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January 29, 2014

The ‘Pause’ of Global Warming Risks Destroying The Reputation Of Science

The scientific establishment behind the global warming issue has been drawn into the trap of seriously overstating the climate problem
— or, what is much the same thing, of seriously understating the uncertainties associated with the climate problem — in its effort to promote the cause. It is a particularly nasty trap in the context of science, because it risks destroying, perhaps for centuries to come, the unique and hard-won reputation for honesty which is the basis of society’s respect for scientific endeavour. Climate Change's Inherent Uncertainties — Quadrant Online

Posted by gerardvanderleun at January 29, 2014 10:02 AM. This is an entry on the sideblog of American Digest: Check it out.

Your Say

The reputation of government funded science needs destroying.

Posted by: james wilson at January 29, 2014 10:45 AM

The reputation of government funded science needs destroying.

Posted by: james wilson at January 29, 2014 10:45 AM

Nah, just the reputation of unscrupulous and sensationalist scientists crassly exploiting a topic for money, fame, and influence.

However, the near worship of scientists as high priests of a new religion who speak the word of unquestioned truth does need taking down quite a few pegs.

Posted by: Christopher Taylor at January 29, 2014 11:48 AM

.

It is not a "pause"! That is simply a spin word. Global warming will only have 'paused' if/when it resumes. For the past 17 years, global warming has STOPPED. It shows no sign of resuming.

There is nothing either unprecedented, or unusual about the current climate. Everything being observed now has happened many times before, and to a much greater degree – and during times when CO2 ["carbon"] was much lower.

The 'carbon' scare is now a grant-fed money machine, which enables unscrupulous scientists to put the words 'catastrophic global warming', and other scare phrases into their peer reviewed papers. That is the way they increase the likelihood of getting grant money. And it works! There is no grant money available to scientists who simply tell the truth: that there is nothing unusual happening.

The fact is that everything being observed today is well within past parameters; that is the 'Null Hypothesis' — a corollary of the Scientific Method.

We are fortunate to be living in an era of extremely *mild* temperatures. Global T has not changed by more than a tiny 0.7ºC over the past century and a half. Contrast our very stable climate with past fluctuations, where global temps have changed by tens of degrees — within only a decade or two. If that happened now, there would be mass global starvation.

'Runaway global warming' has become a true religion, in which dissent is not tolerated. Algore is its High Priest, and no one is permitted to deviate from scripture.

But folks, it ain't science. Not any more.

.

Posted by: Smokey at January 29, 2014 2:51 PM

It's not just global warming. Think back on how many scientists have been caught falsifying experimental or survey data the past few years.

Posted by: BillH at January 29, 2014 5:42 PM

Is there money, power, and prestige on the line? Are the scientists humans?

Then the answer is clear.

Posted by: Mikey NTH at January 29, 2014 7:37 PM

I've never doubted climate change.

I just don't think that a "scientific" certainty that makes Al Gore rich has much weight.

Posted by: TmjUtah at January 29, 2014 7:50 PM

Where were the scientists that disputed the validity of baked data, unpublished models, and a host of other invalid techniques? THAT is the real failure. It took years for significant opposition to arise, and by then flawed policies and procedures had gained a foothold in govt agencies.

Posted by: Johnny "Stumbles" Walker at January 29, 2014 8:03 PM

Bumper sticker of the near future:

YOU KNEW IT WAS ARMAGEDDON
I KNEW IT WAS GLOBALONEY

Posted by: Ray Van Dune at January 29, 2014 8:25 PM

Once again because it bears repeating. From Eisenhower's Military/Industrial Complex speech.

" Akin to, and largely responsible for the sweeping changes in our industrial-military posture, has been the technological revolution during recent decades.

In this revolution, research has become central; it also becomes more formalized, complex, and costly. A steadily increasing share is conducted for, by, or at the direction of, the Federal government.

Today, the solitary inventor, tinkering in his shop, has been overshadowed by task forces of scientists in laboratories and testing fields. In the same fashion, the free university, historically the fountainhead of free ideas and scientific discovery, has experienced a revolution in the conduct of research. Partly because of the huge costs involved, a government contract becomes virtually a substitute for intellectual curiosity. For every old blackboard there are now hundreds of new electronic computers.

The prospect of domination of the nation's scholars by Federal employment, project allocations, and the power of money is ever present

and is gravely to be regarded.

Yet, in holding scientific research and discovery in respect, as we should, we must also be alert to the equal and opposite danger that public policy could itself become the captive of a scientifictechnological elite.

It is the task of statesmanship to mold, to balance, and to integrate these and other forces, new and old, within the principles of our democratic system -- ever aiming toward the supreme goals of our free society."

As time goes on, I come to appreciate Eisenhower more & more.

Posted by: Tim P at January 29, 2014 10:23 PM

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