I want to state up front that we have been living through a warming trend driven by a
variety of influences. However, it is my view that this is not unusual, and contrary to the
characterizations by the IPCC and the National Climate Assessment, these environmental
changes are not apocalyptic nor irreversible.
2. My biggest concern is that both the reports present a number of speculative, and sometimes
incomplete, conclusions embedded in language that gives them more scientific heft than they
deserve. The reports are "scientific-sounding" rather than based on clearly settled facts or admitting
their lack. Established facts about the global environment exist less often in science than laymen
usually think.
3. HAS IT BEEN WARMING? Yes, we have been living through a warming trend, no doubt about
that. The rate of change we are experiencing is also not unprecedented, and the “mystery” of the
warming “plateau” simply indicates the inherent complexity of our global biosphere. Change is
normal, life on Earth is inherently risky; it always has been. The two reports, however, makes it
seem that environmental change is apocalyptic and irreversible. It is not.
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The concerns I have mentioned with the IPCC apply as well to the White
House's National Climate Assessment. I reviewed and provided comments on the
draft White House's National Climate assessment and, unfortunately, it appears that
these issues have not been addressed in the final assessment.
For example, I stated:
"The executive summary is a political statement, not a scientific statement. It is filled
with misstatements contradicted by well-established and well-known scientific papers."
"Climate has always affected people and all life on Earth, so it isn't new to say it is
'already affecting the American people.' This is just a political statement."
"It is inappropriate to use short-term changes in weather as an indication one way or
another about persistent climate changehttp://science.house.gov/sites/republicans.science.house.gov/files/documents/HHRG-113-SY-WState-DBotkin-20140529.pdf