While James Hansen continues to warn that "time is running out" to prevent global catastrophe from climate change, it's clear that time is certainly on the side of the sceptics. The fear of global warming catastrophe is abating as the world watches early and prolonged snowfalls, extended skiing seasons and no sign of the end of the world scenarios that have dominated the headlines for so long.NZ offers an example of climate change response that is likely to be emulated worldwide. John Key as the new P.M. makes an obligatory formal bow in the direction of the fearful and promises action, while playing a delaying game at the behest of his cautious and analytical nature, and appeasing arch sceptic and new Minister Rodney Hide. It seems that Europe too will play the same game, and delay crippling economic climate change policy. Note too, the incoming President of the European Union, Vaclav Klaus, is a climate change sceptic who has called Al Gore "an apostle of arrogance". More here...and here.. It remains for President-elect Obama to determine the magnitude of sacrifice the US taxpayer must make to appease the powerful US green lobby. The signs are that the US is already indicating reluctance to agree to the binding emissions target set to be ratified in Copenhagen next year...More here...
The factors that will continue to delay the change so desperately required by the alarmists are the ongoing scientific studies to settle the AGW argument once and for all; (the ARGO and CLOUD studies and many others,) the worldwide economic recession that clarifies spending priorities, the contribution to the debate by China and India, and the ongoing scrutiny of the global sceptical community.
Work in progress...watch this space...
