• How do the new estimates of transient climate response affect the social cost of CO2?

    A new paper by Otto et al in Nature Geoscience has made an updated estimate of the transient climate response (TCR) implied by the climate change we have observed from 1970 to 2009. It finds the TCR to lie in the … Continued

  • The extra climate impacts of melting permafrost

    UNEP today published a short report on the Policy Implications of Warming Permafrost. Although it contains a few estimates of the possible economic impacts in arctic communities, amounting to $3 – 6 billion, it does not contain any estimates of the far … Continued

  • What is wrong with Lilley?

    The Global Warming Policy foundation today published a pamphlet WHAT IS WRONG WITH STERN? The Failings of the Stern Review of the Economics of Climate Change by Peter Lilley MP. Lilley criticises ‘Stern’s selective emphasis on alarmist interpretations and downplaying of uncertainties’ … Continued

  • Black magic over green taxes has a silver lining

    The Office of National Statistics (ONS) states quite confidently that in 2011, the UK Government received £43.3 billion from environmental taxes. But yesterday, HM Treasury stated just as confidently that in 2011/12 the actual revenue raised from environmental taxes was … Continued

  • Good citizen dilemma

    This morning, as I was leaving home on my bike, I met an agitated courier delivery driver carrying a large parcel. It was for a neighbour who lives 4 doors away, and the driver asked if i would take it … Continued

  • How cold is May really?

    In the middle of April 2012, Piers Corbyn of Weather Action made this dramatic forecast for England’s weather: The coldest or near coldest May for 100 years in Central and East parts with a record run of bitter Northerly winds. *Confidence … Continued