Monday 31 March 2014

BBC APPEAR TO CARE MORE ABOUT 3 POISONED BIRDS THAN HUNDREDS CHOPPED BY WIND TURBINES

This piece on Bishop Hill looks at a report on the BBC website about bird of prey deaths in Scotland due to poisoning, which have increased from 3 to 6.  The piece then looks at the number of birds killed by wind turbines in the USA and attempts to estimate a figure for those killed in Scotland. Although it is only an estimate the figure is likely to be in the hundreds, and yet the BBC seem to ignore this. The inference being that the turbine deaths are in a "good cause" and "unavoidable".  

Sunday 30 March 2014

MORE ON THE NEW IPCC REPORT ON IMPACTS

Here is an analysis by Matt Ridley who has detected a more muted tone on the alarmist rhetoric in the latest proclamation by the IPCC. It will be interesting to see how this report is treated in the media when it actually gets released next week.

Saturday 29 March 2014

THE GREEN ECONOMY

This article by the Scientific Alliance looks at the green jobs situation in the light of the recent announcement by Siemens and Associated British Ports to invest £310 million in wind turbine manufacturing.   

Friday 28 March 2014

MASS EXTINCTION FORECASTS ARE GROSSLY EXAGGERATED

This report looks at a leaked copy of the new report about to be issued by the IPCC and finds that claims of mass extinctions of species due to climate change are a gross exaggeration. The draft report includes a surprising admission by the IPCC -- that it doubts its own computer simulations for species extinctions. "There is very little confidence that models currently predict extinction risk accurately," the report notes. The IPCC admits that there is no evidence climate change has led to even a single species becoming extinct thus far.

Thursday 27 March 2014

NEW IPCC REPORT TO BE ISSUED NEXT WEEK

This article from the BBC looks at the forthcoming report from the IPCC about the impacts of climate change. One scientist has already pulled out, claiming that the report is far too alarmist. The whole problem is that most of it is "guesswork" based on computer projections. I note that they seem to be hedging their bets - I particularly enjoyed this piece, "British winters are likely to become milder and wetter like the last one but cold spells still need to be planned for, says the UK Met Office. Summers are likely to be hotter and drier, but washouts are still on the cards, it adds". So now we know!

Another report believes the report may include a line likely to be hotly contested if it survives a final review by IPCC delegates gathered this week in Yokohama, Japan: "Estimates agree on the size of the impact [of climate change] (small relative to economic growth) but disagree on the sign." 

Wednesday 26 March 2014

IPCC DOES U TURN ON BIO FUELS

This article in the Telegraph explains how the IPCC has completely changed its mind on growing crops for energy. Whereas it used to be in favour of such things it is now opposed. I wonder what this will mean for the UK's Drax power station which is currently converting from coal to wood? The trouble with all this mind-changing is that it can have very expensive consequences. 

Tuesday 25 March 2014

MAIL ON SUNDAY KEEPS SHINING A LIGHT ON ENERGY ISSUES

This article in the Mail on Sunday covers several different points. The main piece is about new developments in nuclear fusion - apparently it is now nearer to becoming a practical proposition as several of the more difficult problems are being overcome. How ironic it would be that after spending billions on wind turbines and solar panels that  nuclear fusion should become a reality!

The second part of the piece is about heightened concerns that wood pellets being shipped across from the USA to burn in the UK's Drax power station to replace some of the coal it currently burns. These concerns are from various green organisations, who seem to have at last seen the light.

Finally there is a bit about a BBC Scotland executive who is suggesting that climate sceptic scientists should not have a voice in discussions on air. Disgraceful censorship.

Sunday 23 March 2014

EVIDENCE SHOWING THAT GLOBAL WARMING IS SLOWING DOWN

Here is a very interesting chart which shows that the global warming over the past 60 years is about a third lower than the warming of the previous 60 year period.

Saturday 22 March 2014

NO SIGN OF CLIMATE CATASTROPHE

This article looks at the ever louder claims of Armageddon alongside the continued failure of the climate to warm.

