On 25/02/2021 20:51, Norman Lynagh wrote:

Denialist is rather a pejorative term with connotations. It is now used
for anybody that doesn't agree with either the narrative or somebody
else's opinions. It is used as an insult.

Norman, I studied environmental pollution/science at degree, masters and
doctoral level. And have been a professional environmental scientist for
over 20 years. I have met climate and environmental scientists from all
over the world with differing views on climate change.

The term 'climate catastrophe' is a fairly recent term and designed to
up the fear. It has become politicised. But there are several problems
with assuming a warmer world will be a catastrophic world. For that we
have to look to the past and the largest problem is the Eocene. During
this time CO2 levels were estimated to be double (or more) that of
today's and the Earth was ice-free. Life existed in far greater
abundance than it does now. Antarctica was covered in deciduous forests
and there very few, if any deserts. Coral reefs nearly stretched from
the Arctic to the Antarctic Circles. If you were a citizen living in the
Eocene and then you were transported to today's Earth, you would think
that a climate catastrophe had really happened. Large parts of today's
Earth struggle to support life in any abundance; rainfall distribution
is very patchy. Antarctica is effectively a dead continent except for a
little slither of life around its edges. Greenland is not much different.

When I bring up the Eocene paradox, some scientists acknowledge it puts
a big question mark over 'climate catastrophe' theory, others ignore it.
To me it is the same as dark matter/energy to theoretical physicists and
the 'great survivors' such as sharks, insects and turtles etc etc to the
mass extinction theory.

Whatever happens, the Earth will be just fine. What humankind will have
to do is adapt (which the richer countries will do well and leave the
likes of Bangladesh to drown). Oh, and say goodbye to most of the
world's major cities as they gradually disappear under the sea.....

A good book to read is Emerald Planet by David Beerling. He talks about
plants having caused catastrophic climate change in the past by taking
too much CO2 out of the atmosphere and plunging the Earth into ice-ages.
For most of its history the Earth has been warm, we still are in an
ice-age, just a slightly warmer one.

--
Nick Gardner
Otter Valley, Devon
20 m amsl
http://www.ottervalleyweather.me.uk