Climate Change – What’s Going On?

I leave from Malaysia later today and SO look forward getting back home to England–even more so because we are having a really warm and sunny Easter long weekend. The Eco Warriors are out on the streets and some are hoping to block Heathrow airport. I hope they don’t succeed with that objective because I want my plane to land there!

We are told that this will be the hottest Easter since 1949 when it was 29C. So when did climate change start? The 1930s were the hottest decade in the 20th century. So when did climate change start? Professor William Happer of Princeton points out that in the history of this planet, CO2 levels have been up to 10 times more than they are today. But there were no CO2 emissions from the activities of people then. He actually claims that, in comparison to other eras on earth we are in a CO2 drought and the world would be a more habitable place with more CO2.  Hmmm! There must be more to this than meets the eye!  You can hear some of his thoughts at:

In many cases, the media have drawn our attention to the children who want action to save the world they will inherit. But who is telling them what and why are children being used as the voice on this issue? Climate change is about science, so why has this subject been dominated by emotions and shouting and anger–to the extent that we can no longer discuss and debate the scientific evidence?

I don’t claim to understand it all because the subject seems almost infinitely complex. But I want to find out more without being labelled a “denier” and shouted at.

What’s going on?

So Prof Happer thinks we are in a CO2 drought, but Bjorn Blomberg thinks it is a problem that must be addressed.  He had enough  influence to assemble a team of economists and scientists, including two Nobel Laureates, to examine the ten biggest issues facing humanity. The team then ranked them in a very reasonable order:  They examined what we could spend money on now with view to making the biggest difference to the future world.  Their finding are really eye-opening.  Take 15 minutes to watch his Ted Talk.  If that intrigues you, you will easily find more recent updates from him.

We know that this is a very important issue, if for no other reason than the fact that young people are being told things that make them very fearful and anxious.  We can be easily intimidated by the complexity of the science and end up simply believing those who are shouting the loudest and getting the most media attention.  But whenever vast amounts of money and power are involved, we have to be very sceptical about the loudest voices and then pursue more information.  It’s not hard to find scores of eminent scientist who have dissenting opinions about both causes and solutions–and they are worth listening to.

So what’s going on?   Think about that.

Lynn Green.