There is no climate emergency

by Global Climate Intelligence Group

(25 January 2023) Climate “science” should be less political, while climate “policies” should be more scientific. In particular, scientists should emphasize that their modeling output is not the result of magic: computer models are human-made. What comes out is fully dependent on what theoreticians and programmers have put in: hypotheses, assumptions, relationships, parameterizations, stability constraints, etc. Unfortunately, in mainstream climate science most of this input is undeclared.

To believe the outcome of a climate model is to believe what the model makers have put in. This is precisely the problem of today’s climate discussion to which climate models are central. Climate science has degenerated into a discussion based on beliefs, not on sound self-critical science. Should not we free ourselves from the naive belief in immature climate models? In future, climate research must give significantly more emphasis to empirical science.

Natural as well as anthropogenic factors cause warming

The geological archive reveals that Earth’s climate has varied as long as the planet has existed, with natural cold and warm phases. The Little Ice Age ended as recently as 1850. Therefore, it is no surprise that we now are experiencing a period of warming.

Warming is far slower than predicted

The world has warmed significantly less than predicted by IPCC on the basis of modeled anthropogenic forcing. The gap between the real world and the modeled world tells us that we are far from understanding climate change.

Climate policy relies on inadequate models

Climate models have many shortcomings and are not remotely plausible as policy tools. They do not only exaggerate the effect of greenhouse gases, they also ignore the fact that enriching the atmosphere with CO2 is beneficial.

CO₂ is plant food, the basis of all life on Earth

CO₂ is not a pollutant. It is essential to all life on Earth. More CO₂ is favorable for nature, greening our planet. Additional CO₂ in the air has promoted growth in global plant biomass. It is also profitable for agriculture, increasing the yields of crops worldwide.

Global warming has not increased natural disasters

There is no statistical evidence that global warming is intensifying hurricanes, floods, droughts and suchlike natural disasters, or making them more frequent. However, there is ample evidence that CO₂-mitigation measures are as damaging as they are costly.

Climate policy must respect scientific and economic realities

There is no climate emergency. Therefore, there is no cause for panic and alarm. We strongly oppose the harmful and unrealistic net-zero CO₂ policy proposed for 2050. If better approaches emerge, and they certainly will, we have ample time to reflect and re-adapt. The aim of global policy should be ‘prosperity for all’ by providing reliable and affordable energy at all times. In a prosperous society men and women are well educated, birthrates are low and people care about their environment.

Epilogue

The World Climate Declaration (WCD) has brought a large variety of competent scientists together from all over the world. The considerable knowledge and experience of this group is indispensable in reaching a balanced, dispassionate and competent view of climate change. In this context, it is not the number of experts but the quality of the arguments that counts.

1 The “World Climate Declaration” was initiated in 2019 by emeritus professor Guus Berkhout, founder of the Dutch Climate Intelligence Foundation (CLINTEL). The list of signatories is a living document that is regularly updated with new additions. A global network of over 1400 scientists and professionals has prepared this urgent message. The most up-to-date version can be found on www.clintel.org.

World Climate Declaration AMBASSADORS:

• Nobel Laureate Professor Ivar Giaever; Norway, USA
• Professor Guus Berkhout; The Netherlands
• Dr. Cornelis Le Pair; The Netherlands
• Professor Reynald Du Berger; French Speaking Canada
• Barry Brill; New Zealand
• Viv Forbes; Australia
• Dr. Patrick Moore; English Speaking Canada
• Jens Morton Hansen; Denmark
• Professor Lászió Szarka; Hungary
• Professor Seok Soon Park; South Korea
• Professor Jan-Erik Solheim; Norway
• Stavros Alexandris; Greece
• Ferdinand Meeus; Dutch Speaking Belgium
• Professor Richard Lindzen; USA
• Henri A. Masson; French Speaking Belgium
• Professor Ingemar Nordin; Sweden
• Jim O’brien; Republic of Ireland
• Professor Ian Plimer; Australia
• Douglas Pollock; Chile
• Dr. Blanca Parga Landa; Spain
• Professor Alberto Prestininzi; Italy
• Professor Benoît Rittaud; France
• Dr. Thiago Maia; Brazil
• Professor Fritz Vahrenholt; Germany
• The Viscount Monckton of Brenchley; United Kingdom
• Dušan Bižić; Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia and Montenegro

From now onward the group is going to function as “Global Climate Intelligence Group”. The CLINTEL Group will give solicited and unsolicited advice on climate change and energy transition to governments and companies worldwide.

Sources: https://clintel.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/WCD-version-100122.pdf and https://clintel.org/world-climate-declaration/