January 28, 2010

The Science Is Settled, A Continuing Series: Disappearing Rain Forest Edition
— DrewM

First the Himalayan glaciers and now this.

Which is less credible...Obama's new found desire to restrain spending or the IPCC's scare mongering?

In the Fourth Assessment Report (AR4), issued in 2007 by the U.N.'s Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), scientists wrote that 40 percent of the Amazon rainforest in South America was endangered by global warming.

But that assertion was discredited this week when it emerged that the findings were based on numbers from a study by the World Wildlife Federation that had nothing to do with the issue of global warming -- and that was written by a freelance journalist and green activist.

The IPCC report states that "up to 40 percent of the Amazonian forests could react drastically to even a slight reduction in precipitation" -- highlighting the threat climate change poses to the Earth. The report goes on to say that "it is more probable that forests will be replaced by ecosystems ... such as tropical savannas."

But it has now been revealed that the claim was based on a WWF study titled "Global Review of Forest Fires," a paper barely related to the Amazon rainforest that was written "to secure essential policy reform at national and international level to provide a legislative and economic base for controlling harmful anthropogenic forest fires."

EUReferendum, a blog skeptical of global warming, uncovered the WWF association. It noted that the original "40 percent" figure came from a letter published in the journal Nature that discussed harmful logging activities -- and again had nothing to do with global warming.

Well, forest fires are hot so that's close enough to man made warming, right? And as for it being a letter and not an actual scientific study, that's just details.

Besides according to the UN Climate gang, this is kind of endearing, right?

Jean-Pascal van Ypersele, vice chairman of the IPCC, was quoted in the European press as saying, "I would like to submit that this could increase the credibility of the IPCC, not decrease it. Aren't mistakes human? Even the IPCC is a human institution."

Look Frenchie (technically he's Belgian, whatever), you can submit anything you want but we don't have to pretend it's anything other that pure BS. I mean, it's not like we were previously under the impression all of this stuff was coming from robots. We know you are human and as such are prone to, how to put this? Making shit up if it gets you what you want (which is usually research grants and power).

But of course, the science is settled and poling holes into the UN report is really not sportsman like or something. Allow me to take a minute to preview how Gaia worshipers will calmly and in scientifically explain this, um, unfortunate incident...."Shut Up!".

Posted by: DrewM at 01:17 PM | Comments (75)
Post contains 485 words, total size 3 kb.

1 Last night over at Hot Air I was admonished for laughing at Obama for wanting to base policy upon corrupt climate science. Of course the guy who admonished me went by the name "Karl Marx" - guess he's a troll? Though I assumed he took the name ironically. The whole "Green Movement" is corrupt and a farce to bring down America.

Posted by: Rodney at January 28, 2010 01:20 PM (c6mrx)

2 Hey California Morons, just wanted to let you know that your beloved Barbara Boxer was at the premiere of a climate change movie at Sundance. (pic on the front of the Sundance page.) I assume she did not foot the bill to get there herself, so congrats, you all bought a ticket to Sundance! Aren't you proud? /sarc And this little gem is from the film's Q&A: Q:ÊÊ What was the most surprising thing you discovered in making this film? Nash:ÊI think nothing would be more frightening than if we woke up tomorrow morning and the scientists said, ÒYou know what? WeÕve proven that man is not causing this.Ó IÕve been there. IÕve seen the destruction that is going on all around the world. We better hope that man is causing this because itÕs our only hope to fix it. a) Sorry dude, it keeps looking like your nightmare is coming closer to being true. Don't blame us for shattering your dreams, blame IPCC for lying to you. b) I have a solution to fix it if people are not the culprit: use your beloved science to destroy the sun! When the earth is a freezing hunk of rock for all of eternity, there will be no climate change anymore, yay! Idiots. http://festival.sundance.org/2010/news/article/qa_climate_refugees/?src=slide

Posted by: Liz Lemon at January 28, 2010 01:21 PM (lSuMX)

3
Yes, mistakes increase an organizations' credibility --- especially an organization that makes recommendations based on data.

Just like how when I voted for Scott Brown, I was voting for Barack Obama's policies.

