DK GreenRoots

TOP STORY

The GOP climate deniers actually think that their "climategate" BS is a smoking gun that will derail climate change legislation in the U.S. and a global treaty in Copenhagen by decreasing public support in the belief in global warming. The deniers believe that their lies, disinformation and fallacious claims will cause public opinion polls to "drop through the floor" by early next year.

Heh, the deniers did not get the message sent by Senator Boxer when she proceeded with climate change legislation despite Inhofe's flaccid boycott. Well, tonight's top story is about how President Obama is moving past the lying deniers and the world is following his lead. Do the deniers really think the world will blink when they whine given the solid scientific evidence of global warming impacts happening now and the gravity of impacts that lie in our future if we don't take action now?

In the annals of right-wing hubris, the "climategate" sham should be given recognition. For years, the deniers have intentionally engaged in a disinformation campaign to mislead and confuse the public about the existence and gravity of climate change. Two lawsuits were filed that included a cause of action for climate change civil conspiracy. The right-wing likes to flip things upside down, so now they cry that scientists have been part of a conspiracy to defraud the public into believing that global warming is real. Inhofe tries to make the case, but is not pleased that the interview is being done by Simon rather than Kudlow:

Desmogblog found an incredible video that debunks the "climategate" accusations:

True to the law-n-order GOP, after thousands of emails and documents were stolen, leaked or hacked from the University of East Anglia's (UEA) Climatic Research Unit (CRU) in Britain, rather than investigate a possible crime, the deniers demanded investigations of the scientists. Granted such "immunity" from accountability, it is no surprise that another scientist in Canada has been the target of denier hackers. These attacks are not simple burglary but have included incidents where "people impersonated network technicians to try to gain access to campus offices and data."

Now the deniers are moving quickly to attack climate change activists. For example, "Hollywood Conservatives Say Gore Should Lose Oscar" because somehow his movie of "An Inconvenient Truth" has now been debunked by "climategate."

I can hear Sen. Inhofe and his gang salivating, hoping to delay any domestic legislation or global treaty until after investigations have been conducted. This delay tactic did not work with Sen. Boxer, and now Obama and the world have made it clear that climate change will be addressed, even if deniers want to cry throughout the process.

Rep. Sensenbrenner accused the scientists of "scientific fascism" and made the "stunningly stupid demand that the EPA therefore stop regulating greenhouse emissions." The EPA response is that it is ready to declare CO2 a public danger, a finding that will allow EPA to regulate. AND, the EPA is expected to announce the "inclusion of the potential cost to society of no emission regulations."

Deniers demanded Obama boycott Copenhagen until "climategate" investigated. Obama responded with his announcement that he would now be attending Copenhagen on the critical last day "when more than 80 heads of government will convene to fashion a political agreement on curbing the world's greenhouse gas emissions."

Obama’s double Copenhagen stunner: He agrees to global climate assistance fund for developing countries and will go to Denmark on the 18th - Podesta calls it a "Game Changer". Seems the number of world leaders attending Copenhagen keep increasing after Obama's announcement. Reuters now reports 105 world leaders attending.

UK Prime Minister Gordon Brown correctly stated the game plan for dealing with "flat earth climate skeptics:"

With only days to go before Copenhagen we mustn't be distracted by the behind the times anti-science, flat earth climate skeptics. We know the science. We know what we must do. We must act and close the five billion ton gap. That will seal the deal.

Investigations will be conducted by the UEA, the UN and perhaps Pennsylvania State University. But, much to the dismay of deniers, it is anticipated that the investigations will strengthen the case of global warming by showing that the emails are not evidence of manipulating climate science data because the conclusions of man-made global warming are not based on the views of a few scientists or one data bank.

The UK's weather service, Met Office responds by publishing climate change data from "more than 1,000 weather stations from across the world" in order to "reassure people that climate data is sound:"

If you look at the land data, the sea surface data temperatures and mean air temperature data, those three records independently show a 0.7 degree warming trend over the past 100 years. That's all published by the IPCC.

For those who don't trust this data:

"We also know that NASA have data sets that show pretty much the same trend over the past 100 years and NOAA (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration) also have a data set -- which, I think, is all freely available."

The UN's climate change panel also hit back, stating that "it was 'firmly' standing by findings that a rise in the use of greenhouse gases was a factor."

In fact, the scientific data is still being collected and provides visual evidence for those deniers who can't read. Scientist’s Himalayan mission provides unwelcome proof: glaciers are dying.

After a decade studying Himalayan glaciers, he had expected to find at least half the rod exposed — an alarming enough indication of how fast the Rathong is melting — but even he was surprised by what he found last week.

"Six metres in six months," he cried, breathing hard in the thin mountain air… .

"It’s pathetic," he said. "The glacier is dying."

(H/T RLMiller for sending me a few links used in the top story)

Other news this weekend (sorry, only had time for a quickie roundup today):

CLIMATE CHANGE & ENERGY

• Copenhagen targets not tough enough, says Al Gore.

  Even if a deal is reached at the UN climate change talks in Copenhagen next week it will only be the first step towards the far more radical cuts that are needed in global carbon emissions… .

  Mr Gore said that to avoid the worst ravages of climate change world leaders would have to come together again to set more drastic reductions than those now planned.

  …He insisted that the present goal set for Copenhagen of stabilising world emissions of carbon dioxide at or below 450 parts per million — enough to prevent a rise in average global temperatures of no more than 2C — was insufficient and a safer target would be 350 parts per million.

See also, Climate deal certain, but won't be enough: IPCC scientist.

See also, Canada to follow U.S. lead at climate summit and will "propose to do no more, no less, than its neighbor."

• California gives green light for space-based solar.
  

  Space-based solar, an idea that has been around for decades, is being pursued by companies and researchers around the world. Its key advantage over land-based solar or wind power is that can generate renewable energy around the clock. The California Public Utilities Commission gave the go-ahead to the project in an effort to meet the state's aggressive renewable energy goals.

• NIMBY opposition to wind farms often based on fear of declining prices for property located near wind farms. Official: "No evidence" wind farms hit property prices.

WATER & NATURAL RESOURCES

• More climate change refugees: Glacier threat to Bolivia capital as glaciers shrinking faster than forecast, removing water supply. (video at link shows decreasing glacier)

  Faced with a booming population and a combination of glacial retreat and reduced rainfall, the governor of the La Paz region is even contemplating moving people to other parts of Bolivia.

• "We Are a Harbinger of What Is to Come".
  

  A small group of indigenous people have travelled here to the historic Copenhagen climate talks to show negotiators dramatic documentary videos they made about the immediate impacts of climate change on their homelands and way of life.

  "Our animals are all dead. The zebras and the monkeys are dying even in the forests," Konini told IPS. "Leaders need to change policies to help us."

FOOD & HEALTH

• Urban Greenhouses Aim to Help Cities Combat Food Shortages From Climate Change.

  This UFO look-a-like is an ambitious take on the classic backyard greenhouse. Towering up to 100 meters (328 feet), it is designed to grow plants on its carefully lit and heated spiral platform. Crops are planted at the bottom of the sphere and gradually climb higher before ultimately being harvested at the top.

SUSTAINABLE COMMUNITIES

• Destroyed US town a model of eco-living as it rebuilds.

  A water conservation system turns rain into drinking water, wind turbines on the edge of town provide eco-friendly enery throughout the community, and the street lamps light up roads with LED lights. gEven the larger building projects are aiming for an almost 100-percent green record. Greensburg's eco-friendly, under-construction hospital, for example, has a heating and cooling system based on geothermal energy.