>From 1940 to almost 1980 the global temperature went down

The cooling trend over this timeframe was very slight, and it was caused by increased anthropogenic particulate emissions. See http://skepticalscience.com/global-cooling-mid-20th-century-advanced.htm for more details.

> Since the best climate experts say that we can expect a gradual cooling over the next few decades as the Sun weakens

The sun's been weakening for a while now, yet temperatures are still going up!

_________________________________________________________________________________

Taswegian,

Coal plants will undoubtedly close, but skyrocketing power prices are probably a thing of the past. I guess it would be possible if the coal plants all closed at once, but nobody is suggesting that.

'Twas Iceland, not the IPCC, that wanted a hydrogen economy!

_________________________________________________________________________________

diver dan,
The idea of global warming as a religion was dreamed up by neocons who wanted to make it seem evil to gullible Christians and illogical to gullible atheists. Do you really want to shill their deceptive agenda that serves their own greed at the expense of the planet?

_________________________________________________________________________________

nicknamenick,
As Gerry O'Driscoll (the Abbey Road Studios doorman) famously said:
"There is no dark side of the moon, really. Matter of fact, it's all dark."

Omigawd! The nuclear lobby won't like this article!

Right now the global nuclear industry is trying to get government subsidies, tax exemptions, advance funding - as well as public acceptance, by the claim that nuclear power solves the climate change emergency.

Dear oh dear - don't the writer and commentators know which side they are on?

"There is no dark side of the moon, really. Matter of fact, it's all dark." Ireland has many wise philosophers and solar warmists. The moon has no light, heat ( or precious little these days) or atmosphere. Kevin Rudd's nightmare, needing total insulation.

ChristinaMac the RET started in 2001 when electricity sector emissions were 184 Mt. Since then renewables have had billions in subsidies culminating in 180.4 Mt for the power sector in the year ending last June. During that time Hazelwood closed down removing 16 Mt a year. In other words renewables have been an expensive dud if the aim is lower emissions as opposed to virtue signalling.

If there is something better than nuclear we need to try it without going broke or failing abysmally. A small hint may be the fact that French electricity averages about 50 grams of CO2 per kwh compared to Australia's 800 or so.

This article has no credibility whatsoever Among the false claims is a 1991 eruption during a warming period When in fact our sun has been in a waning (cooling) phase since the mid-seventies. (NASA) Then he rabbits on about geoengineering.

As if any of those presented solutions, all while the miners dig and burn coal pushing CO2 already in uncharted territory ever farther into it. I mean if even blind Freddy can see that the CO2 production is entirely unsustainable. Yet we here and elsewhere dig and burn mountains of it! And put the rapid changes down to natural events!

And given we are in a solar waning (cooling) phase! Risible rubbish.

The answer has stared us in the face for several decades, but the miners and their mates in government won't allow a bar of it. As they waffle on about being technological agnostics.

All while those regulations created by government, to outlaw nuclear power, remain in place, where they will remain until a real leader steps up and forces change or those doing all the blocking on both sides of the aisle are removed!

We've had an absolute bellyful of nice words and or, non-core promises!

Until then this sort of nonsense will be trotted out as if it had scientific merit? Whereas you'd be hard pressed to find any!?

If we change all our dispatchable power to MSR thorium and electrify all our transport options, we will allow the planet to naturally draw down our current record CO2 load! It's really that simple and too easy!
Alan B.

nicknamenick Quote "Co2 is at the highest in the past 1/2 million years breaching the normal cycling pattern."

Simple question for you.

What is the optimal level of Co2 that should be in the atmosphere?

If that question cannot be answered then they can't speculate on what the consequences of too much or too little could, would or should be.