Posted by: This is lolboner at January 28, 2010 01:21 PM (rgfwM)

4

Drew, your cynicism will cost the lives of millions of, uh, Na'vi.  Those tall blue people, I mean.

Posted by: Cicero at January 28, 2010 01:25 PM (QKKT0)

5

You! Yes you, the smelly redneck in the gimme cap! The rain forests are delicate ecosystems. They're not hard inhospitable regions like your frontal lobe or your mothers breast.

We must protect them, whether the threat is real or imagined! Now, shouldn't you be off buggering your cousin?

 

Posted by: Sgt. Fury at January 28, 2010 01:25 PM (CVZGO)

6 That is industrial strength stupid, even for a frog politician. Is he also a university professor? That would explain a lot.

Posted by: Rodent Freikorps at January 28, 2010 01:25 PM (dQdrY)

7

>>"I would like to submit that this could increase the credibility of the IPCC, not decrease it. Aren't mistakes human? Even the IPCC is a human institution."

Anthropogenic mistakes.

Posted by: Tushar at January 28, 2010 01:26 PM (KXhmI)

8 The science is settled, damn it!  Settled!  And when I say settled I mean there's only a certain amount of fraud.

Posted by: Your friends at the UN at January 28, 2010 01:26 PM (xxgag)

9 Everything they say is a lie.  Pave the planet.

Posted by: John Galt at January 28, 2010 01:26 PM (F/4zf)

10 Fine you win. Global warming is a hoax. Now who is going to pay me until we find the next hoax, err, crises?

Posted by: Phil Jones at January 28, 2010 01:27 PM (7BU4a)

11 People, the science is settled. Stop bothering us with facts.

Posted by: Al Gore at January 28, 2010 01:27 PM (ZdkpQ)

12
What makes it even more ridiculous is when the IPCC accepted the report they thought the WWF was still the world wrestling federation.

Posted by: bulwark at January 28, 2010 01:29 PM (MdzCh)

13 So to recap the SCIENCE

If human beings burn/cut down 40% of the rainforest, 40% of the rainforest will be destroyed by global warming.

Perhaps there is a communication problem here - does Global Warming = Human Beings?

Because if that is the heart of the issue, it explains a lot.

Stop Global Warming
We Hate Global Warming
blah  blah

All makes sense now...

Posted by: 18-1 at January 28, 2010 01:29 PM (7BU4a)

14 poling holes?

Insert smart alek line here.

Posted by: Guy Fawkes at January 28, 2010 01:29 PM (DIYmd)

15 Sure, you're laughing now, but once we set up the Nuremburg-style denialist war crimes trials, we'll see who's laughing then.

Posted by: Al Gore at January 28, 2010 01:30 PM (xxgag)

16 Gaia is dying!

I can feel it!

Save the rain forest!

Call Sting!

Posted by: typical liberal at January 28, 2010 01:31 PM (OKZrE)

17 The whole "Green Movement" is corrupt and a farce to bring down America.

Posted by: Rodney at January 28, 2010 05:20 PM (c6mrx)

Well, a man's got to work, doesn't he?

Posted by: Mikhail Gorbachev founder of Green Cross International, at January 28, 2010 01:32 PM (7BU4a)

18 We are the Global Warming.

You will be assimilated.

Do not resist.

Resistance is futile.

We are the Global Warming.

Posted by: Mortis at January 28, 2010 01:33 PM (hA5JK)

19 Sure, you're laughing now, but once we set up the Nuremburg-style denialist war crimes trials, we'll see who's laughing then.

Posted by: Al Gore at January 28, 2010 05:30 PM (xxgag)

There can be only one!

Posted by: ManBearPig at January 28, 2010 01:33 PM (7BU4a)

20 It really is my fault.  All of it.  The economy, Fannie Mai, Freddie Mac, Iraq, Iran, Afghanistan, global warming, every single damn thing.  And I've made Obama look like a tool for blaming me.

That is how smart I am.

Posted by: George Bush at January 28, 2010 01:33 PM (bvDV5)

21 It's time for Americans to realize that lying our butts off is hard work, and that the IPCC can't just wave a magic wand and make our bogus statements match the facts. Haters.

