22 October 2014
“Carbon pollution” is a propaganda slogan for the campaign against carbon dioxide (CO2). It is not science. Atmospheric CO2 is not a pollutant but is essential for plant growth. Current CO2 levels are far below optimum for most plants, and far below norms of geological history, when CO2 concentrations averaged several times higher than present values. A substantial fraction, about 15%, of current world food production is due to the higher levels of CO2 compared to pre-industrial values." Professor William Happer discusses the myth of "carbon pollution".
"Contrary to unambiguous computer predictions, there has been no statistically significant surface warming in at least 15 years. It is now clear that the warming potential of CO2 has been exaggerated by a large amount, and it is unlikely to be much more than 1oC for doubling of CO2.
"There is not the slightest evidence that more CO2 has caused more extreme weather or accelerated sea level rise. "Nor is there the slightest support for the notion that government control of CO2 will 'stop climate change.' Many real environmental issues need attention, smog, waste disposal, short-sighted suburban development, adequate clean water, public health, etc. These are being overshadowed by the phony issue of “carbon pollution.”
Dr. William Happer is Cyrus Fogg Brackett Professor of Physics (emeritus) at Princeton University, a long-term member of the JASON advisory group, and former director of the Department of Energy’s Office of Science. In addition to being a fellow of the American Physical Society and the American Association for the Advancement of Science, he is a member of the National Academy of Sciences and the recipient of numerous awards, including the Alfred P. Sloan fellowship, the Alexander von Humboldt award, the Herbert P. Broida Prize and the Thomas Alva Edison patent award.
An hour-long video of Dr Happer's presentation can be accessed here (copy link and paste in browser):
http://marshall.org/events/the-myth-of-carbon-pollution/
Dr. Happer’s Powerpoint presentation is available at http://marshall.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/HapperMarshall-10-15-2014.pdf