http://press.princeton.edu/blog/2010/05/28/climate-change-debate-at-science-magazine/

There is a book review at Science magazine by Philip Kitcher
http://www.sciencemag.org/cgi/rapidpdf/science.1189312v1.pdf
(which lists the books)

as well as an online debate/discussion of the topic
http://tiny.cc/clichng

The books include the one by James Hansen Storms of my Grandchildren and 7 others.

The books are all expensive so a good review is really great. I’d be interested in comments from “climate change cognoscenti” on this forum…

On Merchants of Doubt  Kitcher says

Because it is so thorough in disclosing how major policy decisions have been delayed or distorted, Merchants of Doubt deserves a wide readership.  It is tempting to require that all those engaged in the business of conveying scientific information to the general public should read it.  And that science journalists should abandon the obfuscating practice of presenting alternatives with inferior justification as if they were on a par with the scientific consensus.

Sounds like a good candidate for a Chris Mooney interview…

Jerry Coyne plugs the review and gives more links:

http://whyevolutionistrue.wordpress.com/2010/06/03/philip-kitcher-on-science-journalism/

One of them is “Merchants of Doubt” which Chris Mooney is interviewing this week on point of inquiry

http://www.centerforinquiry.net/forums/viewthread/7934

http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/intersection/2010/06/04/new-point-of-inquiry-with-naomi-oreskes-co-author-of-merchants-of-doubt/

I really liked the podcast, I shall be ordering Merchants of Doubt as soon as I finish my current book!

Here’s some more data:

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/06/100607092143.htm

The article briefly outlines global vegetation distribution changes since 1901, and projects changes through the 21st century.

I’ll get back to checking out the above links, but off the top I gotta say Kitcher must be a saint to read through eight books on the climate change debate and come out sane enough to review them.

Praise be to the serious folks!

granger - 22 March 2011 10:51 AM

Thanks for posting these links. I am very interested in reading these reviews, since this is a topic that concerns me greatly. I am still trying to decide whether the current climate change is a natural occurrence, or cause by man. Either way, this is an issue which reacquires an open mind debate, so that we can find solutions if at all possible. This issue is much to serious to allow special interest groups to control the debate. We need real facts, untainted by non objectivity.

May I suggest http://www.skepticalscience.com/argument.php
as an excellent source for starting your investigates into your questions.

The media is so annoying.

Forget global warming - it’s Cycle 25 we need to worry about (and if NASA scientists are right the Thames will be freezing over again)

The supposed ‘consensus’ on man-made global warming is facing an inconvenient challenge after the release of new temperature data showing the planet has not warmed for the past 15 years.

The figures suggest that we could even be heading for a mini ice age to rival the 70-year temperature drop that saw frost fairs held on the Thames in the 17th Century.

Based on readings from more than 30,000 measuring stations, the data was issued last week without fanfare by the Met Office and the University of East Anglia Climatic Research Unit. It confirms that the rising trend in world temperatures ended in 1997.

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-2093264/Forget-global-warming—Cycle-25-need-worry-NASA-scientists-right-Thames-freezing-again.html#ixzz1kusyKoxH

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-2093264/Forget-global-warming—Cycle-25-need-worry-NASA-scientists-right-Thames-freezing-again.html

psik