No Warming Since 1995?

http://www.rushlimbaugh.com/home/daily/site_021510/content/01125109.guest.html

Claim: Phil Jones at the Hadley research unit at the University of East Anglia, which is in the UK, has finally admitted there has not been any warming since 1995.

True: Phil Jones has stated that “there's been no statistically significant warming since 1995” (http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/opinions/the-science-isnt-settled-now-what/article1469050/). This article is interesting. I’d like to think that I’m in the middle between the deniers and the alarmists. I often roll my eyes at the environmental extremists who treat the earth as if it’s some sort of religion. Alarmism won’t help the environmental cause. We have to be willing to admit that glaciers aren’t going to melt by 2035, that failure at Copenhagen is unlikely to actually lead to a climate change doomsday scenario in the next 20-30 years.

Now don’t get too excited. I’m hardly conceding that Rush has been right on climate change all along. I hear no mention of Phil Jones saying climate change isn’t a concern. The Globe and Mail article notes many experts say climate change is happening but that the more extreme claims have been wildly exaggerated. Both Rush and the alarmists are using the same play book to further their cause. In the world of political talking points and 24 hour news channels (that for some reason appear unable to dedicate sufficient time to issues) alarmists and denialist shouting talking points will gain much more attention than a long but reasonable assessment of the situation. Rush should note that the quote is “no significant warming” not “no warming”, there is a difference. At the same time alarmists need to realize that their doomsday warnings and unwillingness to acknowledge that their might be problems with the IPCC only undermines their cause. I think it’s time we re-evaluate the leadership of this organization. We need people who can say more than “this is embarrassing but the problem is still very real.” We need people who understand the fuel such errors give to the denialists and prepare more effective responses then “we are sorry it won’t happen again.” Climate change, is most likely a threat that for the time being is still very distant. However, if we continue to allow the debate to be distorted by the deniers and the alarmists, then we may never have the opportunity to allow reason to prevail.