Swampy’s Weblog Real life is just another window

Climategate – Tell us the truth about global warming

Michael Crichton wrote a book called 'State of Fear' a few years ago. The central thesis of the book was that anthropogenetic (caused by man) global warming was a myth. Actually, according to him, it was a conspiracy on the part of some in the scientific community. He claimed that the supporters of global warming were basing their results on cherry-picked data and bad computer models. There was also a campaign by some climate researchers to take over the whole field of climatology in order to suppress any contradicting research and discredit scientists who opposed their view.

Crichton was condemned as a fascist apologists for big oil and business as usual. I thought he made a lot of sense and at least kept an open mind. I remember well many spirited discussions when I suggested that global warming was unproved. The general opinion was that my open mind had progressed to an empty head.

What a shame that Crichton died before seeing this day. Just a short time before the Copenhagen Summit, the entire hypothesis of global warming is in shambles.

Just google climategate and have a wee read.

One thing to keep in mind is that there are two questions to be asked here:

1. Is the world's climate getting warmer?
2. If so, did people cause the increase in temperature?

Most of the anti-fossil fuel, green technology movement depends on a yes answer to both questions.

This is a shame, really, because there are a lot of reasons to go green that have nothing at all to do with global warming. Improving air quality and not consuming non-renewable resources unnecessarily come to mind. It would be really good to cut back on the consumption of meat for health and economic reasons, as well, and that would be true whether the theories of cow farts being a major greenhouse gas are true or not.

Its too bad, but the green movement seems to be tied to global warming like some bizarre Siamese twin and I'm afraid efforts to separate them will result in the death of both. If that happens, the whole human race will be worse off because the green technologies will go back on the shelf until all the oil and natural gas has been consumed.

Related articles by Zemanta

• Climategate, The Consequences (andrewsullivan.theatlantic.com)
• Writing from beyond the grave (openitstrategies.com)