The Science and Politics of Climate Change

Complete video at: http://fora.tv/2007/10/28/Science_and_Politics_of_Climate_Change

Climatologist Mike Hulme examines frequent misconceptions about the science and politics of global climate change.

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"The Science and Politics of Climate Change" at the 2007 Battle of Ideas conference hosted by the Institute of Ideas. Panelists include Mike Hulme, Chris Rapley, Hans von Storch and Joe Kaplinsky. The panel is moderated by Tony Gillard.

The issue of the negative effects of climate change is rarely out of the media and is increasingly portrayed in alarming terms. Politicians of all persuasions attest to the seriousness of the situation and are competing to present their green credentials, alongside business, local government and pretty much every major public organisation.

But what does science tell us about how we should respond to climate change? Are scientists becoming involved in campaigning for particular political responses, and, if so, is this a good or bad thing? Is the time for debate really over, or are political choices being obscured by talk of scientific consensus? Are the threats so great and the science so certain that there really is only one course of action? - Institute of Ideas

Professor Mike Hulme is the Founding Director of the Tyndall Centre for Climate Change Research, UK, and is based in the School of Environmental Sciences at the University of East Anglia (UEA) where he has worked for the last 18 years. His general research interest is global climate change – the science/policy interface –but specialising in the construction and application of climate change scenarios for impact, adaptation and integrated assessment.

Professor Hulme has prepared climate scenarios and reports for the UK Government (including the UKCIP98 and UKCIP02 scenarios), the European Commission, UNEP, UNDP, WWF-International and the IPCC. He was a co-ordinating lead author for the chapter on ‘Climate scenario development’ for the Third Assessment Report of the United Nations IPCC, as well as a contributing author for several other chapters. He is leading the EU Integrated Project ADAM (Adaptation and Mitigation Strategies) during the period 2006-9, which comprises a 26-member European research consortium contributing research to the development of EU climate policy.

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[Zoidborg1]

2 degrees will effect us all violently. Look into it don't trust anti-global warming propaganda big business hires phony experts. Science is doing its role if it uses objective examination to predict danger and passes peer revue to gain scientific consensus then share there findings with the world and urge us to act on them.

[everybodysfavourite]

ya, i like this fora tv~~~

[CRAPCANNONS]

"Organized Crime in Charge of EU Carbon Trade, Europol Says":

/watch?v=oL-e33oaI94&feature=c­hannel_video_title

[QWQWQW603]

over U.S. laws laughs the whole world

[cinemaus]

Hulme's work also helps me think about climate beyond a physical phenomena. Sure, climate and climate change is measurable, but climate is also a cultural construct, based on our values, morals, etc. It makes it hard to understand science because we're not just talking carbon ppm, but how we view the world. Behavioral & cognitive sciences, media, psychology -- a lot more work is needed there. Hulme is pushing us to think in those directions.

[evanm8]

it is not seen in the scientific community a "profitable" or "beneficial" for any persn in science to go against the norm. There are some scientists today(Max Planc Institute)that have presented evidence that the world has now entered a stage of cooling, owarming. They, however, receive no media attention, very little scientific attention and no government grants. Saying we are not powerful and have very little impact on this worlds climate is not what governments and the people want to hear....

[markbotv3]

ahh ha so you admit that your long term goal is to say that their is man made global warming...get the govt to throw billions of dollars at you and at a predetermined time in the future do a complete 180 and say anthropogenic global warming was a "govt" hoax thus getting famous and still getting to keep all them govt checks...evil downright evil shame on you

[VeryEvilPettingZoo]

"the "scientists" get their big cars jumbo jets and swiss bank accounts"

Amazing. When confronted with a detailed, accurate, and rational description of a situation that shows your position is in error, your mind just shuts down and you then repeat your same idea, to an even greater degree, and with even greater force and confidence. That's so stupid that I'd assume that you were joking, except that the internet has sadly taught me that many people really are this arrogant and dumb.

[markbotv3]

the polititians are jumping for joy because they have found a way to massivly increase taxes without causing mass riots and the "scientists" get their big cars jumbo jets and swiss bank accounts...its a classic case of you wash my hands and ill wash yours

[VeryEvilPettingZoo]

Markbotv3:

You just perfectly recreated an argument crafted and disseminated for your benefit. While scientists spend their time and funding doing science, Big Biz and Free Market Orgs spend THEIR money funding lobbyists and think tanks to come up ideas - meritorious or not - to spread to the public to help their cause. The idea you just presented is one such argument, and it has no merit, for reasons I will now explain.

[VeryEvilPettingZoo]

1) Let's start with the fact that most of the active researchers on this are either academics or government scientists. Tenured professors and government employees enjoy greater job security than any other group in the USA - save lifetime judicial appointments. They're virtually impossible to fire. Also, research universities only get part of their funding from the government; the rest come from tuitions, endowments, etc..