Climate confusion : how global warming hysteria leads to bad science, pandering politicians, and misguided policies that hurt the poor

The current frenzy over global warming has galvanized the public and cost taxpayers billons of dollars in federal expenditures for climate research. It has spawned Hollywood blockbusters and inspired major political movements. It has given a higher calling to celebrities and built a lucrative industry for scores of eager scientists. In short, ending climate change has become a national crusade. And yet, despite this dominant and sprawling campaign, the facts behind global warming remain as confounding as ever. In Climate Confusion, distinguished climatologist Dr. Roy Spencer observes that our obsession with global warming has only clouded the issue. Forsaking blindingly technical statistics and doomsday scenarios, Dr. Spencer explains in simple terms how the climate system really works, why man's role in global warming is more myth than science, and how the global warming hype has corrupted Washington and the scientific community. The reasons, Spencer explains, are numerous: biases in governmental funding of scientific research, our misconceptions about science and basic economics, even our religious beliefs and worldviews. From Al Gore to Leonardo DiCaprio, the climate change industry has given a platform to leading figures from all walks of life, as pandering politicians, demagogues and biased scientists forge a self-interested movement whose proposed policy initiatives could ultimately devastate the economies of those developing countries they purport to aid. Climate Confusion is a much needed wake up call for all of us on planet earth. Dr. Spencer's clear-eyed approach, combined with his sharp wit and intellect, brings transparency and levity to the issue of global warming, as he takes on wrong-headed attitudes and misguided beliefs that have led to our state of panic. Climate Confusion lifts the shroud of mystery that has hovered here for far too long and offers an end to this frenzy of misinformation in our lives. The current frenzy over global warming has galvanized the public and cost taxpayers billons of dollars in federal expenditures for climate research. It has spawned Hollywood blockbusters and inspired major political movements. It has given a higher calling to celebrities and built a lucrative industry for scores of eager scientists. In short, ending climate change has become a national crusade. And yet, despite this dominant and sprawling campaign, the facts behind global warming remain as confounding as ever. In Climate Confusion, distinguished climatologist Dr. Roy Spencer observes that our obsession with global warming has only clouded the issue. Forsaking blindingly technical statistics and doomsday scenarios, Dr. Spencer explains in simple terms how the climate system really works, why man’s role in global warming is more myth than science, and how the global warming hype has corrupted Washington and the scientific community. The reasons, Spencer explains, are numerous: biases in governmental funding of scientific research, our misconceptions about science and basic economics, even our religious beliefs and worldviews. From Al Gore to Leonardo DiCaprio, the climate change industry has given a platform to leading figures from all walks of life, as pandering politicians, demagogues and biased scientists forge a self-interested movement whose proposed policy initiatives could ultimately devastate the economies of those developing countries they purport to aid. Review "If you have an interest in global warming, but are intimidated by equations and scientific terminology, this book is for you. The author explores the philosophy of global warming (and cooling), examines the limitations of global numerical models for which all alarmist statements are based, and discusses the economics of alternative actions that might be pursued. This book is an excellent read!" &mdash Neil L Frank Former Director National Hurricane Center “Climate Confusion is the best book length treatment of global warming science that is available to the literate citizen. The title says it all. Spencer explains the broad agreement over the existence of some climate change and the existence of some human role, but he also explains why these have little to do with the implausible and overheated projections of environmental disaster. The author thus cuts through all the rhetorical brickbats of “denialism” and “salvationism” to allow the citizen to reach rational conclusions. Despite a light touch, Spencer does not pull punches when it comes to unclothing the moral pretenses of many in the environmental movement—pretenses often disguising some truly immoral agendas.” &mdas Richard S. Lindzen Alfred P. Sloan