Climatologist James Hansen on Global Warming

My mother came across this article in today’s New York Times by climatologist James Hansen, and sent it to me immediately. “I knew you’d like this one,” she laughed when we spoke on the phone later this afternoon.

“Yes, Mom, I liked it,” I replied. “Pretty much everywhere I go to talk on renewable energy, I manage to weave in at least something that  I’ve learned from Dr. Hansen’s talks, and from a few other climatologists I’ve had the honor of interviewing.  You probably recall what I told you about the Canadian tar sands, a subject he’s all over; if we go ahead with this, it will mean near-certain catastrophic global warming.”

What amazes me most is that we Americans live in the only major nation on Earth that doesn’t get this. This is the only developed country in the known universe that has a contingent of people who aggressively promote the idea that global warming is a hoax perpetrated by liberals, and that we need to ignore what our scientists are telling us.  

Let’s ask ourselves: What’s behind this?  Who’s pulling these strings?