Posted by: Ellie Light at January 28, 2010 01:34 PM (lSuMX)

22 That's another thing, seems like Obama called the global warming science a hoax. Yet that's not a reason not to have a climate change bill. What a dickhead. See u in Nov. douche.

Posted by: Darth Nihilus69 at January 28, 2010 01:34 PM (GfYt/)

23 Of course, it needs to be pointed out, this was no mistake, it was abject purposeful fraud.  It also needs to be said that if the logic of the frenchie is what the IPCC is using, I imagine the science is making quite a few mistakes.

Posted by: Guy Fawkes at January 28, 2010 01:34 PM (DIYmd)

24 Karl Rove is doing a great job at making Obama look like an ass. Rove you magnificent bastard!

Posted by: Darth Nihilus69 at January 28, 2010 01:36 PM (GfYt/)

25

Incidentally, the British police say that the University of East Anglia broke the law for hiding information when the FOIA was issued.  Unfortunately, they can't be prosecuted because it's past the statute of limitations.  From Hotair:

The Information CommissionerÂ’s Office decided that UEA failed in its duties under the Act but said that it could not prosecute those involved because the complaint was made too late, The Times has learnt. The ICO is now seeking to change the law to allow prosecutions if a complaint is made more than six months after a breach.

Posted by: runningrn at January 28, 2010 01:36 PM (CfmlF)

26

from The Times Online: Scientists in stolen e-mail scandal hid climate data

"The university at the centre of the climate change row over stolen e-mails broke the law by refusing to hand over its raw data for public scrutiny."

Posted by: conscious and pissed off at January 28, 2010 01:37 PM (Vu6sl)

27 Psssttttt!!!


Pull my finger.

Posted by: Joe Biden, Your Vice President at January 28, 2010 01:38 PM (BFqyO)

28

Sorry runningrn. Looks like we were working on the same thing.

Posted by: conscious and pissed off at January 28, 2010 01:38 PM (Vu6sl)

29

The Information CommissionerÂ’s Office decided that UEA failed in its duties under the Act but said that it could not prosecute those involved because the complaint was made too late, The Times has learnt. The ICO is now seeking to change the law to allow prosecutions if a complaint is made more than six months after a breach.

Posted by: runningrn at January 28, 2010 05:36 PM (CfmlF)

No controlling legal authority bitches!

Posted by: Al Gore at January 28, 2010 01:38 PM (7BU4a)

30 Jean-Pascal van Ypersele (b. Brussels, 1957) is a Belgian Professor of Climatology and Environmental Sciences at the Université catholique de Louvain (UCL), in Louvain-la-Neuve (Belgium).

Posted by: Paul Maud Dip at January 28, 2010 01:39 PM (dQdrY)

31 You mean everything they say is lies and demented bullshit?

Inconceivable. Really.

Posted by: Chainsaw Chimp at January 28, 2010 01:40 PM (pLTLS)

32 Allow me to take a minute to preview how Gaia worshipers will calmly and in scientifically explain this, um, unfortunate incident...."Shut Up!".

NONTROVERSY, and Shut Up

Buy a calendar before I bid you adieu

Posted by: Cahrsel Jhonsno at January 28, 2010 01:41 PM (sYxEE)

33

Hey Al,

I've got your "controlling legal authority" right here between my legs...

Posted by: Dick Cheney at January 28, 2010 01:41 PM (Vu6sl)

34

The Himalyan glaciers are receding you knuckledragging fools!  I've got pictures to prove it!

Everybody knows that global warming exists and will cause massive storms, pestilsence, drought and plagues of locust.  It doesn't matter that they lied about it.  Everybody knows it's true.  I'm self medicated...err..I mean.. educated.  You idiots ought to get with the program.

As for the rain forests? Nontroversy!

You all should be banned from the internet in perpetuity.

 

 

Oh, buy a kindle.  There are great deals at Amazon.

It's never too early to pre-order next year's calender either.

