Misc. Thoughts on Global Warming

Coincidentally, I finished listening to State of Fear by Michael Crichton just in time for the release of IPCC report and the resulting media coverage, so my level of skepticism is high.

Regarding the book: I liked it, but I think a large part of its appeal was it's iconoclastic approach to environmentalism. Crichton mercilessly mocks "limousine liberals," which was great fun, but I was sometimes given to wonder why the secret agent guy was dragging civilians all over the back of beyond with him and how said civilians managed to nearly die of exposure, be struck by lightening, be swept away in rushing rivers and be poisoned by (I don't want to spoil the surprise) and then jump up then next day to attempt more daring deeds. And some of the exposition might be deathly dull if you aren't interested in global warming. But on the flip side, the novel is a fun way to slog through potentially dull statistics. If you do read it, don't skip the appendices. Good stuff on previous occurrences of "science" induced hysteria.

Favorite quote (from memory): "Ted, you think civilization separates us from nature. But, in fact, civilization protects us from nature." Amen, brother.

Glenn Reynolds has a post on GW that makes a lot of sense, especially this part:

One thing that I think is important: Energy conservation needs to be something positive. Nothing sells on a "suffer for the future" model very well. Too many environmental activists are hair-shirt types (at least when the hair-shirt is for other people) and that stuff is poor salesmanship. Martin Eberhard, of Tesla Roadster fame, is right when he says that many early electric cars were "punishment cars," predicated on the notion that driving was inherently suspect. Make electric cars fun, and useful, and people will want them.

Absolutely. Often environmentalists give the impression that people are a scourge on the earth and unicorns would rule the planet if only there were a whole lot less of us. I can't help but question their motives when they are practically drooling over the thought of world-wide famine and the drastic population reduction that would follow.

As if to underline Glenn's point about going after the low-hanging fruit, the first High Efficency Wal-Mart just opened in Kansas City area. It uses 20% less energy than the typical Wal-Mart. It took all of one year to achieve that level of reduction.