Friday 21 March 2014

CLIMATE CHANGE LEAVES AMERICANS COLD SAYS SURVEY

When it comes to climate change, Americans aren't exactly hot and bothered. A Gallup survey released Wednesday finds that climate change ranks almost dead last on a list of 15 national priorities, slightly ahead of "race relations." Just 24 percent of respondents said that they worry about climate change a "great deal," while 26 percent said they worry about it a "fair amount." A full 56 percent of respondents said they only worry about climate change "a little" or "not at all." According to the survey, the findings mark "the lowest level of worry about the environment more broadly since Gallup began measuring this in 2001. --Stephen Calabria, The Huffington Post, 12 March 2014 (http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/03/12/climate-change_n_4949266.html?utm_hp_ref=green)
One of the most interesting, and to many most important, public opinion puzzles of our time is the evidence that the American public simply does not share a sense of urgency or a perception of the need for urgent a_ction on the issue of climate change. Our recent report (http://www.gallup.com/poll/167879/not-global-warming-serious-threat.aspx)  on how worried Americans are about a list of 15 issues shows that the quality of the environment and climate change were only one away from the bottom of the list. Almost no one mentions the environment or climate change in response to our question asking them to name the most important problem (http://www.gallup.com/poll/167873/americans-cite-jobs-economy-gov-top-problems.aspx)  facing the country. This is puzzling to many people who believe that global warming is one of the most important issues facing humankind. --Frank Newport, Editor-in-Chief of Gallup, 14 March 2014
(http://pollingmatters.gallup.com/2014/03/why-are-americans-not-more-worried.html)

Despite the increasing vehemence of climate change alarmism, people stubbornly refuse to get alarmed and indeed, opinion poll after opinion poll finds that climate catastrophe is now firmly stuck at the bottom of their list of concerns. But why? --The Pointman, 20 February 2014 (http://thepointman.wordpress.com/2014/02/20/why-isnt-the-alarmist-propaganda-working/)

Thursday 20 March 2014

LATEST CLIMATE TALKS GETTING NOWHERE

The UN Climate Circus met in Bonn, Germany last week, though with the exception of dedicated Green news outlets and blogs the whole event passed with no main stream media attention, such is the state of global warming fear fatigue these days. The UN backed Green Climate Fund (GCF) is still struggling for money and there is a GCF board meeting scheduled for May to decide how to distribute the money, always assuming that the GCF board members have decided whether to fly First or Business Class to Bali for the meeting. --Tory Aardvard, 17 March 2014 (http://toryaardvark.com/2014/03/17/un-climate-talks-in-bonn-fail/)

Levels of trust between leading developing countries and the USA and EU member states appears to have hit a new low after a week of UN climate talks in Bonn. India, China and 24 other countries in the Like-Minded Developing Countries (LDMC) group say the brunt of greenhouse gas cuts must be made by industrialised countries. The US, EU and Switzerland say the global climate deal scheduled to be agreed in Paris next year will only work if all countries make commitments, which they say was agreed in 2011 in Durban. --Sophie Yeo and Ed King, Responding to Climate Change, 17 March 2014 (http://www.rtcc.org/2014/03/17/trust-deficit-blocking-progress-at-un-climate-talks/)

Wednesday 19 March 2014

WOULD YOU BUY AN ELECTRIC CAR?

This piece highlights the cost of electric vehicles. They are very expensive when new, and depreciate very rapidly. Not a great deal for the very small number of people who buy them.

Tuesday 18 March 2014

PUBLIC SUPPORT DOUBLING ELECTRICITY PRICES

That is the logical conclusion of this survey, though I suspect the result would be rather different if they knew the figures. It simply shows how little the public know about what is happening to their energy.

Monday 17 March 2014

EU CLIMATE TARGETS TO BE INCREASED

According to this report. I just cannot believe they will go through with this policy which, unilaterally would cripple their industry. I suspect it is contingent on others taking a similar stance.

Sunday 16 March 2014

LOCAL CLIMATE INFO WEBSITE OPENS IN CANADA

This article refers to a new website which gives local climate information for Canada. It is being put together using official sources of data by Canadian professor, Ross McKitrick. It sounds like an excellent initiative.

Saturday 15 March 2014

BBC CONCEALS UNPALATABLE DETAILS OF UK ELECTRICITY CRISIS

This article on EUReferendum blog looks at a new BBC programme recently aired which covered the upcoming electricity shortage. Although it revealed some serious problems, certain issues were omitted, such as the use of diesel generators to cover the shortfall. 

