Andrew Dessler: The Certain Climate Alarmist

By Robert Bradley Jr. -- February 27, 2019 16 Comments

“This warming [of 5 to 9 degrees Fahrenheit this century] is as certain as death and taxes.” (Professor Andrew Dessler, below)

Andrew Dessler is one of the leading climate scientists/alarmists of his generation. And he is a master at presenting his case, not unlike a highly skilled lawyer. He knows the answers–and counter-arguments are just noise.

His textbook, Introduction to Modern Climate Change (2nd edition: 2016), does not seriously engage a range of opinions in its 250 pages. A review of the text/index confirms that many key controversies and open questions are either downplayed or absent, thereby creating–in his world–settled alarmist science.

I will later write an in-depth review of this textbook, which not only covers physical science but also related issues in political economy, energy economics, and history.

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Tx. Governor Abbott: Beware of Andrew Dessler (science-is-settled climate alarmist requires balance)

By Robert Bradley Jr. -- January 24, 2019 10 Comments

If Texas A&M scientists calculated that an asteroid was heading our way, we would likely head for the hills with a lot of pills. But when this university’s climatology department warns of dangerous man-induced global warming and calls for government action (think new taxes and regulation), roll your eyes and watch the wallet. [But] we live in a postmodern world where emotion and desire substitute for humility and scholarship. 

 – Robert Bradley, “Political Scientists: Gerald North and Andrew Dessler Double Down on Climate Alarmism,” October 11, 2013.

Andrew Dessler is an alarmist/activist climate scientist. He is very certain of his positions on the hard science questions (what Judith Curry warns is really an uncertainty monster). Dessler also veers outside of his expertise to confidently assess the prospects for (government) forced energy transformation away from fossil fuels, the area of political economy. 

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Greenpeace Resurrects “Peak Oil” (an exercise in intellectual misdirection)

By -- January 22, 2019 2 Comments

“Depletionists believe that once a production peak is reached, there can be no recovery. This is simply not true when the history of oil production in many regions is examined.”

“Such is the state of Greenpeace ‘scholarship’ where it seems that the Peak Oil choir, out of songs, needs anything to sing. I’ll let you know when this dead horse tries to run again.”

Incredibly, in these days of an oil glut, Greenpeace published a piece by its co-founder Rex Weyler titled Will Peak Oil Save Earth’s Climate? “Given the slow pace of climate action,” he states, “some ecologists have wondered if peak oil production might arrive in time to forestall runaway global heating.”

Others have worried that peak oil and gas would mean higher coal usage and thus more carbon emissions, a question for another day.

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FDR’s New Deal with Energy: Part III (oil retailing)

By Robert Bradley Jr. -- January 10, 2019 2 Comments

“Despite over 400 prosecutions on over 1,800 reported infractions, effective enforcement for service stations was never achieved. For every disputed violation there was a hundred more, and federal judges were as inclined to dismiss code violations as they were to side with the government.”

“[One case] concerned the Babe Ruth Contest held by Jersey Standard in 18 states. With extensive advertising featuring Ruth himself, coupons were dispensed at Esso stations redeemable by children 18 and under for free baseball equipment and grand prizes of a trip to Yankee spring training. Although highly popular with motorists, federal authorities asked Jersey to drop the campaign. The company refused, and a suit was filed on January 15, 1934, to enjoin the contest as in violation of rules 16 and 17 of the NRA code.

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“The Economic Fall and Political Rise of Renewable Energy”

By Robert Bradley Jr. -- November 15, 2018 2 Comments Continue Reading

A Spot Coal Shortage in India: Central Planners Overrate Wind

By Vijay Jayaraj -- October 10, 2018 4 Comments Continue Reading

For the Poor, How Much Energy Is Enough?

By Greg Rehmke -- October 2, 2018 4 Comments Continue Reading

“The Ideology of Fossil Fuels” (Deep Ecology/Malthusian/ Postmodern/Totalitarian Thought Today)

By Robert Bradley Jr. -- July 11, 2018 2 Comments Continue Reading

Josiah Neeley Rejects a Carbon-Dioxide Tax and Wind Power

By Robert Bradley Jr. -- April 17, 2018 7 Comments Continue Reading

California Energy Reform: Shellenberger’s One-Fourth Loaf

By Robert Bradley Jr. -- April 9, 2018 1 Comment Continue Reading