Global Warming: Place Your Bets
Global warming proponent Brian Schmidt has been betting on global warming for a while now, the latest bet, worth $6000, has been taken by David Evans from Science Speak. Check out A climate skeptic’s guest post: Why David Evans bet against Brian Schmidt over global warming. David seems to have some pretty solid reasons. (Via Tim Blair)
I devoted six years to carbon accounting, building models for the Australian government to estimate carbon emissions from land use change and forestry (Google on “FullCAM”). When I started that job in 1999 the evidence that carbon emissions caused global warming seemed pretty conclusive, but since then new evidence has weakened the case that carbon emissions are the main cause. I am now skeptical. As Lord Keynes famously said, “When the facts change, I change my mind. What do you do, sir?”
His comments on the combination of science and politics are also fairly helpful and insightful:
Unfortunately politics and science have become even more entangled. The science of global warming has become a partisan political issue, so positions become more entrenched. Politicians and the public prefer simple and less-nuanced messages. At the moment the political climate strongly supports carbon emissions as the cause of global warming, to the point of sometimes rubbishing or silencing critics.
I am very impressed by your blog. You are very good at using correct citation and I like that. so many people just cut and paste others’ work and adopt it as their own, but you have not only spread the word about an important issue, but given us a way to learn more about it.
I read your comments. I hadn’t previously given much thought (or weight) to internet posting, but you do have a point, so I just erased the offending posts.
Thanks Sheri.
mAc: I think that bloggers should be held to a high standard when it comes to citing sources and plagiarism. It is so easy to just copy other peoples’ work that we should be very clear when use others’ work.