Posted by: 2 Buck Chuck at January 28, 2010 01:41 PM (zxrQh)

35 More stats and data from the WWF( World Wrestling Federation).

Posted by: chicocano at January 28, 2010 01:42 PM (2n5cq)

36 Having just recently joined "Facebook" (I swear I held out as long as I could, but I was eventually worn down) my favorite activity so far has been posting all these Climategate stories for my MA Lib enviro-nut friends. It's like every discussion/debate we've ever had on the issue is being resolved in my favor. Hard not to gloat a bit.

Posted by: Chris M. at January 28, 2010 01:42 PM (V2pCF)

37 freakin sock

Posted by: Lincolntf at January 28, 2010 01:43 PM (V2pCF)

38 But that assertion was discredited this week when it emerged that the findings were based on numbers from a study by the World Wildlife Federation that had nothing to do with the issue of global warming -- and that was written by a freelance journalist and green activist.

Basically, they copied and pasted from a Charles Johnson type of bullshit artist

Posted by: kbdabear at January 28, 2010 01:43 PM (sYxEE)

39 Having just recently joined "Facebook" (I swear I held out as long as I could, but I was eventually worn down) my favorite activity so far has been posting all these Climategate stories for my MA Lib enviro-nut friends. It's like every discussion/debate we've ever had on the issue is being resolved in my favor. Hard not to gloat a bit.

Posted by: Chris M. at January 28, 2010 05:42 PM (V2pCF)


What kind of response have you been getting?

Posted by: 18-1 at January 28, 2010 01:44 PM (7BU4a)

40 Belgian?

You mean he is an evil choclateer?  I bet he doesn't even dip.

Posted by: Guy Fawkes at January 28, 2010 01:44 PM (DIYmd)

41 36 Having just recently joined "Facebook" (I swear I held out as long as I could, but I was eventually worn down) my favorite activity so far has been posting all these Climategate stories for my MA Lib enviro-nut friends. It's like every discussion/debate we've ever had on the issue is being resolved in my favor. Hard not to gloat a bit.

Posted by: Chris M. at January 28, 2010 05:42 PM (V2pCF)

Show them no mercy!

Posted by: conscious and thinks Obama is the Tiny Tim of Politics at January 28, 2010 01:44 PM (Vu6sl)

42

Posted by: conscious and pissed off at January 28, 2010 05:38 PM (Vu6sl)

 

Great minds think alike!  Heh!

Posted by: runningrn at January 28, 2010 01:45 PM (CfmlF)

43 Basically, they copied and pasted from a Charles Johnson type of bullshit artist

Posted by: kbdabear at January 28, 2010 05:43 PM (sYxEE)


Hey it works for me

Posted by: B+ Publik Skool Student at January 28, 2010 01:46 PM (7BU4a)

44 We are the warming we've been waiting for!  (Take that, Al Gore!)

Posted by: runningrn at January 28, 2010 01:46 PM (CfmlF)

45 I'm not a Frenchie!  I'm a Belgie!


(Finally, an opening for my favorite 'Murder by Death' riff.)

Posted by: nickless at January 28, 2010 01:46 PM (MMC8r)

46 Global warming is responsible for Keith Olbermann's douchebaggery.

Posted by: Wyatt Earp at January 28, 2010 01:46 PM (zgZzy)

47 I, too, enjoy poling holes in UN reports.  So much more French than poking them.

Posted by: Hucklebuck at January 28, 2010 01:49 PM (oQLnX)

48

Aren't mistakes human?

Mistakes are human, but these are not mistakes!  These are UN and NGO sponsored conspiracies that are designed to pump billions of dollars into phoney science, and to use the lies produced from it to scare the world into taxing and redistributing wealth, and incidently, to allow insiders like Gore and Soros to rake off millions on the side.

Crimes are being committed today that have no parallel in history insofar as their global reach.

Posted by: sherlock at January 28, 2010 01:50 PM (h6sl7)

49 39

Very little response from most. But I'm pretty good real life friends with these people, so they kinda acknowledge that they've been busted. I think a few are about to take the plunge and say "Yup, I was scammed by all these scientists and now I'm pissed about it", but who knows? These people have read literally  thousands of pages of material "proving" AGW, so it's an uphill climb.