Professor of Atmospheric Sciences, Massachusetts Institute of Technology “An outstanding discussion of the many scientific, political and religious problems associated with the acceptance that humans are the primary cause of global warming. A must read for anyone wanting a full and balanced understanding of the global warming debate.” &mdas William M. Gray Professor Emeritus, Department of Atmospheric Science Colorado State University “Roy Spencer’s Climate Confusion is needed to put the global warming hysteria in its rightful place. He has done a yeoman’s job in making the issue understandable and accessible to the general public without a sacrifice in the rigor of his arguments.” &mdas Walter E. Williams John M. Olin Distinguished Professor of Economics George Mason University From the Author I wrote Climate Confusion for several reasons. In contrast to other works, I wanted it to be an entertaining and easily understood primer on how weather and climate works, showing why manmade global warming is unlikely to be a serious problem for humanity. Furthermore, I wanted to explore the political, philosophical, and religious underpinnings of beliefs in catastrophic global warming, helping the reader to better appreciate why scientific research in this area has become tainted and untrustworthy. Finally, and possibly most importantly, by using basic economic concepts I wanted to counter currently proposed policy "solutions" to global warming that will have devastating effects on the world's poor. Preface Prologue Chapter 1: Global Warming Hysteria RECORD WEATHER EVENTS HURRICANES TORNADOES MAINSTREAM MEDIA MADNESS A WEB-BASED TRIP TO THE TWILIGHT ZONE Chapter 2: Science Isn’t Truth THE HUMAN SCIENTIST THEORY UNCERTAINTY IN SCIENCE Chapter 3: How Weather Works THE SUN WARMS THE EARTH INFRARED LIGHT COOLS THE EARTH THE NATURAL GREENHOUSE EFFECT AND WEATHER HEAT REMOVAL FROM THE EARTH’S SURFACE HEAT TRANSPORTED UPWARD IN THE ATMOSPHERE THE HEAT IS LOST TO OUTER SPACE ATMOSPHERIC CIRCULATION SYSTEMS Chapter 4: How Global Warming (Allegedly) Works CARBON DIOXIDE CONCENTRATIONS ARE INCREASING THE CLIMATE RESPONSE TO EXTRA GREENHOUSE GASES WATER VAPOR INCREASES CLOUD CHANGES OTHER CHANGES IN THE CLIMATE SYSTEM THE OCEANS A MORE OPTIMISTIC VIEW OF GLOBAL WARMING THE EARTH’S THERMOSTAT SO, WHAT DO WE REALLY KNOW ABOUT GLOBAL WARMING? THE FUTURE OF GLOBAL WARMING RESEARCH Chapter 5: The Scientists’ Faith, the Environmentalists’ Religion CLIMATE MODELERS VERSUS METEOROLOGISTS REAL SCIENTISTS DON’T SAY“IDON’T KNOW” CLIMATE CHANGE DENIAL GLOBAL WARMING AS RELIGION THE GAIA HYPOTHESIS ENVIRONMENTALISM IN THE CHURCH Chapter 6: It’s Economics, Stupid THERE IS NO SUCH THING AS A FREE LUNCH. THE TOTAL AMOUNT OF WEALTH IS NOT CONSTANT. PEOPLE GENERATE WEALTH, NOT THE GOVERNMENT. FREE MARKETS PROVIDE THE MOST PROSPERITY FOR A SOCIETY. WEALTHIER IS HEALTHIER, SAFER, AND CLEANER. FROM ECONOMICS TO ENVIRONMENTALISM IS “BIG OIL” THE ENEMY? THE ECONOMICS OF POLLUTION Chapter 7: The Politics of Climate Change THE RESEARCH PLAYERS POLITICIANS, CONGRESS, AND THE EPA THE ENEMY: BIG BUSINESS Chapter 8: Dumb Global Warming Solutions DUMB ASSUMPTION #1: WE CAN REDUCE EMISSIONS AND NOT HURT THE ECONOMY DUMB ASSUMPTION #2: THE PRECAUTIONARY PRINCIPLE DUMB ASSUMPTION #3: GLOBAL WARMING HURTS THE POOR THE UNITED NATIONS THE KYOTO PROTOCOL U.S. POLICY SOLUTIONS SILLY SOLUTIONS SUSTAINABILITY CONSERVATION Chapter 9: Less Dumb Global Warming Solutions NUCLEAR POWER CLEAN COAL HYDROGEN POWER SOLAR AND WIND ENERGY BIOFUELS THE FUTURE Chapter 10: Summary THE SCIENCE THE POLITICAL PLAYERS THE POLICIES THE PHILOSOPHICAL MOTIVATIONS THE GOOD NEWS Epilogue ILLUSTRATION CREDITS Index If you listen to the media, you would think that man-made environmental catastrophe was about to engulf the world and imperil civilization. From Al Gore's An Inconvenient Truth to nightly jeremiads about CO2 emissions and carbon footprints, we are bombarded around the clock with alarmist reports that disasterous global warming is on the rise and that it's our fault. In Climate Confusion, noted climatologist Roy Spencer shows that fears about global warming are vastly exaggerated and are driven by politics, not truth. He shows that a global superstorm has already arrived--but it is a storm of hype and hysteria. Climate Confusion is a ground-breaking book that combines impeccable scientific authority with great wit and literary panache to expose the hysteria surrounding the myths of global warming and climate change. Spencer shows that the earth is far more resilient than exopessimists pretend and that increasing wealth and technology ingenuity, far from being the enemies of the environment, are the only means we possess to solve environmental problems as they arise.--Provided by the publisher