The Wall Street Journal Publishes Long-Debunked Myths (by Steven Koonin) To Promote Climate Inaction

[Bill USA]

The Wall Street Journal Publishes Long-Debunked Myths (by Steven Koonin) To Promote Climate Inaction

There is no death for even the most long-debunked climate myths, especially on the pages of Rupert Murdoch’s Wall Street Journal. And the only certainty about carbon taxes — or indeed any serious climate action — is that the Journal will try to undercut their moral urgency by giving life to dead myths.

In the case of the Journal’s Saturday piece, “Climate Science Is Not Settled,” we get the umpteenth error-riddled rehash of denier talking points — to the effect that the remaining uncertainties in climate science undermine the case for strong action.

The piece is by former BP chief scientist and former Department of Energy official, Steven Koonin, but this dangerously error-riddled piece is much more BP than DOE — and its bizarre and unjustified conclusions have already been debunked by leading climate scientists.

In fact, it has long been known that the reverse is true: Uncertainty is a major reason climate action is so urgent. Three years ago, a major climate-assessment study of just the rainfall impacts to this country conducted by Sandia National Laboratory concluded:

“We want to reemphasize that the methods of this study reveal how compelling risk derives from uncertainty, not certainty. The greater the uncertainty, the greater the risk. It is the uncertainty associated with climate change that validates the need to act protectively and proactively.”

(more)

[Fred Sanders]

1. The printed version of Fox News lies as much as the on line and cable versions.

There is a cottage industry in America in anti-science grifters who see a profitable livelihood in supporting lies on behalf of politicians on behalf of their stupididies voters.

Dr. Carson is the most notable example, but Senator Inhofe is hot on his heels for the title of Science Denier of the Year.

[fasttense]

2. Hence the nickname the Wall Street Urinal. n/t

[AverageJoe90]

3. And this is a huge part of the problem: muddying the waters.

Yes, it may indeed be true that there are still some uncertainties, and some that may not be solved for a while yet.....but anthropogenic effects isn't one of them; we know for a fact, it is currently the most significant driver of climate change.

However, though, I'd like to add that it doesn't help that climate doomers are also muddying the waters in their own way, by injecting doom-and-gloom and their own bad science on their own end. Just look at this Dahr Jamail piece from Truth Out:

http://truth-out.org/news/item/27714-are-humans-going-extinct

The title alone should raise red flags, but it gets worse, and, warning to fellow climate rationalists, it uses Guy McPherson as a source. But I feel you have to read it to see just how nutty the good professor is.