This post is only for those with some time on their hands!
In this country there is no debate in government circles where pro and cons of global warming and CO2 are discussed by scientists. There is plenty of arguing in the blogs..but no actual debates back and forth to inform the politicians/beaurocrats who are NOT scientists of the issues.
Not so in Australia! Recently Senator Fielding there met with Minister of Climate Change to ask her 3 Questions about Global Warming. She brought her scientists to the meeting...he brought four skeptical scientists. This resulted in 3 VERY interesting documents that illustrate how governement works...but more importantly give a great crash course on some of the key scientific issues and data around "warming" in language that is understandable by non-scientists.
These are long... but each is worthwhile.
1. First is a letter from one of the skeptic scientists providing a personal overview of the meeting itself.
http://joannenova.com.au/2009/06/19/...lobal-warming/
2. Second is the written Government Scientists response to the 3 questions asked by Senator Fielding. This was developed in response to the questions and the discussion at the meeting.
http://www.environment.gov.au/minist...20090624c.html
3. Third is the response of the 4 skeptical scientists to the answers provided in #2 above. It is currently a Word document as it is preliminary...but is easily downloaded.
http://www.sciencemedia.com.au/downl...009-6-24-1.doc
There will be a more finished answer published instead of #3 but it will take a bit of time to put it together I'm sure. Nevertheless...even in its' raw state #3 is masterful.
My favorite quote comes from Dr. Evans review of the first meeting...
"It seems to me that politicians and bureaucrats might be able to effect an elegant dismount from the IPCC’s climate theory as it becomes more and more obvious that it is false. Maybe that positioning will become evident in the next year or two. But some scientists will shrilly defend the CO2 theory of unstoppable global warming, and their jobs, to the bitter end—because they are unlikely to ever find better jobs (hey, check out this
20 page list of recipients of Australian Research Council research grants, including $1.9m for David Karoly)."