Posted by: Lincolntf at January 28, 2010 01:52 PM (V2pCF)

50 Amen, Sherlock. I don't understand why the dems get away with belittling Big Oil when Big Green is just as nefarious.

Posted by: Liz Lemon at January 28, 2010 01:52 PM (lSuMX)

51

Fine you win. Global warming is a hoax. Now who is going to pay me until we find the next hoax, err, crises?

 

You should see the gig I'm working on for the next generation !!!

Posted by: Al Gore's son, Junior the Third at January 28, 2010 02:06 PM (Zi+FQ)

52

Grandpa's Global Cooling

Dad's Global Warming

 

Get ready for Global Climate Stagnation.

Pony up. We've got to get this atmosphere moving in some direction or another.

 

Wind credits? Convection Credits?  I'm onto something here...

Posted by: Al Gore's son, Junior the Third at January 28, 2010 02:09 PM (Zi+FQ)

53

You should see the gig I'm working on for the next generation !!!

Al Gore's son, Junior the Third

A 200 mph Prius with a breathalyzer interlock?

Posted by: sherlock at January 28, 2010 02:09 PM (h6sl7)

54

You should see the gig I'm working on for the next generation !!!

Al Gore's son, Junior the Third

A 200 mph Prius with a breathalyzer interlock?

 

Heh!  How 'bout "Global Crisis Scam 2.0".

Posted by: runningrn at January 28, 2010 02:15 PM (CfmlF)

55 "I would like to submit"

Wonderful! About time! If reasonable people like you were in charge of the United States the world would be a much more peaceful place! (waves finger in air for emphasis)

Posted by: Osama bin Ladin at January 28, 2010 02:24 PM (pHWZm)

56 Well that settles it , my next strip canoe will be made of mahogany .
Sure , it's a little too dark and heavy for small craft and eastern white cedar is the ultimate wood for that kind of work but it seems the best way to give these idiot hippies the finger . Added benefit , some of the money will go to impoverished south or central american loggers .
For the cherry on top , paddles will be made of laminated purple heart and rosewood .
It'll end up a family boat as no one will be able to afford it in this economy .
Maybe I can sell it to Bill Gates or Warren Buffet .  Sheaaaa riiiiight .

Posted by: awkward davies at January 28, 2010 02:27 PM (wb68R)

57 did any of these clowns ever take a science class? in the interview with Nash, film's producer i guess, he talks about PROVING that man doesn't cause global warming. i'm pretty sure no one can prove nuthin on either side of the argument. either the theory explains stuff pretty well, or it doesn't. a theory is not a proof. gravitational attraction is a theory, not a fact, for example. i'm convinced unless you have a degree in the sciences the only thing you should be able to run is your mouth. imagine if the politicians had been forced at some point to have done some critical thinking, instead of buying a BA degree in some poofy humanities major. Lord, how i hate stupid people. i know God's punishing them by making them stupid (duh), but why do i need to suffer, too?

Posted by: KilltheHippies at January 28, 2010 02:34 PM (94ai5)

58 Fire hot!

Posted by: So Easy A Caveman Can Do It at January 28, 2010 02:41 PM (R+LUw)

59 There actually isn't  any such thing as gravity...the Earth sucks!

Posted by: Trendy Waggish Physics Nerd at January 28, 2010 02:43 PM (R+LUw)

60

(Finally, an opening for my favorite 'Murder by Death' riff.)

Posted by: nickless at January 28, 2010 05:46 PM (MMC8r)

I knew someone would beat me to it.

Posted by: stuiec at January 28, 2010 02:46 PM (7AOgy)

61 THE United States today officially stated a goal to cut carbon emissions by 17 per cent by 2020 off 2005 levels, in a submission to the United Nations as part of last month's Copenhagen meeting.

The United States said it expected to cut emissions blamed for global warming “in the range of 17 per cent” and “anticipated” that Congress would approve legislation to meet the target.

Posted by: Neo at January 28, 2010 02:55 PM (tE8FB)

62 Hey, it had the word 'anthropogenic' in it...close enough!!

Posted by: Uncle Jefe at January 28, 2010 03:01 PM (+3fAP)

63

So is this Belgian guy Flemish or Waloon? 'Cause if he's a Waloon....well, that pretty much shoots any credibility all to hell right there.

