Obama Science Adviser John Holdren: ‘Weather practically everywhere is being caused by climate change’ – Prof. Roger Pielke Jr. Slams Holdren for promoting ‘zombie science’

The Hill excerpt Feb. 14, 2014:

John Holdren, said without any doubt the severe drought plaguing California and a number of other states across the country are tied to climate change. “Weather practically everywhere is being caused by climate change,” Holdren said. The administration’s fund would invest in research to gather data on the impacts of climate change, help communities prepare for the impacts, and support innovative technologies and infrastructure to ready the country “in the face of a changing climate.”

When asked if talk of climate change tied to extreme weather events like California’s drought by Obama would become more frequent, Holdren said it already has been a recurring talking point for the president. Holdren added: “You can expect the president will talk about the connection between increasing frequency in the intensity of drought and climate change on Friday” and in the future.

End The Hill article excerpt

#

Professor Roger Pielke Jr. Slams Holdren for promoting ‘zombie science’ (Dr. Roger Pielke Jr. is a prof. of env. studies at the Center for Science and Technology Policy Research at the U. of Colorado at Boulder.)

Pielke Jr. tweeted on February 14, 2014 that Holdren was contradicting the UN IPCC reports: ‘John Holdren vs. IPCC on drought. Holdren said: ‘We are seeing droughts in drought-prone regions becoming more frequent, more severe and longer.” But the IPCC in 2013 notes there is ‘not enough evidence at present to suggest more than low confidence in a global-scale observed trend in drought.’

Pielke added: ‘IPCC on drought ‘low-confidence’ vs. Holdren ‘one of the better-understood dimensions’ –  Paging IPCC authors, climate scientists — anyone care?’

Pielke refuted Holdren’s claim that “global climate change is increasing the intensity and the frequency and the life of drought.’

Pielke countered, citing peer-reviewed studies: Nature paper 2012 ‘Little change in global drought over the past 60 years.’ And a US Govt report noted ‘droughts have, for the most part, become shorter, less frequent and cover a smaller portion of the US over the last century’

Pielke concluded: “That’s right, thanks. The zombies will always be with us. But it is brazen for zombie science to show up in the White House!” He added, “If climate scientists want more credibility they are going to have to look at wrong things said by their political friends, not just enemies.”

Related Links: 

‘Least extreme