Jim Hansen ventures into politics 28 June 06

This week’s bedtime reading is a long article in the New York Review of Books by a scientist all of us are probably very familiar with: GISS’s Jim Hansen. Ostensibly a review of three recent climate change books (all of which he seems to like) the article is an unusual foray into political analysis by a senior scientific figure – albeit one used to controversy.

Hansen spends much of the article being complimentary about Al Gore, and is particularly impressed by Big Al’s recent – and highly successful – efforts to put global warming on the map through his slideshows, book and film. I won’t spoil anything by giving away the end, but let me say that Hansen’s conclusion with regard to Gore is particularly poignant.