The Kyoto Scam Starts Unraveling

At last some solid data points are appearing that may provide enough pieces of the puzzle to explain what we so glibly call global warming. While there does seem to be an overall warming trend in the earth’s climates, the temporal and spatial variability of the data is such that the magnitude and functional form of the trend are very difficult to determine. This puts predictions all over the map. Since the issue is highly politicized, critics seize on every missed prediction to refute the basic hypothesis, while the modellers–like good scientists should–try to revise their models. Meanwhile, the Global Warming Mafia has commandeered the issue to seize political power with scams like the Kyoto Treaty–make those nasty industrialized countries, especially the US, stop polluting.

Now it turns out that polluting industries aren’t the whole story. Recently we’ve learned that cows and coal seam fires are kicking in a major share of atmospheric pollution, and old Mr Sun has been cranking up the heat as well. Bjorn Lomborg’s estimate that implementing the Kyoto Protocol would be a total waste of money is sounding more and more sensible all the time. Which gets me to the aspects of the issue that I object to

1. It’s All Our Fault. Environmentalists, politicians, and climate scientists who are "environmentally conscious" sound like some suburban housewife whose husband just ran off with a stripper. It’s all my fault! No–your husband was a heel–and there are many factors affecting climate outside human control. You might make me carpool, but you’re not going to get rid of all the cows in India or Africa. And control volcanoes? Show me.
2. Just Do What We Say, and It Will Get Better. Here’s where I part ways with the climate scientists. Too many of them have decided that immediate action by International Authorites is required to stave off Impending Global Disaster. Said Authorities have readily seized the issue to use as a club to advance two of their favorite objectives: (a) constrain the power and influence of the United States, who they envy and hate, and (b) extort money from successful industries, ’cause that’s the money is. If we’ve learned one lesson from the 20th Century, it should be that central authorities and central planning start off inefficient, progress to wasteful and abusive, and mature into instruments of oppression. No, I will not do what you say.

When the Environmental Movement–scientists, NGOs, and governments–start proposing constructive, measurable programs to improve climate, and stop generating fees, taxes, and restrictions on technological growth, I’ll listen to them. Meanwhile, shut up.