New Shale Gas Report Challenges Global Climate Policy

On May 4th The Global Warming Policy Foundation (GWPF) published a detailed report about the shale gas revolution and its likely implications climate policy.

The introduction reads:

‘The detection and exploitation of shale gas has been described as nothing less than a revolution in the world energy industry, promising to transform not only the prospects of the gas industry, but of world energy trade, geopolitics and climate policy.

The claim made by shale gas‘s champions is that, in defiance of early scepticism, shale gas is proving to be:

• ubiquitous, with the result that it promises to be developed near to markets rather than in places where it happens to be abundant, like oil;

• cheap, with the result that it promises gradually to take market share from nuclear, coal and renewable energy and to replace oil in some transport and industrial uses;

• environmentally benign, with the result that it promises to reduce pollution and accelerate the decarbonisation of the world economy.

This report considers these claims and assesses them against various counter-claims.  It finds that although there are considerable uncertainties that make hyperbole unwise, shale gas will undoubtedly prove to be a significant new force in the world energy scene, with far-reaching consequences.’

A note about the report’s release may be seen at GWPF’s blog: http://www.thegwpf.org/press-releases/2938-new-report-shale-gas-shock-challenges-climate-and-energy-policies.html

A pdf copy of the report is available at: http://www.thegwpf.org/images/stories/gwpf-reports/Shale-Gas_4_May_11.pdf

Posted in Climate Science, Energy, Environment, Geology | 2 Comments

More tornadoes – and global cooling?

Some global warming alarmists have said the recent tornadoes in USA were caused by global warming.  Here is some interesting information by Lawrence Solomon that indicates the opposite might be happening.  Tornadoes seem to be more correlated to cooling than warming.

His article over at National Post starts:

‘Tornadoes are associated with episodes of great temperature contrasts, often involving unseasonably cold air colliding with warm air. During the 1960s and 1970s, when global temperatures cooled so much that scientists believed we were entering a period of global cooling , the number of tornadoes rose. 1973, which saw 1100 tornadoes in the U.S., was dubbed The Year of the Tornado, only to be followed by the fiercer Widespread Tornado Outbreak of 1974: Of that year’s 148 tornadoes, 118 tore up swathes of at least one mile in length and claimed 330 deaths. As temperatures rose in the following decades, tornadoes steadily declined in number.’

Click the link below for the whole article.

http://fullcomment.nationalpost.com/2011/05/01/lawrence-solomon-tornadoes-could-be-an-omen-of-global-cooling/

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Fear, guilt, virtue and religious environmentalism

I recently read ‘State of Fear’, a science fiction novel by Michael Crichton.  It is a controversial book about some misguided environmentalists and their plans and attempts to cause disaster in support of their cause.  Its very exciting.  A real page turner.

The underlying theme is the science of climate change.   Although some would disagree with me, I think Crichton has represented climate science reasonably correctly.  It is also a book about human nature; describing examples of how the emotion of fear is used and misused to manipulate and control people.  I think he has this aspect right too.

Michael wrote about 20 novels, a number of them best sellers.  Jurassic Park, Timeline, Andromeda Strain and Prey are some examples. http://www.michaelcrichton.net/books.html.

In 2003 Michael gave a speech which included this statement:

‘There’s an initial Eden, a paradise, a state of grace and unity with Nature; there’s a fall from grace into a state of pollution as a result from eating from the tree of knowledge; and as a result of our actions, there is a judgment day coming for all of us. We are energy sinners, doomed to die, unless we seek salvation, which is now called sustainability. Sustainability is salvation in the church of the environment, just as organic food is its communion, that pesticide-free wafer that the right people with the right beliefs imbibe.’

The picture describes aspects of a religion.

It seems to me that the emotions of fear, guilt and virtue, implemented by many religions to manipulate people to change behaviour, are the same tools being used by the environmental movement.  That makes it a religion.

There is an article along these lines by Larry Bell at Forbes, ‘Climate Change As Religion: The Gospel According To Gore’.

The article starts, ‘Global warming (aka “climate change”) has become a religious mantra, a call for action in a crusade against larger evils we have perpetrated against nature, a punishment for our sins.’

Continue reading at:

http://blogs.forbes.com/larrybell/2011/04/26/climate-change-as-religion-the-gospel-according-to-gore/

Posted in Book Review, Climate Science, Environment | Leave a comment

A tribute to Noor van Andel – physicist and inventor

Noor van Andel was a physicist and inventor.  In the Dutch climate community he was known by his own approach to address the issue of global warming.  Sadly, on 19 April 2011 he passed away.

Over at Roger Pielke’s site (link below) there is a tribute by Marcel Severijnen.  Marcel also includes a short explanation of Noor van Andel’s contribution to the climate debate.  I found his thinking and conclusions interesting.

http://pielkeclimatesci.wordpress.com/2011/05/01/guest-post-by-marcel-severijnen-in-memory-of-noor-van-andel/

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A discussion with a protestor at St Leonard’s Station

Here’s what happened to me early April at St Leonard’s Station, (which is just north of Sydney for non Aussies).  I had an encounter with a young man returning from the carbon protest.

I’m a kiwi, and I was visiting Australia for a few days to attend a training course at Macquarie.  The course was due to start on Monday 4th April.  I had come over on Saturday 2nd April.  I was sitting in the Oporto restaurant at St Leonard’s eating my burger and I watched him walk past.  He was carrying a placard.  He wasn’t demonstrating – just walking by.  I saw the black bold words “STOP CARBON POLLUTION”.  I thought to myself; I’d like to have a chat with him.

I let him walk by, and casually finished my burger.

