WELCOME to those of you who viewed my presentation on the Victorian Humanist zoom recently - as well as VicPhysics 2024 conference attendees and Probus people who have attended my talks!
My presentations from all of the above are now available for download on the REFERENCES page. Go down to the bottom of that page for links to the various presentations.
Why “Climate Science for Sceptics”? A lot of people out there are telling us we need to take urgent action to curb climate change. Another lot are telling us we don’t. What seems to be missing on both sides of the argument are good scientific reasons why we should, or shouldn’t, take action. And when the various claims get mixed up with politics as well, it can become very hard to unscramble fact from opinion. Particularly now that there is so much rubbish on social media.
Scepticism is central to science. Science progresses when questions are asked – and answered. This website is an attempt to help genuine sceptics find scientific answers to their questions about climate change.
The website is a work in progress - as is the 'discussion' on climate change action. More material is being added to the site as we get time and as new issues arise. In particular, a new section for those interested in the basic physics of climate change, including Physics teachers and students has been added. See Climate Physics under 'MORE' above.
The object of this site is not to answer specific 'objections' to climate science. The object is to present the basic story of how scientists have come to understand how and why our climate is changing. If one can see the 'big picture' many of those objections simply disappear as they are mostly based on misunderstandings or an excessive focus on some small contested point of the science. Some are seemingly deliberate distortions of the basic science but again, once the basics are understood it becomes clear that they are indeed fabrications.
My presentations from all of the above are now available for download on the REFERENCES page. Go down to the bottom of that page for links to the various presentations.
Why “Climate Science for Sceptics”? A lot of people out there are telling us we need to take urgent action to curb climate change. Another lot are telling us we don’t. What seems to be missing on both sides of the argument are good scientific reasons why we should, or shouldn’t, take action. And when the various claims get mixed up with politics as well, it can become very hard to unscramble fact from opinion. Particularly now that there is so much rubbish on social media.
Scepticism is central to science. Science progresses when questions are asked – and answered. This website is an attempt to help genuine sceptics find scientific answers to their questions about climate change.
The website is a work in progress - as is the 'discussion' on climate change action. More material is being added to the site as we get time and as new issues arise. In particular, a new section for those interested in the basic physics of climate change, including Physics teachers and students has been added. See Climate Physics under 'MORE' above.
The object of this site is not to answer specific 'objections' to climate science. The object is to present the basic story of how scientists have come to understand how and why our climate is changing. If one can see the 'big picture' many of those objections simply disappear as they are mostly based on misunderstandings or an excessive focus on some small contested point of the science. Some are seemingly deliberate distortions of the basic science but again, once the basics are understood it becomes clear that they are indeed fabrications.
What determines our climate?
Clearly the Sun is the most important factor in keeping the Earth at a habitable temperature. But just how much of the Sun's energy is retained and consequently what the Earth's climate is like depends on many factors - including changes in the Earth's orbit and the composition of the atmosphere. Over time the Earth's climate has changed a lot. Looking at what has happened in the past can give us insight to what may happen in the future.
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Is our climate changing?
Over the last ten thousand years or so Earth's climate has been very stable relative to changes that have occurred in the past. This has been one of the main factors which enabled our civilisation to develop and flourish. The big question we face is whether or not we are moving out of this stable period, and if so, why? Is it really the result of our use of fossil fuels?
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Does it matter?
Climate change IS natural. There have been huge changes in the geological past. The Earth has swung between a frozen 'snowball' state in which life was precarious and a 'hothouse' state in which life thrived. If we move back toward a hothouse Earth will that matter? And if the climate is changing dangerously, are we the cause this time? If so, can we do anything to stop it?
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So if it does matter - what then? Can we avoid a climate catastrophe? Fortunately the answer to that is 'yes'! The Paris agreement is a step in the right direction. But is it enough? Do we need to phase out all fossil fuels? Can renewable energy really do the job? What about nuclear? Can Australia turn from being a huge fossil fuel exporter to becoming a renewable energy superpower?
Just some of the questions we will address in new pages to be added in the coming months.
Just some of the questions we will address in new pages to be added in the coming months.