Natural cycles rule the planet, not human activity

Climate alarmism is based on models that neglect solar, oceanic and volcanic influences.

The Australian (12/12) contained all the facts needed to conclude our climate and energy policies are a disaster, confusion reigns, costs are out of control and no one is keeping score.

The article “Energy costs threaten industry” outlined how businesses face energy costs three times those in the US and may have to move offshore while we export coal for others to burn that can’t be burnt here to generate cheap power.

And if you read Judith Curry’s article (“Don’t be alarmed, it’s the natural rhythm”) you learn that natural variation is a greater agent of change than human activity, real and predicted changes are small and no threat, and climate alarmism is based mostly on improbable or impossible worst-case scenarios from computer models that neglect solar, oceanic and volcanic influences that “are expected to have a cooling effect in the 21st century”. But still we spend billions fighting the trace gas CO2, a minor factor, at best, in climate change.

To compound the felony, our governments can’t tell us what all this contradiction, confusion and huge cost has produced — that is, what has our sacrifice achieved for Australia and the world? I think that the answer is “nothing” — this is a tragedy and a disgrace.

Doug Hurst, Chapman, ACT

It is arrogant to maintain that the impact of humans is the main influence on natural cycles that have ruled the planet from the beginning, or that humans can stand in their way. History and science show that humans and much of nature have for eons adapted to climatic change such as variations in sea levels. King Canute’s vain challenge to the tides was a caution against such arrogance, now ignored by those with no knowledge of history

Judith Curry explains how faulty are the alarmists’ predictions of rising ocean levels, and explains the effect of the Atlantic Ocean circulation pattern on variability.

John Morrissey, Hawthorn, Vic

Judith Sloan says there is evidence carbon taxes are unpopular (“Coal town forum proving an utter waste of resources”, 11/12). It is no wonder, because big lies are being told in the propaganda wars on climate change. On one side is the lie that is denialism — there is no climate change, or that it’s not caused by human activities. On the other side is the lie that avoiding climate change will not involve sacrifices. No sacrifice darkens faith that power can be clean, cheap and reliable, that it can power our homes, transportation and manufacturing and that we can export our renewable resources to the world.

The Greens say we can lead the world by changing to renewable technology, protecting the planet from the threat of climate change and creating the jobs of the future. The choice they present is a mix of clean, virtuous affluence by taking action to lower carbon emissions, with the alternative presented as the apocalypse. The message is that life can carry on, with a few modest changes involving no real hardship. Is it any wonder they rebel when sacrifice is demanded and people realise they have been duped?

Michael Green, St Kilda, Vic

Judith Curry’s article is recommended reading for all the climate nellies out there as they trot out their latest dodgy modelling and unsuccessful predictions. Every prediction nellies have made in the past five years has not come to pass — often it is the opposite. Government policy and funding is supporting these errors and leading us further down the path of higher power prices as they chatter about renewables that need subsidies and supply little power.

Colin Williams, Fig Tree Pocket, Qld

Judith Curry is not the only scientist who has switched sides from being inclined to give credibility to warmists. After careful research, she became a sceptic and her analysis has been recognised as suitable for publication after peer review. Her conclusion is that sea levels would rise to dangerous levels “if overly simplistic models of poorly understood scenarios” were reached and this confirms conclusions reached by Australian analysts.

The point overlooked by modellers is that changes in climate conditions mostly reflect natural causes, not human activity and fossil fuels. This is relevant to increases in sea levels and in temperatures.

If the Morrison government were to recognise this it could justify lowering Australia’s target for reducing emissions and adopt a policy based on reducing electricity prices.

Des Moore, South Yarra, Vic