The Week That Was: Climate Science Under Scrutiny (April 5, 2025)

The Nature of Climate Science: A Physical Science or a Political Narrative?

Is climate science truly a physical science grounded in empirical evidence, or has it become entangled in a web of political narratives? This week, several perspectives shed light on this critical question, exploring the legacy of renowned meteorologist Ray Bates, the manipulation of facts in climate reporting, and the absurd implications of a "low-carbon" approach to managing the thriving Great Barrier Reef.

Remembering Ray Bates: A Champion of Dynamic Meteorology

Richard Lindzen's tribute to the late Ray Bates highlighted Bates's significant contributions to meteorology and his courageous challenge to the prevailing climate change narrative. Lindzen emphasized the importance of dynamic meteorology, a field crucial to understanding both weather and climate, and lamented the current political climate that pressures scientists to conform to a predetermined narrative rather than pursue genuine scientific inquiry. He expressed hope that the new US administration will foster a return to sound scientific principles in climate research.

“Prediction is very difficult, especially if it’s about the future!” —Niels Bohr

The Ignoble Lie: Twisting Facts to Fit the Narrative

Physicist David Whitehouse exposed the troubling trend of media outlets uncritically parroting press releases from organizations like the World Weather Attribution group (WWA). Whitehouse discussed how WWA's non-peer-reviewed attribution studies, often used to link extreme weather events to human-induced climate change, are designed for headlines rather than scientific rigor. This manipulation, Whitehouse argues, has turned some journalists into "accomplices rather than journalists," pushing a narrative without questioning its veracity.

The Great Barrier Reef: A Carbon Hoarding Marvel

Jennifer Marohasy offered a scathing critique of a senior manager at the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority for advocating a low-carbon economy. Marohasy pointed out the absurdity of this stance, given that the reef itself is a massive carbon sink composed of limestone, a sedimentary rock rich in carbon. The reef's continued growth, even with increasing atmospheric carbon dioxide, serves as a testament to its resilience and the essential role of CO2 in supporting life.

Marohasy wittily observed, "The joke is on us: that every day in The West the managers, administrators, and the politicians — those in positions of power — send us on meaningless errands and tell us nonsense."

Plate Tectonics: The Overlooked Driver of Long-Term Climate Change

Andy May presented compelling evidence for the significant influence of plate tectonics on Earth's climate over millions of years. Drawing on research by Westerhold et al. and the work of geophysicist Tom Gallagher, May demonstrated how the shifting of continents has altered ocean currents and driven long-term climate variations. This perspective emphasizes the need to consider geological processes alongside shorter-term factors like Milankovitch cycles and solar activity when studying climate change.

May concluded, "Long-term climate changes have many causes, but one of the major factors is plate tectonics and continental drift."

SEPP's April Fools Award: Highlighting Scientific Censorship

The Science and Environmental Policy Project (SEPP) announced its annual April Fools Award – The Jackson. Last year's recipient was the US National Science Teaching Association, which banned the CO2 Coalition from its meeting for presenting information about the crucial role of CO2 in photosynthesis. SEPP invites votes for this year's award, to be presented at the Doctors for Defensive Preparedness meeting in July.