks at the evidence and the likely outcome for the climate. Like much that is written about climate, the author cannot be sure, so we will just have to wait and see.

WEST ANTARCTIC ICE SHEET IN IRREVERSIBLE COLLAPSE IN 200 TO 1000 YEARS

This article in the New York Times puts this into context. Of course if it is irreversible then there is nothing which can stop it. So whether more CO2 is put into the atmosphere or not will not affect it. Also because an particular part of the Antarctic is experiencing this does not prove that it is global warming or that it is caused by CO2.

It is important to understand that climate change is happening at certain places on the planet. It has always been the case and always will be. In most cases there is nothing we can do about it.

ANTI-FRACKING LEAFLET WITHDRAWN AFTER COMPLAINT SENT TO THE ASA

This article explains how an anti-fracking group has been forced to withdraw a campaigning leaflet after a complaint was sent to the Advertising Standards Authority. The complaint comprehensively de-bunked the extreme claims being made in the leaflet. I am sure other anti-fracking groups will be looking closely at the claims being made in their own leaflets, as will those who oppose them. 

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.