Global warming debate 'irrational': scientists [GW caused by sun]

Standard Freeholder (Cornwall, Canada) ^ | April 26, 2007 | Stephanie Stein

[2ndDivisionVet]

The current debate about global warming is "completely irrational," and people need to start taking a different approach, say two Ottawa scientists.

Carleton University science professor Tim Patterson said global warming will not bring about the downfall of life on the planet.

Patterson said much of the up-to-date research indicates that "changes in the brightness of the sun" are almost certainly the primary cause of the warming trend since the end of the "Little Ice Age" in the late 19th century. Human emissions of carbon dioxide (CO2), the gas of concern in most plans to curb climate change, appear to have little effect on global climate, he said.

"I think the proof in the pudding, based on what (media and governments) are saying, (is) we're about three quarters of the way (to disaster) with the doubling of CO2 in the atmosphere," said Patterson. "The world should be heating up like crazy by now, and it's not. The temperatures match very closely with the solar cycles."

Patterson explained CO2 is not a pollutant, but an essential plant food.

Billions of taxpayers' dollars are spent to control the emissions of this benign gas, in the mistaken belief that they can stop climate change, he said.

"The only constant about climate is change," said Patterson.

Patterson said money could be better spent on places like Africa.

"All the money wasted on Kyoto in a year could provide clean drinking water for Africa," said Patterson. "We're into a new era of science with the discussion of solar forces. Eventually, Kyoto is going to fall by the wayside. In the meantime, I'm worried we're going to spend millions that could have been spent on something better like air pollution."

Tom Harris, executive director of the Natural Resources Stewardship Project - an organization that attempts to debunk some of the popular beliefs about climate change - supported Patterson's findings.

Global warming assertions are based on inconclusive evidence put forth in science reports that had not been published yet, he said.

"The media takes (inconclusive) information that only suggests there could be a climate problem and turns it into an environmental catastrophe," said Harris.

"They continually say we only have 10 years left, and they've been saying it for 20 years, and it's ridiculous," he said. "The only reason I got involved in talking to media is that I think our resources are being mismanaged.

"Go after something real and tangible like air pollution."

After hearing a second scientist say climate change is part of a natural cycle, Elaine Kennedy - a local environmental activist - is interested in investigating the issue further.

She looks forward to examining scientific reports that will be published in a couple of months by the United Nation's Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change.

"The problem may not be climate change, but the problem is still pollution," said Kennedy.

She's not alone in her assertion global warming is a pollution problem.

David Phillips, a senior government environment expert, believes there is more than one contributing factor to global warming. There's a human element, as well as natural cycles.

Difficult to convince

"I'm a man that's difficult to convince," he said. "What convinces me is the large body of evidence, and highly reputable people promoting global warming, who are not lobbyists, but only seeking truth in science. They say the the earth is warming up faster and greater now than in the past."

People who are contradicting the global warming reality, Phillip thinks, have their own motives for doing so.

"These skeptics are keeping the debate alive (for their own interests). They try to confuse people into inaction," said Phillips.

Phillips believes global warming is solvable.

"We solved the ozone and acid rain problem. With effort, and a new way of doing things we could solve this one too," said Phillips.

[PeterPrinciple]

Patterson explained CO2 is not a pollutant, but an essential plant food.

Repeat loud and often.................

[Lucky9teen]

Just 2 more scientists that won’t be heard....

Global Warming....pfffft

[redgolum]

He had better be careful. The Global Warming Inquisition will find him.

[USFRIENDINVICTORIA]

"In the meantime, I'm worried we're going to spend millions that could have been spent on something better like air pollution."

He's way off the mark.

We're going to waste billions (trillions worldwide).

[ryan71]

“The temperatures match very closely with the solar cycles.”

I’ve not heard a single “we’re causing it” nut comment on the relationship of the sun to warming.