I mean really, what the hell kinda dorks call themselves "Waloons".... Waaalooooons.....c'mon.

Posted by: gebrauchshund at January 28, 2010 03:03 PM (ZTGFz)

64 "Heh, heh. What a Walloon..."

Posted by: Bugs Bunny at January 28, 2010 03:37 PM (Zi+FQ)

65 Jean-Pascal van Ypersele...

Is that Wallooney-tune last name pronounced "Wipe your seal?"

Posted by: apbJean-Pascal van Ypersele at January 28, 2010 03:45 PM (4Ac/Q)

66 If I hear one of these guys yatter on again about "fragile ecosystems" I'm going to punch them in the face, hard.
The only fragile ecosystems on Earth are in places like caves, where conditions haven't changed for tens or hundreds of thousands of years.  Everywhere else, ecosystems constantly have to deal with weather, solar cycles, new species, etc.  If they really were so goddamn "fragile," they'd already be toast and replaced with a more resilient ecosystem.
Fucking econuts.

Posted by: Nemo from Erewhon at January 28, 2010 03:53 PM (vgjDD)

67

This I believe is AmazonGate.  Give the idiots time to re-spin this.  Here it comes:

Man's destruction of the Amazon rain forest has reduced the planet's ability to incorporate CO2, via photosynthesis, leading to ever increasing levels of atmospheric CO2, and its inevitable effect on climate warming.

Posted by: MDr VB1.0 CS1st at January 28, 2010 04:06 PM (ucq49)

68 posted this on a moonbat infested forum and got this reply (from someone actually in academia):

Wow, that foxnews article hasn't updated any of their boilerplate, including debunked denialist claims. Seriously, I'm not being sarcastic -- it's surprising if you call yourself a news organization. It's more propaganda, for whatever reason. "Hide the decline" made a funny video, but that's been confirmed by an exhaustive review to be exactly what the scientists said it was: referring to a mid-20th-century artifact of a problem with the way tree-ring data is analyzed -- not a recent decline in temps or something like that.

And the Amazon stuff here... um, okay, but that doesn't even get to the heart of the matter about greenhouse gases, observed temperatures since the industrial rev. and projected CO2 levels, etc.

It's like saying "This idea that DNA carries genetic information is garbage because you were mistaken and sloppy about what gene #gobblety-blob does!"

So sad. The horse is out of the barn anyway, but it's still sad. I guess it's not as sad as the fact that I still care that it's sad, and then post in this thread.

I love watching them melt down.

Posted by: Blackford Oakes at January 28, 2010 04:08 PM (qyKoF)

69 ecoecho-system

Posted by: always right at January 28, 2010 04:38 PM (8/wkb)

70

If we don't do something RIGHT NOW, the Himalayan rain forests and the Amazonian glaciers are both DOOMED!

Mark my words.

Posted by: malclave at January 28, 2010 05:31 PM (W1Ndc)

71 What those environmental loonies always deceitfully neglect to mention is the thriving Siberian taiga forest, which is larger than all of the rain forests on this planet combined, and which is a very stable ecosystem ...., although it is so remote in its location in close proximity to the Arctic Circle the most people don't even know that it exists.

Posted by: Guest at January 28, 2010 08:18 PM (ITzbJ)

72 As we learded back in the late 1990s the SAVE THE RAINFORESTS campaign was a rip off and fools  sent in their  money into a fruadulent program and all time green rip-off

Posted by: Spurwing Plover at January 29, 2010 07:48 AM (/NsH0)

73

"I would like to submit that this could increase the credibility of the IPCC, not decrease it. Aren't mistakes human? Even the IPCC is a human institution."

 

Individual humans do make mistakes.  Instituations don't make mistakes, they make policy.

Posted by: Speller at January 29, 2010 08:47 AM (o0R2E)

Posted by: susan at February 27, 2011 08:38 PM (mbHVk)

Posted by: susan at February 27, 2011 08:39 PM (mbHVk)

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