Climate Change 12of12: Efficiency and Energy Independence

Lecture by Professor Richard Muller of the University California, Berkeley. Taken from Lectures 20 and 21 of the spring 2008 webcasts of Physics For Future Presidents. Also known as Descriptive Introduction to Physics. Emphasis is on conceptual understanding, rather than mathematics.

This lecture deals with the physics of climate change, the data on global temperature and carbon dioxide changes, and some potential solutions. Also covered are the many mistakes that can be made, including the trap of exaggeration. He warns against the danger of cherry picking and overstating the case. When people discover that the exaggerated case is not valid, they may dismiss the problem altogether. Professor Muller has researched this topic for many years and has co-authored a book with Gordon MacDonald called "Ice Ages and Astronomical Causes".

The reports of the IPCC are referenced much during this lecture. The full IPCC reports can be found here:
http://www.ipcc.ch/ipccreports/assessments-reports.htm

This lecture can also be found here, along with many other lectures:
http://webcast.berkeley.edu/course_details.php?seriesid=1906978515

Amory Lovins Lecture at TEDTalks:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kMTCNOlozTA

McKinsey Curve image:
http://tinyurl.com/5zmc9q

Category:

Science & Technology

Tags:

• amory
• lovins
• negawatts
• efficiency
• conservation
• mckinsey
• curve
• energy
• independence

[misterwrightjos]

thanks for posting very interesting lecture

[jaschemasch]

This lecture was more revealing than An Inconvenient Truth.

[dahlenu]

This was a very good lecture. However, you are left with the impression that the problem is this one degree F temperature rise, probably due to the rise in CO2 from 280 to 380. The big problem is when CO2 hits 480 or 580 or 680. I don't see anyone actually doing anything about this until the climate change effects are clearly noticable, in which case it might be too late.

[TheNemesiah]

good lecture

[Ralph64]

Thanks from me too.--Excellent work.

In the beginning, Professor Muller mentions that his book contains some data-interpreting "don'ts"!

Is there a video explanation out there on the 'massaging' of data: Running the raw numbers through questionable processes, as Mann et. al. were accused of?

I'd love to hear Prof. Muller's take on that.

[EvanGarrettRogers]

The professor is Richard Muller - he has a series of lectures that are fantastic - check em out!! You can probably just find them by typing his name in.

"Physics for Future Presidents"

[hardsofty123]

Thanks for this, I now have a better understanding of the issue at hand, and will be in a better position to dicuss it

[DeletedDelusion]

Excellent lecture.

Thank you for posting.