Straight Talk about Climate Change

Abstract

For over thirty years, I have given talks on the science of climate change. When, however, I speak to a nonexpert audience, and attempt to explain such matters as climate sensitivity, the relation of global mean temperature anomaly to extreme weather, the fact that warming has decreased profoundly for the past eighteen years, etc., it is obvious that the audience’s eyes are glazing over. Although I present evidence as to why the issue is not a catastrophe and may likely be beneficial, the response is puzzlement. I am typically asked how this is possible. After all, 97 percent of scientists agree, several of the hottest years on record have occurred during the past eighteen years, all sorts of extremes have become more common, polar bears are disappearing, Arctic ice is melting, etc. In brief, there is overwhelming evidence of warming, according to the alarmists. I tend to be surprised that anyone could get away with such sophistry and even downright dishonesty, but, unfortunately, many of my listeners believe it. I will try to explain why such claims are evidence of the dishonesty of the alarmist position.