IntenseDebate - Stephen

13 years ago @ http://www.themarknews... - Why We Vote Against Ou... · 0 replies · +2 points

Fear and greed are the values Conservatives trumpet in their words and deeds. There is no real moral discourse coming from them. It is all pretence and pandering. Himelfarb is correct that Canadians are looking for principled and well-articulated vision for the future. Frankly the only place I see that is the Green Party. (and yes Greens do have realistic economic policies, a former chief economist recently graded those as B+)

13 years ago @ Macleans.ca - Say no evil · 0 replies · -4 points

and crazy anarchists making comments here ought to be first in line for ye olde hoosgow

13 years ago @ Collide-a-scape - The Main Hindrance to ... · 0 replies · 0 points

agw... You are misinterpreting Curry I think - scientists are a bitchy lot and only agree with each other reluctantly. But in any case your points have already been addressed several times in this thread including my take below:

Well for starters Gavin is a climate scientist and Lucia is not so that they see something different in a graph about a historical climate analogue is hardly surprising.

And it may take Gavin hours of explanation for those of us not trained in climate physics to understand his reasoning. Assuming of course we really want to learn and not defend a point of view.

The real question here: Should Gavin be obligated to spend all that time giving helping us understand all the nuances of climate science?

If so then should I insist my surgeon train me to do the surgery before I let him perform my life-saving operation?

13 years ago @ Collide-a-scape - Those Squishy Security... · 0 replies · 0 points

Far more significant is that Obama said nothing about climate change aka global warming. That makes it pretty tough to tackle - and get the public's support if you pretend the problem has gone away. Astonishing lack of LEADERSHIP.

I've said it here before: The fact that Arctic is melting is beyond refute - some regions have avg annual temps that are 10C warmer than 20-30 years ago. A warmer Arctic affects the entire climate system.

13 years ago @ Collide-a-scape - The Main Hindrance to ... · 1 reply · +1 points

Well for starters Gavin is a climate scientist and Lucia is not so that they see something different in a graph about a historical climate analogue is hardly surprising.

And it may take Gavin hours of explanation for those of us not trained in climate physics to understand his reasoning. Assuming of course we really want to learn and not defend a point of view.

The real question here: Should Gavin be obligated to spend all that time giving helping us understand all the nuances of climate science?

If so then should I insist my surgeon train me to do the surgery before I let him perform my life-saving operation?

13 years ago @ Collide-a-scape - The Main Hindrance to ... · 0 replies · -4 points

W. You're joking right? The public is riveted to your debate over tree rings? Come on, that's ....well not very likely now is it?

This 'debate' looks like an effort to some how find a way that humans are not responsible for climate change. Is some of the data and analysis flawed? Maybe but so what? There is clear evidence CC is underway -- the Arctic is melting etc -- so what are we going to do about it?

13 years ago @ Collide-a-scape - Tom & Joe, Unplugged · 0 replies · +1 points

Keith I think you are indeed accomplishing a broader conversations with your posts but not this one. It's either "LOL Romm's an idiot" or "how unfair to Romm/Friedman"

Doing a 'Romm post' is not helpful in my view. And Romm undermines himself with his vitriol and partisan attacks, even when he presents a solid argument with good data.

Andy has done some great journalism even though I don't agree with some of his more recent takes. I think Andy can defend himself and does.

13 years ago @ Collide-a-scape - Tom & Joe, Unplugged · 1 reply · 0 points

Joe is often over the top in his commentary like many bloggers. However he does cover many issues in more depth than most media these days (sadly) and generally does a good job marshalling facts and evidence to support it.

Keith not sure what you were trying to accomplish here.

13 years ago @ Collide-a-scape - Bridging the Climate D... · 0 replies · -1 points

2C does not translate into better food production, just the opposite as many studies show. I don't see how there are many benefits with a climate subject to more extremes. The warming is not evenly distributed as you suggest.

Tol and most other economists know very little about ecology and economics does not value ecological services like clean air. Moreover destructive events like Hurricane Katrina increase the US's GDP. That's not much of guide to make decisions by.

The 2C target has little to do with economics in any case. It's about avoiding tipping points in the climate system that would be irreversible and generate positive feedback loops like we are beginning to see in the Arctic.

13 years ago @ Collide-a-scape - Bridging the Climate D... · 0 replies · -1 points

It is cut and dry as far as the Arctic is concerned. The entire region is 2 to 3C warmer than 30 years ago and sea ice, the dominant feature of the region is is rapidly melting. Last winter's freeze up produced a layer of thin ice which is why it hit a record low melt for the month last May.

There are dozens of examples like this, not to mention the fact that the last decade was the hottest on record and this year likely to be the hottest year on record. Why wouldn't there be impacts?

I've read the Global Humanitarian Forum Report and it acknowledges the difficulties you suggest and even more but concludes a very conservative estimate is that CC is responsible for an additional 300, 000 deaths per year.

Just because its complicated doesn't mean it doesn't exist. One of the fundamental conditions of our global climate system has been altered -- much more heat energy is being trapped every year. Of course there are impacts.

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