[Al Gator]

“We solved the ozone and acid rain problem. With effort, and a new way of doing things we could solve this one too,” said Phillips.”

Really? What did I miss? When and How did WE do THAT?

I seem to remember they just quietly slipped off into the night. Right after it was found that they were bogus!

What a blast.

[Maelstorm]

Dr. R. Timothy Patterson
Professor of Geology
Department of Earth Sciences
College of Natural Sciences
Carleton University
Ottawa, Ontario
K1S 5B6
CANADA

Email: tpatters@ccs.carleton.ca
tel: 613-520-2600 ext. 4425
fax: 613-520-2569

R. Timothy Patterson, Ph.D., is a professor of geology, Department of Earth Sciences, Carleton University as well as Director of the Ottawa Geoscience Centre in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. He is also a Senior Visiting Fellow in the School of Geography, Queen's University of Belfast, Northern Ireland. He holds a B.Sc. in Biology, B.A. in Geology, both from Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia and a Ph.D. in geology from the University of California at Los Angeles (UCLA).

[capitalist229]

The issue is NOT global warming but whether it is man-made.

The isue is the unexplained last 60 years 'hockey stick' on the CO2 graph. Has the sun's output increased that much in the past 60 years ? If so then global warming is NOT man made.

BUMP

[Vicomte13]

“I’m a man that’s difficult to convince,” he said. “What convinces me is the large body of evidence, and highly reputable people promoting global warming, who are not lobbyists, but only seeking truth in science. They say the the earth is warming up faster and greater now than in the past.”

Mars is warming up. Titan is warming up. All of the other planets where we can take measurements are warming up. And Earth is warming up. So yes, there is global warming, and that’s the truth. And yes, it’s warming up faster and greater now than in the recent recorded past.

The Sun is hotting up (I will leave the “fire next time” prophesies to those who dig that sort of thing). When the Sun hots up, the Solar System hots up. (Go figure!)

Now, it could be that Titan and Mars and Mecury and Venus are warming up because the Sun is increasing its radiant output, but the Earth is warming up because of cow farts and SUV emissions. It could be. But it isn’t.

[Red Badger]

"All the money wasted on Kyoto in a year could provide clean drinking water for Africa," said Patterson

I like that man's thinking processes..........

[dfwgator]

He had better be careful. The Global Warming Inquisition will find him.

"NOBODY EXPECTS THE GLOBAL WARMING INQUISITION!"

[2ndDivisionVet]

How about: All the money spent on Kyoto in a year could be kept by the taxpaying citizens to do with as they wish (i.e., buy food & housing, send children to college, etc.)?

[Maelstorm]

Those evil Martians much be using fossil fuels too. There are so many good reasons to set aside the Global Warming Hysteria.

[Ditto]

The isue is the unexplained last 60 years 'hockey stick' on the CO2 graph.

You might have missed it, but the "Hockey Stick" has been broken and is now in the Junk Science trash bin. Even the UN clepto-crats don't cite it anymore.

[beeber]

[Molly Pitcher]

CO2 is not a pollutant, but an essential plant food.

Really....And Isn't this good for the jungles rainforests the Left is always worrying about???

[Logic n' Reason]

Did any of these brave scientists - either as individuals or as a group - offer free classes to gore and his ilk?

Might help....at least then, gore would have no excuse!

[Red Badger]

I think he was talking about Canada nd all the other Kyoto signatories. We aren’t......

[rockinqsranch]

Thus far Global Warming is based on the heresy of people such as AlGore and of course others referencing some allegedly certifiable “Science” (None provided), and or “Scientists’” stating that Global Warming exists, and of course the Main Stream Alarmist, “Town Criers” hammer away at our sensibilities daily with the news.

Within this article is a grand example of the idiocy of the Global Warming alarmist. Note the commentary of Mr. Phillips. GW advocaters are good and have no motives other than the purist of..., yet GW skeptics motives are questionable as they have allegiance to something to make them think the way they do.