Friday 14 March 2014

UK GOVERNMENT EXTEND PROTECTION FOR INDUSTRY FROM CLIMATE POLICY COSTS

This article gives the details which show that the government understands that its policies to increase the cost of energy are seriously damaging vital industries. How ironic that it is now having to protect industry from these ruinous policies in order to save it. Some might ask - if the biggest users of energy have to be exempt from the policies, then what is the point of them in the first place?

Thursday 13 March 2014

OH NO! SYDNEY OPERA HOUSE COULD BE UNDER WATER

Here is the latest scare story de-bunked. These kind of scares are making a laughing stock of the whole case for climate alarm. When will they learn to be sensible.

Wednesday 12 March 2014

THE CO2 EMISSION RECORD

Here is a website I came across recently which claims to show the record of CO2 emissions from 1750 to the present. It shows no methodology as to how it has compiled these statistics, but no doubt most people will take them as being the best estimate we can get. I will add it to my list of links for future reference.

Tuesday 11 March 2014

ENVIRONMENT SECRETARY PUTS PEOPLE BEFORE "ECO-SYSTEM"

In his latest Telegraph column Christopher Booker explains the response of Owen Paterson to the recent flooding in Somerset. 

Monday 10 March 2014

HOW USEFUL IS BIOMASS?

Here is a good piece from the Scientific Alliance on the value of biomass as a fuel. The answer is that while it is of some use in reducing CO2 emissions, there is still a significant cost to this.

Sunday 9 March 2014

UK FLOODS NOT UNPRECEDENTED

This report looks in detail at the UK rainfall records and finds that the recent high rainfall is not a long term record at all. It's not even as high as 2000 to 2001. I wonder why the Met office have not been more forthcoming with these facts?

Saturday 8 March 2014

EU CHEMICAL INDUSTRY "COULD BE GONE IN A DECADE"

That is the stark warning from Jim Ratcliff in this article. The Ineos boss gives the clearest possible explanation of why the EU has become so uncompetitive, and reducing carbon emissions is high on the list. Sadly the EU is not even reducing the world's emissions. It is simply exporting its industrial jobs to China and India who are emitting the CO2 for us.   

Friday 7 March 2014

IPCC BURIES GOOD NEWS - CLIMATE LESS SENSITIVE TO CO2 THAN PREVIOUSLY THOUGHT

This report by the GWPF looks in detail at evidence buried in the latest IPCC report to uncover the fact that there is evidence that shows that the climate is less sensitive to CO2 increases. What a surprise that the IPCC does not want to emphasise this point in the summary issued to policymakers.

Thursday 6 March 2014

CLIMATE ALARM DRIVES UP INSURANCE PREMIUMS

This is according to Warren Buffet, the investment billionaire, as per this article. It is well known that fear drives markets and we all pay for this, whether we believe it or not.

Wednesday 5 March 2014

UK SHALE RESERVES UP BY 50%

This BBC report tells the story of how the estimates for reserves of shale gas under the North East of England have been increased by 50% as a result of survey work. This is excellent news for hard-pressed gas consumers, but bad news for climate alarmists.

Tuesday 4 March 2014

PINE FORESTS AGAINST GLOBAL WARMING

This BBC article explains how the chemicals released by pine trees reflect the sun's rays, acting as a natural thermostat. So there's a new discovery. How many other natural ways to reduce solar input are there which are still to be found?

Monday 3 March 2014

CLIMATE WAR MORE IMPORTANT THAN THE SCIENCE

This article looks at the behaviour of climate alarmists in the way they fight the "enemy" in any way possible without seeming to care about the effect it has on the actual climate.

Sunday 2 March 2014

MICHAEL MANN LAW SUITS LATEST

The long-running saga of climate scientist Michael Mann and his various law suits is updated here on Judith Curry's blog.

Saturday 1 March 2014

BILL GILES LOSES THE PLOT

Bill Giles is a retired UK weatherman. Here is a good piece from Paul Homewood's blog, Not a Lot Of People Know That, in which he blows apart Bill's recent claims on UK and London's future weather. It is sad that a former weatherman could be caught out making such silly claims, but that seems to be the way for those who become so wedded to something, that they lose all sense of reality.