marklynas.orgHas global warming stopped? (Clue: no) 15 January 08
In late December the New Statesman caused some ripples by publishing online an article claiming that global warming has stopped, that the planet’s temperatures have stabilised, and that therefore greenhouse gases cannot be causing warming. Etc, etc. You know the story. This time the author was someone called David Whitehouse, who I’d not heard of, but who seemed to have some credentials as a science writer.
You can see the original article on the NS site here. After over 600 comments had been posted, and I’d received several emails asking for a response (or at least a clarification – had the NS changed its editorial line?) I reluctantly agreed to write a response, which was duly published online on 14 January.
4 comments add a comment
Does the Sun ripen cherries?
Does the Sun ripen cherries?
Well done Mark. I hadn’t seen this stuff. It is distressing to see so many comments on the NS site from people who know very little but are adamant that AGW is not happening. The Guardian’s CiF sems to attract the same types. I recommend avoiding all their denialist nonsense.
Whitehouse seems to be in the Durkin/Calder mould. Here is a link to a Telegraph piece from Whitehouse last year http://www.telegraph.co.uk/opinion/main.jhtml?xml=/opinion/2007/07/15/do1508.xml It’s the Sun wot does it – didn’t you know that? ;-)
Douglas Coker
Staggering
Staggering
It is indeed amazing to see the depth of ignorance still prevailing on this issue in 2008, particularly considering that the readership is, one assumes, of above average intelligence. Well done Mark indeed-you must have to be pretty thick skinned to keep on battling away on this issue despite the vehemence of the attacks from those who will leap at anything that enables them to carry on believing there is no problem-some fairly cutting remarks you received for your efforts!
comments
comments
No, I’m not particularly thick-skinned – my way of dealing with the generally offensive and ignorant nature of comments on sites which publish my articles is simple. I don’t read them. And I know of plenty of other newspaper commentators who avoid looking underneath the online versions of their pieces for the same reason. Sad, isn’t it?
Well done
Well done
Mark, Well done in your response – nicely put!
I looked at Whitehouse’s original article from your link on the New Statesman, and then the comments to your piece. What I find incredible is that there are so many negative, and ignorant, comments to your piece. Who are these people? Why do the get so angry? Is it that they don’t like the style of your writing, or that there is something about the Mark Lynas “brand” that offends them?
For people making these sceptical comments, I would suggest a 3 step process (similar to your argument).
1. Read about the latest thinking about climate change, and what should be done about it. Personally, I think the UNDP Human Development Report 2007/2008 is a great. The overall summary can be downloaded from: http://hdr.undp.org/en/reports/global/hdr2007-2008/
2. Think how to be constructively critical! If you disagree with any or all of the science, you should articulate what is your disagreement, but be humble enough to realise that “established science” has agreed that we have a very seriously problem.
3. Think through the consequences of what follows from your scepticism. In your analysis, what is the risk of climate change happening, and what do you think is an acceptable level of risk?
It is to the last point that, in the Foreword of a recent CBI report called Climate change: Everyone’s business”, Ben Verwaayen, Chairman, Climate Change Task Force and Chief Executive, BT writes:
“Are we sure that climate change exists? I am sorry, but that is not a question for us. The best question for the business community is whether we can be certain that climate change presents a substantial risk; a risk that will have a profound impact on society and the economy? To this the answer is clearly “yes”. And so, as with all substantial risks, it is vital to mitigate the danger.”
http://www.mckinsey.com/clientservice/ccsi/pdf/Climate_Change_Business_final_report.pdf