James Hansen, father of climate change, calls Paris talks 'a fraud' [older article relevant today]

Guardian UK ^ | 12 December 2015 | Oliver Milman

[Lorianne]

The former Nasa scientist, considered the father of global awareness of climate change, is a soft-spoken, almost diffident Iowan. But when he talks about the gathering of nearly 200 nations, his demeanour changes.

“It’s a fraud really, a fake,” he says, rubbing his head. “It’s just bullshit for them to say: ‘We’ll have a 2C warming target and then try to do a little better every five years.’ It’s just worthless words. There is no action, just promises. As long as fossil fuels appear to be the cheapest fuels out there, they will be continued to be burned.”

The talks, intended to reach a new global deal on cutting carbon emissions beyond 2020, have spent much time and energy on two major issues: whether the world should aim to contain the temperature rise to 1.5C or 2C above preindustrial levels, and how much funding should be doled out by wealthy countries to developing nations that risk being swamped by rising seas and bashed by escalating extreme weather events.

But, according to Hansen, the international jamboree is pointless unless greenhouse gas emissions are taxed across the board. He argues that only this will force down emissions quickly enough to avoid the worst ravages of climate change.

[Lorianne]

Well, at least he is honest about what his agenda is. I don't think his tax idea will cool the planet either ... but at least he sees that rich countries paying poorer countries billions of dollars will do nothing to reduce carbon emissions.

[Fiddlstix]

[DoughtyOne]

The Left’s perception...

Heretics on the Right, behead them...

Heretics on the Left, give them awards...

[ontap]

James Hansen is one the most dishonest people going!!!

[TBP]

Excellent.

[Texas Fossil]

Bingo! We have a Winner!

Make America Great Again!

[TigersEye]

[samtheman]

Hockey Stick Hansen. Father of Climate Fraud.

[honurider]

What is harder to believe is an astronomer/physicist buying into this crap in the first place.

[colorado tanker]

This is what the warmists said in 2015. Today, Trump will single-handedly destroy the planet by pulling out of Paris. Liberals see no need to be consistent.

[DennisR]

And who says we will not be better off with a warmer planet?

[TChad]

"A Disgrace to the Profession", by Mark Steyn.

Jim, your hockey stick has been reduced to a well-chewed toothpick.

[Lorianne]

Steyn was referring to Michael Mann of hockey stick fame ... but yeah, hard to tell them apart.

[plain talk]

But, according to Hansen, the international jamboree is pointless unless greenhouse gas emissions are taxed across the board. He argues that only this will force down emissions quickly enough to avoid the worst ravages of climate change.

Ah taxes. so where should the tax money go? How would they like it if all the tax proceeds went to private sector energy corporations instead of governments? Would they be OK with that? :-)

[TChad]

Of course you are correct. Sorry.

Here's some of what Steyn's book says about James Hansen:

James Hansen was the most influential climate-change promoter pre-Mann. In June 1988 his dramatic testimony to the US Senate was reported by the following day’s New York Times under the headline “Global Warming Has Begun”. Certainly, the global-warming movement had begun. Hansen pushed the boundaries between scientist and propagandist, but, unlike Mann, he did not push the science itself into outright propaganda.

[Lorianne]

I have a good suggestion about where they could sent the money :)