Senator illustrates difficulties we face in combatting climate change

A conversation on Radio National this morning stands as an illustration of the distinct difficulties facing those of us concerned about human-induced climate change.

Liberal Senator Ian McDonald.

Liberal Senator Ian McDonald talked with Breakfast host, Fran Kelly, about yesterday’s observations by Prime Minister Tony Abbott who was not blatantly critical of the ABC, but appeared to be setting the stage to limit its influence.

Senator McDonald has a history of questioning the role of our national broadcaster and it wasn’t long before the discussion turned to “balance”, then asylum seekers, the performance of the Navy and then, expectedly, climate change.

He accused the ABC of going for weeks about minor matters, in which he included climate change (“don’t get me going on that”, he said) arguing for “balance”, suggesting that the idea that all scientists agreed was clearly wrong and never was some like Bob Carter allowed to speak. Bob Carter’s work and thoughts have been seriously questioned by highly credentialed climate scientists.

The “balance” Senator McDonald argues for has eroded humanity’s chance of ever mitigating climate change.

About 97% or the world’s scientists agree that the world faces a significant difficulty; a difficulty that can only be resolved with a significant change to our behaviours, but the celebrated “balance” argue for by Senator McDonald and his ilk has given oxygen to a whole raft of doubters and skeptics who can be easily shown to be in the pay of the fossil fuel companies.

 

Skeptics delighted when climate change stories clash

Climate change skeptics would have been delighted with the juxtaposition of stories published in the national media today.

The first, published by the ABC under the headline: “2013 was the hottest year on record in Australia, Bureau of Meteorology says”, explained how heat records throughout Australia had tumbled last year.

However, the Melbourne Age carried a comment piece from John McLean that questioned the value and mode of operation of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) and so the veracity of its views about human-induced climate change.

McLean’s piece – “Lack of accountability clouding the climate change debate” - throws doubt upon the climate change discussion and it appears perfectly timed to coincide with the release of damning figures from the Bureau of Meteorology about Australia’s worsening climate.

His credentials appear sketchy at best and he is described as a member of the International Climate Science Coalition, which has as its chief science director, Professor Bob Carter.

Carter’s professional esteem among internationally recognised climatologists is somewhat less than encouraging and that does not reflect well upon the organization that is integral to McLean’s authority.

University dumps climate sceptic who spoke in Shepparton

Bob Carter who has
 travelled the world
to discredit climate
science has been dumped
by James cook
University.

Professor Bob Carter spoke in Shepparton just few years ago.

The celebrated climate sceptic was welcomed warmly by fellow Goulburn Valley sceptics, but the message he brought was not only mischievous, but plainly wrong.

Prof Carter, now Doctor as the title professor is traditionally associated with an academic associated with a university, has had his tenure with the James Cook University ended.

It is argued on the Desmog blog in a story headed: “Australian University Dumps Bob Carter, Advisor To Multiple Global Science Denial Groups”, that the university felt Dr Carter was no longer pulling his weight.

Thanks to Beneath the Wisteria supporter, Graham Parton, for alerting us to this development.

A contrast - do we believe what we read, or what we can see and feel?

Storms of unprecedented intensity charge down Australia’s east coast and another of similar capacity forms off the Western Australian coast, while a story in the U.S. magazine Forbes argues the President’s claims about climate change are based on fallacies.

So where does that leave us. Do we listen to magazine contributor, Peter Ferrara, or accept what we can see and feel?

Ferrara, unquestionably an agent of the climate change skeptics and as that promotes arguments long disproved by science, writes that “global temperature record has been flat lining for 16 years now”.

Ferrara turns to “The Global Warming Policy Foundation” to gives his story credence, but it is worth noting that two of the 24-strong Academic Advisory Council, are Australians, Professor Bob Carter and Professor Ian Pilmer, whose credibility has been seriously questioned and called into doubt by the hierarchy of climate science.

When wondering why a newspaper, magazine, institution or individual takes a skeptical position about climate change, the simple advice is “follow the money”.

Forbes magazine, whose motto is ”The capitalist tool”, reports on related subjects such as technology, communications, science, and law, and is known for pandering to the interests of America’s richest from which the greatest climate change skeptics emerge.

Ferrara’s story: “As The Economy Recesses, Obama's Global Warming Delusions Are Truly Cruel” is an illustration of skepticism at work."

Cash controvesy denier spoke in Shepparton

Prominent climate change denialist, Professor Bob Carter, brought his convincing, though thoroughly misleading, message to Shepparton some time ago.

Prof Bob Carter

Prof Carter, a geologist and marine researcher with the James Cook University, also spoke at the "convoys of no confidence" protests against the carbon price last year alongside the Opposition Leader, Tony Abbott, and writes columns for News Ltd newspapers.

He has rejected as offensive any suggestion that he is doing the bidding of a US climate-skeptic think tank that is paying him a monthly fee.

You can read the full story - Scientist accepts 'cash for climate' – as published in The Melbourne Age.