Climatology Versus Pseudoscience: Exposing the Failed Predictions of Global Warming Skeptics

by Dana Andrew Nuccitelli

Although some politicians, pundits, and members of the public do not believe it, global warming predictions by mainstream climate scientists have been remarkably accurate while those made by climate deniers have not. And if mainstream global warming predictions continue to prove correct, the window of opportunity to prevent a climate catastrophe is quickly closing. This book is the first to illustrate the accuracy—and inaccuracy—of global warming predictions made by mainstream climate scientists and by climate contrarians from the 1970s to the present day. Written in simple, non-technical language that provides an accessible explanation of key climate science concepts, the book will appeal to general audiences without previous knowledge about climate science. Author Dana Nuccitelli, an environmental scientist and risk assessor, discusses some key climate discoveries dating back to the 19th century and debunks myths such as the idea that climate scientists and climate models have grossly over-predicted global warming. He addresses recent findings of a 97-percent consensus in the peer-reviewed scientific literature that humans are causing global warming—a nearly unanimous agreement that formed in the early 1990s and has grown through the present day. Nuccitelli also discusses what the future climate might look like if current trends continue unabated, and what we as a global society need to do to prevent a climate catastrophe.

Genres: Science, Climate Change, Environment

230 pages, Kindle Edition

First published February 28, 2015

Reviews

[John Kaufmann · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book does two things: it critiques/exposes/destroys some of the key arguments of global warming contrarians, and in doing so provides a solid understanding of the basics of climate science. Nuccitelli is a blogger for the website Skeptical Science, and has learned to explain things pretty simply and clearly. I've worked in the energy/climate field and have a good understanding of the science of climate change, and still learned new things from this book (and learned simple ways to explain it). Recommended.

[Dave · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good coverage of the state of climate science as of early 2015. Highly recommend for anyone who wants to be informed about the climate science supporting Anthropogenic Global Warming (AGW) and the political barriers and obfuscation that is occurring.

[Briana R. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Summary
- Towards renewables away from combustibles
- Electric cars
- Efficiency of our houses and buildings - saving people money
- Consuming less energy (the us is responsible for 30% of the increase in carbon over the past 150 years nearly triple chinas share despite the face that China has 4x the population as the us)
- Make it a scientific issue instead of a partisan one
- Citizens climate lobby raise bipartisan support
- We have all the technology
- Wind Solar tidal geothermal and nuclear energy mix
- Put a price on carbon
- 2/3 of Americans would receive a rebate check if there was a carbon tax
- Work with the Denial and ideological biases people - a main roadblock
- Our biggest roadblock in the us is that pale don’t recognize the urgency of the problem
- The longer we wait to reduce the steeper the emissions cuts will have to be and the more expensive to implement
- We may be stuck devoting most of our resources to limiting the damage as much as possible and putting the immense costs of damages we can’t avoid
- People believe 55% of scientists agree on global warming but it is 97%. Media gives disproportionate attention to the 3% of deniers who
- It only takes one visionary Republican politician to break the monolithic climate denial among party leaders and make it not a political death sentence in the party

[Ray · Rating 4 out of 5]

Dana Nuccitelli, an environmental scientist who has focused on Climate Change over the past decade, has concluded that the threats posed by human-caused global warming are real. He's clearly supportive of taking steps to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and he explains why the Nations of the world must act together to transition away from fossil fuels and toward renewable energy. That said, there's an implied understanding that the reader will be in agreement with that position, and Nuccitelli doesn't take too much time teaching the basic science behind climate change. What he does do is explain several of the steps which can be taken, and points out that the few scientists who disagree with the mainstream scientists haven't been able to offer alternate accepted theories. On the contrary, he points out that many of the climate science contrarians, while arguing that the "accepted" science is flawed in some way, have been shown to have been wrong on their alternative theories offered in the past. And if, as he states, these "skeptic" scientists have been wrong in the past, and as such have little credibility, then he laments the fact that the media gives them equal weight in the debate in order to demonstrate that they're bringing "balance" to the discussion. He also makes a case that many of the opponents to accepting the science behind climate change tend to be "free-market", small-government, "anti-science" members of Conservative Political Parties. So there's some partisanship, and also some repetition in his writing. But on the whole, Nuccitelli provides a good summary of the most significant points in the "debate". For example, his explanations, such as how cap-and-trade, or a revenue-neutral carbon tax, would be a good step to take now, are clear and easy to understand. He kept the book short and easy to read, without a lot of equations and formulas to process. However, because of that, readers trying to fully understand all the issues behind the climate change / global warming debate may need to grab a textbook, or do some additional outside reading to gain a more in-depth understanding of the scientific issues.