Thank you Jamama.

'... eventually the climate will run away from the human capacity to control its trajectory.'

How outlandish is that statement?

Since when have humans ever had the capacity to control the trajectory of climate?

T. Sett, Your impression is correct: the changes in the GISS record prompted by Steven McIntyre's identification of errors affected the US data but the changes to the global numbers were insignificant. There are other potential problems with the global data, but the current GISS numbers have not significantly changed since the release of the NASA Goddard Institute release that you quoted. Janama's statement that temperatures have been falling since 1998 is also incorrect - all of the generally-quoted series show little change during the past decade.

Surprisingly, the Garnaut Draft Report states on p. 1 that "The dissent took a curious turn in Australia in 2008, with much prominence being given to assertions that a warming trend had ended over the last decade.' There is nothing curious about such statements: they are substantially correct, and are consistent with the results of the study by two ANU experts that was commissioned by the Review.

What IS curious is the flat statement that "Global warming is accelerating" that opened the joint statement that emerged from the climate change conference at Manning Clark House in Canberra on 12 June. This statement was signed by many leading Australian scientists, including six of the seven experts whom James Hansen commended to the Australian Prime Minister in his letter of of 28 March. It is not supported by any of the leading measures of the trend in global temperatures.

T.Sett

I guess some people still think the contiguous US is the whole globe. It would help if these people looked at the temperature records over the border to Canada or even in Alaska - but they don't because it would dump on their argument.

Here’s some info from my man on the ground, in statistical analysis anyway.

http://tamino.wordpress.com/2007/08/12/before-and-after/

Did you know that China has overtaken Germany as the front-runners in solar energy research and application? A shame most of our solar-cell experts had to go overseas to make a living.

I continue to be amazed at the bilge that is put out on this subject.

1. Not a word on the need to constrain world population growth.

Simple arithmetic here. The more people, the less energy available for each. The population of the first world has stabilised. If that of the third world doubles over the next 30 years, we are all doomed, as the problem will then be solved by the four horsemen of the apocalypse.

2. Not a word on the benefit nuclear power could be to alleviate the problem.

3. Not a word about the Rudd goverment's obligation to keep the price of petrol low.

It is all about guilt! I don't have any guilt! The whole third world can go to hell in a handbasket for all I care! What I am concerned about is ensuring a good environment in Australia, as far as possible.

All this tosh about Australia being the biggest emitter per capita is simply a method of arousing guilt! The religions used to do the same with sex. Everyone engaged in it, and most felt guilty, giving power to the religions in remitting it. What a lot of tosh!

We have an atmosphere over Australia, which comprises a certain number of cubic kilometres of air. What matters is the pollution per cubic kilometre, and our level is about the world's lowest. That is why our air is clear.

Always remember that 89% of the world's population live in the northern hemisphere, and 96% of the pollution is generated there.

The important thing is to devise a solution that does not involve more taxation. Perhaps a good way would be to ration energy, with people being able to sell part of their ration on the open market. This could lead to the abolition of all welfare payments.

There is no iron law as David mentions. Carbon dioxide concentration in the atmosphere could be doubled with little consequence. Man cannot control the climate and it is hubris to think otherwise.

Keep up the good work, Ludwig, for though us cockies will be the first worst hit with Climate Change it seems with dwindling bush population these days we've only meagre voting strength.

Could reckon the only future one's great grandkids can now look forward to, is one with the quarry economy.

Pitstock Politics as it is also called by academics, but who are called Left Wing Loonies by the bulk of our group, because they dare to mention it.

Best Regards, BB, Buntine.