Jonah asked me about this, so that’s why it’s appearing here and not on Planet Gore. The AP’s environmental science writer Seth Borenstein has long been recognized as an advocate for climate alarmism, but he has really jumped the shark in his latest effort:
When Bill Clinton took office in 1993, global warming was a slow-moving environmental problem that was easy to ignore. Now it is a ticking time bomb that President-elect Barack Obama can’t avoid.
Since Clinton’s inauguration, summer Arctic sea ice has lost the equivalent of Alaska, California and Texas. The 10 hottest years on record have occurred since Clinton’s second inauguration. Global warming is accelerating. Time is close to running out, and Obama knows it…
This is a bizarre argument, akin to arguing that the price of oil is still rising precipitously because it’s above the long-term average of $27 a barrel.
Moreover, as IPCC contributor Ricard Courtney points out, “There has been no statistically significant rise in (mean global temperature: MGT) since 1995 and MGT has fallen since 1998.” Indeed, if the recent precipitous drop in temperatures (see graph here and data here) represents an acceleration, I’m a Dutchman.
For another scientist’s view on Bornstein’s shoddy statistics, see here. Professor David Deming does not mince words.