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Post by marchesarosa on Mar 14, 2011 17:18:21 GMT
Here's a sane and sensible approach from Craig Loehle on March 13 at Judith Curry's Climate Etc blog.
With the exception of James Hansen, who seems to really believe in tipping points and 20 deg temp rise, the majority of believers in AGW recite claims of harm that suffice to take action which are so minor that it raises a question of how they perceive risk.
If hurricanes were to double in frequency, only a few % of the world’s population would be affected. If drought increased, farmer’s insurance rates might go up. These do not constitute the end of the world, but are treated as if they were.
As people become wealthier and safer, they become concerned about smaller and smaller risks. If you work in a gold mine in Brazil, you aren’t too worried about the little things that many westerners worry about. Organic food is a luxury of the comfortable.
I think that the brain has a certain amount of real estate set aside for worry and fear for the future, and if there aren’t real risks, we manufacture imaginary ones. Then, for the comfortable urban educated person, it is easy to imagine that we can simply DECIDE to stop using fossil fuels, at no cost (and no risk) to alleviate the fear they feel for a few storms or “climate disruption”.
Really, how much does climate interfere with your daily life? 10 days in winter where it is hard to get to work? A tree branch that falls on your house once in a while? Is it really a problem?
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Post by marchesarosa on Mar 14, 2011 17:20:52 GMT
Add Craig Loehle to the list of great climate communicators!
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carnyx
Junior Member
Posts: 60
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Post by carnyx on Mar 14, 2011 18:19:59 GMT
MR,
I heard that King Charles II the founder of the Royal Society was obliged as a member to do some original research and to publish a paper. He chose Climatology. He discovered that the English climate was the most temperate, in the sense that a person could work outside for more days in the year than anywhere else in the world!
It woud be nice if this research was repeated today.. and we could see if there has been any material change in the English climate since his time.
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everso
New Member
Fluffy - but with claws
Posts: 11
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Post by everso on Jun 9, 2011 17:05:47 GMT
Here's a sane and sensible approach from Craig Loehle on March 13 at Judith Curry's Climate Etc blog. With the exception of James Hansen, who seems to really believe in tipping points and 20 deg temp rise, the majority of believers in AGW recite claims of harm that suffice to take action which are so minor that it raises a question of how they perceive risk. If hurricanes were to double in frequency, only a few % of the world’s population would be affected. If drought increased, farmer’s insurance rates might go up. These do not constitute the end of the world, but are treated as if they were. As people become wealthier and safer, they become concerned about smaller and smaller risks. If you work in a gold mine in Brazil, you aren’t too worried about the little things that many westerners worry about. Organic food is a luxury of the comfortable. I think that the brain has a certain amount of real estate set aside for worry and fear for the future, and if there aren’t real risks, we manufacture imaginary ones. Then, for the comfortable urban educated person, it is easy to imagine that we can simply DECIDE to stop using fossil fuels, at no cost (and no risk) to alleviate the fear they feel for a few storms or “climate disruption”. Really, how much does climate interfere with your daily life? 10 days in winter where it is hard to get to work? A tree branch that falls on your house once in a while? Is it really a problem? Phew! A voice of reason at last. I have to say I like this chap.
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Post by nickcosmosonde on Jun 9, 2011 17:10:32 GMT
What do you mean: at last? Are you casting aspersions on the esteemed members of this board, young lady? It usually takes a little longer than this...
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