What IS the agenda for climate change "enthusiasts"?

[Dave2002]

I have a copy of Ian Plimer's book "Heaven and Earth". Some of it seems plausible.

In the meantime the geologists have been slogging it out:

http://www.wakeup2thelies.com/2012/01/04/prof-ian-r-responds-to-prof-mike-sandifords-ad-hominem-attack-in-the-australian/

http://www.theaustralian.com.au/national-affairs/opinion/cherry-picking-contrarian-geologists-tend-to-obscure-scientific-truth/story-e6frgd0x-1226233605954

http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/opinion/basic-science-is-the-answer-not-ideology/story-fn558imw-1226235960159

Plimer has hinted at one possible hidden agenda, though I rather discount it as trivial. That is the desire for scientists to have research funding. OK - so many academics, scientists etc. are driven by funding motives, often in such a way as to divert activity away from what might be interesting or useful, but surely in most countries they are ignored to such an extent that it's hardly likely to make much impact on overall policy.

[aka Calum Da Jazbo]

yep true but the funding for climate research in public bodies and universities has some competition and openness, the funding for the anti conclusions brigade is rather more clandestine and cartel like eh?

[Dave2002]

RM

Interesting evening at the Royal Court - did you go?

Seems that a Google search uses as much energy as boiling a kettle - according to the "actor" - Stephen Emmott, and also "we're all f****d" - his words not mine!

I didn't agree with everything. He claimed that if an asteroid were scheduled to hit the Earth round March 2083 (or thereabouts) that a lot of resources would be allocated to either preventing that, or making it at least partially survivable for some of the population. He was more optimistic in that than I would be. I'm cynical enough to think that the politicians and policy makers would deny the problem until around 2075, and then some of them would realise that it couldn't be averted.

[aka Calum Da Jazbo]

The Arctic has seen some of the greatest increases in average temperatures over recent decades due to global warming, resulting in a significant retreat of the sea ice both in terms of surface area and ice thickness, scientists say. "Everything about this points in the same direction – we've made the Earth warmer," Dr Scambos said.

here today gone tomorrow

[Dave2002]

Re msg 32, i can do a search on my computer in 1 or 2 seconds. With the display on it uses about 100 Watts. That's say 200 Watt seconds. Boiling a kettle might take 2 mins using a 3kW kettle, which would be 360000 Watt seconds. So Emmott is suggesting that a Google search is 1800 times more energy intensive than my local searches. Is that plausible?

[aka Calum Da Jazbo]

Serbian farmer Radovan Krstic looking at the poor quality corn harvested from his field in the village of Trstenica,west of Belgrade. After the harshest winter in decades, the Balkans in the southeast of Europe is now facing its hottest summer and the worst drought in what officials across the region say is nearly 40 years. graun

[aka Calum Da Jazbo]

yesterday was Overshoot Day

[Dave2002]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-19361292