Blinded by Science

Full Column: HERE

WASHINGTON -- Science, many scientists say, has been restored to her rightful throne because progressives have regained power. Progressives, say progressives, emulate the cool detachment of scientific discourse. So hear now the calm, collected voice of a scientist lavishly honored by progressives, Rajendra Pachauri.

He is chairman of the U.N.'s Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), which shared the 2007 version of the increasingly weird Nobel Peace Prize. Denouncing persons skeptical about the shrill certitudes of those who say global warming poses an imminent threat to the planet, he says:

"They are the same people who deny the link between smoking and cancer. They are people who say that asbestos is as good as talcum powder -- and I hope they put it on their faces every day."

Climategate U-turn as scientist at centre of row admits: There has been no global warming since 1995

Story

The Continuing Climate Meltdown

More embarrassments for the U.N. and 'settled' science.

It has been a bad—make that dreadful—few weeks for what used to be called the "settled science" of global warming, and especially for the U.N. Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change that is supposed to be its gold standard.

Public's Priorities for 2010: Economy, Jobs, Terrorism

Pew Research Center Article: HERE

Global Warming and the Environment

Dealing with global warming ranks at the bottom of the public’s list of priorities; just 28% consider this a top priority, the lowest measure for any issue tested in the survey. Since 2007, when the item was first included on the priorities list, dealing with global warming has consistently ranked at or near the bottom. Even so, the percentage that now says addressing global warming should be a top priority has fallen 10 points from 2007, when 38% considered it a top priority. Such a low ranking is driven in part by indifference among Republicans: just 11% consider global warming a top priority, compared with 43% of Democrats and 25% of independents.

Protecting the environment fares somewhat better than dealing with global warming on the public’s list of priorities, though it still falls on the lower half of the list overall. Some 44% say that protecting the environment should be a top priority for Obama and Congress, little changed from 2009.

Agency Will Create National Climate Service to Spur Adaptation

Those who point to the recent cold spells as evidence of the fallacy of global warming discredit science. If substantial global warming were really occurring (which it is not) severe cold spells would be expected in some areas. However, that does not keep me from appreciating the continuing irony of global warming events being canceled due to cold weather. The most recent occurrence was the ribbon cutting for NOAA's new climate change office:

www.climate.gov

The proposed entity would provide "user-friendly" information to help governments and businesses adapt to climate change, creating a central federal source of information on everything from projections of sea level rise to maps of the nation's best sites for wind and solar power.

"Even with our best efforts, we know that some degree of climate change is inevitable," said Commerce Secretary Gary Locke, whose department includes NOAA. "American citizens, businesses and governments -- from local to federal -- must be able to rise to the challenges that lie ahead. And that's where NOAA's climate service will prove absolutely invaluable."

Just as NOAA's National Weather Service provides information on short-range environmental conditions, the proposed climate service will provide long-term projections of how climate will change, he added.

"PolluterWatch"

A new Greenpeace website has been set up to combat congressional attempts to reign in EPA's abuse of the Clean Air Act as a vehicle for regulating carbon emissions. It is actually pretty entertaining and worth a look, especially the video. Parts of the website are set up like Match.Com, except for matching "polluters" and legislators.

http://www.polluterwatch.com/

Green Police Confused

www.greenpoliceconfused.com