Opinion Forum

ClimateGate Fallout

April 6th, 2010

Der Spiegel has published a long, fascinating article examining the fallout from ClimateGate and how both scientists and politicians are dealing with it. It’s better and more balanced than anything I’ve seen in the U.S. media, and it’s well worth the time required to read it.

The article makes it clear that scientists need to be more scientific and less political, while politicians need to stop pushing draconian solutions to a complex problem they barely understand, if they understand it at all.

From the article:

Plagued by reports of sloppy work, falsifications and exaggerations, climate research is facing a crisis of confidence. How reliable are the predictions about global warming and its consequences? And would it really be the end of the world if temperatures rose by more than the much-quoted limit of two degrees Celsius? …

Despite the enormous uncertainties, there is agreement on at least one issue: Global warming can no longer be stopped.

But would that be as horrific as has been predicted? Does humanity truly face plagues of biblical proportions? Won’t a warmer climate also have its benefits? And won’t it lead to higher crop yields and more tourism revenues in many places?

The truth probably lies somewhere in the middle. There will undoubtedly be losers, but there will also be winners. Whether global warming is more likely to be harmful or beneficial depends entirely on the location of the observer.

Articles written by Tom Carter
Tags: climate change, climategate, global warming, politicians, scientists
Categories: Economics, Politics, Science | Comments (1) | Home