As I left the station via the exit by Coles Supermarket he was leaning on the wall opposite, waiting for his friend to do some shopping.  So I said “Hi”, and asked him what demonstration he had been to.  He said he’d been to the one to stop carbon pollution, the one in favour of the carbon tax.

So I asked, “What’s the problem with carbon then?”.  His answer, “It causes global warming.”

So I said, “Really, how much carbon is in the air, but of course it’s not carbon, it’s really just carbon dioxide you really mean eh.”  He said, “About 1% I think.”  I said, “No, much less than that.  It’s about 1/25th of that, presently around 390 ppm, or 4% of 1%.”

And then I asked, “So is CO2 the only, or main greenhouse gas?”.   “No” he said, “water vapour is also a greenhouse gas.”

So I asked, “How much of the greenhouse effect is attributed to water vapour and how much to CO2?”  He said, “About half each.”  “No”, I said, “About 90 to 95% is due to water vapour.  The last 5 to 10% is due to other GHGs.  But CO2 is the main one making up that last 5 to 10%.”

We talked about CO2 being essential for photosynthesis.  He thought plants had plenty enough CO2 and would manage fine with less.  I said plants would do better with more than the measly 0.04%.

At this point he accused me of being a ‘denier’.  To be expected I guess, given what was happening.

I admitted that I was sceptical, but I hadn’t denied anything yet in the conversation.  So we continued.

I asked, “If Aussie did introduce a carbon tax, how much do you think it might cost the economy?”  He had no idea.

I asked, “And if you did actually manage to reduce CO2 production how much do you think global temperatures might drop?”  He said, “I don’t know.”

So I had to tell him those answers too, “Well, it’ll cost you billions, and the temperature change would be measured in hundredths of a degree.”

Ignorant and brainwashed!

Posted in Climate Science, Economics, Environment | 1 Comment

An interview with Patrick Moore

Just prior to his presentation (see the previous post) Patrick Moore was interviewed by Roger Currie on Frontier Radio.  I like Dr. Moore’s approach to environmental issues; that he includes human needs in the mix, that he takes a balanced and scientific approach, and more.

Here’s the link to the interview.  Happy listening. http://www.fcpp.org/media.php/1648

Posted in Energy, Environment, Human cost, Politics | 1 Comment

A really good environmentalist – Dr. Patrick Moore

I’d like to introduce Patrick Moore.  Dr. Moore was a co-founder of Greenpeace about 40 years ago.  Under his direction, Greenpeace had a huge influence on the world.  For example; taking on USA’s hydrogen bomb testing – and winning; taking on French nuclear testing in the Pacific – and winning.  But in the mid 1980s he fell out with other Greenpeace leaders.  He found he could not align with their new direction.

He left Greenpeace to establish a sensible, science-based approach to environmentalism. He’s released his new book, “Confessions of a Greenpeace Dropout: The Making of a Sensible Environmentalist”.  It is his story and his perspective.  He gave a presentation introducing the book and it was recorded by the Frontier Centre.

Here is the link.  http://www.fcpp.org/media.php/1653

While it is quite long at 52 minutes it is well worth the listen.  His perspectives on human issues, ecology, farming, forestry, energy, technology, are refreshing and encouraging.

He is a really good environmentalist!

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A ‘values’ check – –

A friend brought a letter to my attention.  It was on page 24 of the April 5th issue of NZ’s Rural News.  The letter is about abortion and animal welfare.

Here’s a short extract from the letter :-

“… However, every time I read something about animal welfare … I find myself at odds with those who are so concerned about aborting calves yet we as a nation kill 18,000 children in their mothers wombs. …”

It has a similar ethic to Cyril Boynes’ Jr. letter that I posted back on April 9th.  His letter was titled “If only the world cared as much about African children and families, as they do about dogs.”

So I’m left wondering; concerned about the direction we heading.  How come we promote animal welfare highly (which is not bad of course); whilst we ignore 18,000 human abortions in New Zealand, and 100s of thousanads of unnecessary human deaths from malaria?  It seems our values are being turned up side down.

Posted in Human cost | 2 Comments

Where did the 50 million climate refugees go?

Well – they didn’t need to go anywhere.  I found this piece of news at Anthony Watts’ blog.  Here’s a short introduction:-

In 2005, the United Nations Environment Programme predicted that climate change would create 50 million climate refugees by 2010. These people, it was said, would flee a range of disasters including sea level rise, increases in the numbers and severity of hurricanes, and disruption to food production.

Not only is the original claim bogus, their attempts to make it ‘disappear’ are hilariously inept.  Apparently, they’ve never heard of Google Cache at the UN.  Rather than simply say “we were wrong”, they’ve now brought even more distrust onto the UN.

Go over to Anthony Watts’ site for the whole article.  Anthony has even sought out and provided links to the original maps and news items.  Recommended reading.

http://wattsupwiththat.com/2011/04/15/the-un-disappears-50-million-climate-refugees-then-botches-the-disappearing-attempt/

Posted in Climate Science, Environment, Human cost, Politics | 2 Comments

Professor John Christy on climate change

It’s great that some mainstream media are beginning to look at and talk about what is really happening with climate change.

Here’s another interview that’s worth a listen.

The person being interviewed is Prof. John Christy.  He is one of THE genuine experts on this topic.  John works at the University of Alabama at Huntsville.  He and Dr. Roy Spencer together prepare one of the world’s most reliable temperature records based on satellite measurements.  John was also a lead author with the IPCC.

Prof. Christy was interviewed on Australian radio by Chris Smith.  Click on the link to hear the interview.

http://www.2gb.com/index2.php?option=com_newsmanager&task=view&id=8563

Posted in Climate Science, Economics, Electricity, Energy, Environment | Leave a comment