Who says climate science is settled?

By Tom Quiner

No less than a former vice president and a current president tell us that climate science is settled.

Even Pope Francis embraces climate change theology, although he leaves the door open to other possibilities.

Dr. Steven Koonin disagrees.

The Wall Street Journal describes him this way: “Dr. Koonin was undersecretary for science in the Energy Department during President Barack Obama’s first term and is currently director of the Center for Urban Science and Progress at New York University.”

Here’s what Dr. Koonin had to say writing in the Wall Street Journal:

“The idea that “Climate science is settled” runs through today’s popular and policy discussions. Unfortunately, that claim is misguided. It has not only distorted our public and policy debates on issues related to energy, greenhouse-gas emissions and the environment. But it also has inhibited the scientific and policy discussions that we need to have about our climate future.”

The president’s climate scientist goes even further:

“Even though human influences could have serious consequences for the climate, they are physically small in relation to the climate system as a whole. For example, human additions to carbon dioxide in the atmosphere by the middle of the 21st century are expected to directly shift the atmosphere’s natural greenhouse effect by only 1% to 2%. Since the climate system is highly variable on its own, that smallness sets a very high bar for confidently projecting the consequences of human influences.”

Climate science is clearly not settled.

 

2 Comments

  1. Bruce on June 27, 2015 at 10:16 am

    Just because you can find 2% of scientists to agree with you doesn’t change the fact that it is real. I do like how some social conservative leaders are trying to spin it as being caused by same-sex marriage.



    • quinersdiner on June 27, 2015 at 1:04 pm

      The 2% figure you cite is incorrect, advanced by the media. I will write on the subject soon. Thanks for writing, Bruce.