2018 Annual GWPF Lecture – Prof Richard Lindzen – Global Warming For The Two Cultures
2018 Annual GWPF Lecture
Prof Richard Lindzen
Global Warming For The Two Cultures
London 8 October 2018
Institution of Mechanical Engineers
Tag: YouTube
Professor Wyss Yim: Geothermal Heat and Climate Variability
Geothermal heat released through terrestrial and submarine volcanism is an underestimated cause of natural climate variability. Satellites since the early 1980s and ARGO ocean profiling floats since the early 2000s are providing observational records that enable us to study the influence of geothermal heat on climate. Volcanic eruptions can be the cause of both cooling and warming of the atmosphere and the hydrosphere in addition to causing extreme weather events. During large terrestrial eruptions, high plumes inject ash and sulphur-rich particles into the troposphere and stratosphere causing warming initially followed later by cooling. They also release large amounts of carbon dioxide. Lava flows into oceans warm the seawater below the surface. Case studies will be used to highlight the role of geothermal heat on climate variability including the 2014-2015 ENSO and Arctic sea ice changes during the past decade.
Dr Susan Crockford — White Lie: The Cruel Abuse of a Starving Polar Bear
Dr. Susan Crockford looks back at the story which linked a starving polar bear to climate change, but which its authors now admit ‘went too far’.
Save the oceans – stop recycling plastic
An explosive report from the Global Warming Policy Foundation reveals that efforts to recycle plastic are a major cause of the marine litter problem. The report, written by public health expert Dr Mikko Paunio, sets out the case for incinerating waste rather than trying to recycle it.
* Most of the plastic waste comes from just a few countries, mostly in Asia and Africa.
* 25% is “leakage” from Asian waste management processes — the rest is waste that has never been collected, but is simply thrown into rivers.
* But European countries ship inject huge quantities of waste into Asian waste management streams, ostensibly for recycling. As much as 20% — millions of tons every year — ends up in the oceans and will continue to do so.
* Since the Chinese banned waste imports at the start of the year, shipments have been diverted to other Asian countries with even weaker environmental controls.
* EU recycling is therefore a major contributor to marine waste and increasing recycling will therefore simply increase marine litter.
Author Dr Mikko Paunio says,
“It is clear that the European contribution to marine waste is a result of our efforts to recycle. However, several countries have already shown that they can reduce this contribution to near zero, by simply incinerating waste”
Despite this success, the EU is trying to redouble recycling efforts and to close down the incineration route, mistakenly believing that this will reduce carbon emissions. As Dr Paunio puts it,
“The effects look as though they will be appalling. We can expect a great deal more plastic to end up in the environment, and in the oceans in particular. If the EU was serious about its war against marine pollution it should consider banning the export of plastic recyclate rather than banning plastic straws or taxing incineration.”
Iowa Climate Science Education 