From the mainstream media:
About 325,000 years ago, at the peak of a warm interglacial, global temperature and CO2 levels were higher than they are today. Today we are again at the peak, and near to the end, of a warm interglacial, and the earth is now due to enter the next Ice Age. If we are lucky, we may have a few years to prepare for it. The Ice Age will return, as it always has, in its regular and natural cycle, with or without any influence from the effects of AGW.
The AGW theory is based on data that is drawn from a ridiculously narrow span of time and it demonstrates a wanton disregard for the ‘big picture’ of long-term climate change. The data from paleoclimatology, including ice cores, sea sediments, geology, paleobotany and zoology, indicate that we are on the verge of entering another Ice Age, and the data also shows that severe and lasting climate change can occur within only a few years. While concern over the dubious threat of Anthropogenic Global Warming continues to distract the attention of people throughout the world, the very real threat of the approaching and inevitable Ice Age, which will render large parts of the Northern Hemisphere uninhabitable, is being foolishly ignored.
It’s in Pravda. Caveat, I imagine, lector, but there it is.
One of the things which I always notice is the deliberate obfuscation by the warmists and their tax-funded sponsors of the difference between the emission of CO2 as the result of burning fossil fuels, and the consumption of energy in general. It ought to be clear that running an electrical appliance, even a dirty great plasma telly, on a nuclear or renewable generator will not release any CO2 into the atmosphere at all. It is unfortunately not clear to some that only the burning of fossil fuels can contribute to an overall increase of CO2 in the atmosphere (whatever the outcome of that might be), because fuels such as wood release only the CO2 which was taken from the atmosphere recently, while the trees were growing.
My belief is that this vast raft of nonsense is really about swingeing new energy and other taxes to pay for all this so-called ’science’ and to fund the deservedly unproletarian lifestyles of the Comrades of Proven Worth.
One advantage of one’s using lots of electricity (which in this part of the country comes from a nuclear power station) is that it warms up one’s house without resorting to the use of so much gas.
Being interested in geology I’ve always supposed on the basis of the evidence that we are rather overdue for the next Ice Age; the reason why I don’t believe a word of the AGW story is because despite its constant references to ‘The Science’ it is clearly a religion, relying not upon scientific method but upon an Holy Office of the Inquisition to maintain the strength of its case.
Sir Arthur C. Clarke said that the polar bears would return to London, y’know. That’s Sir Arthur C. ‘All the facts are correct for a change’ Clarke.
“Being interested in geology I’ve always supposed on the basis of the evidence that we are rather overdue for the next Ice Age…”
Indeed – I remember it being a constant theme of the ‘we’re all going to die!’ crowd back in the late 70s. Douglas Orgill’s novel, ‘The Sixth Winter’ was a very popular read back then.
Must dig it out so I’m prepared for the ‘ice dancers’ and the megapacks of wolves…
It was definitely polar bears in Clarke. Trying to get into Tube stations.
(previous comment eaten by the server I think)
I remember the Clarke story. Read it in primary school of all places. My first exposure to the British apocalyptic tradition in sci-fi (which goes back at least as far as Fred White’s “The Four White Days” in Pearson’s magazine, 1903)
Michael Moorcock did a fun frozen world yarn entitled “The Ice Schooner”. The characters were the usual ciphers, but it was fun of amazing imagery. People living in thermally active rifts. Flotillas of giant ice-gliding land yachts chasing pakcs of geneered whales. NYC frozen in glacial ice. It was what “The Day After Tomorrow” could (and should) have been.
I am looking forward to the sight of a few frozen eco warriors who have died after having had to burn Al Gores book in a futile attempt to stave off the advancing ice.
Chris – I remember the Moorcock story. I wonder whether the apocalyptic tradition in British SF might go back a bit beyond 1903, though.
Fido – you won’t see them because the polar bears will eat them.
“I am looking forward to the sight of a few frozen eco warriors who have died after having had to burn Al Gores book in a futile attempt to stave off the advancing ice.”
Would that be after they’ve burnt the man himself? His chins alone would keep a brazier going for a few hours!
The bit I haven’t worked out yet, is how he Righteous are planning to use this scare to impose more taxes, restrict and ban more stuff, poke their noses into our affairs, read our emails, record our phone conversations, charge us more for using our cars, and generally boss us about even more.
“ID Cards will prevent Ice Age” – hmm, doesn’t quite work, does it?
But no doubt they are on the case.
To be honest I believe that they’re still on the ‘global warming’ racket. It’s done them proud so far.