Why Is Academic Language Obfuscated?
Obfuscation may be adaptive. [more]
Michael Tobis
Recent Articles
China’s ambitious Sloping Land Conversion Program has failed to protect natural forests
In what may be called an impedance mismatch, China offers an object lesson in how well-intentioned rules implemented in a top-down way backfire at the local level.
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Super El Niño Impends
Okay, it looks real now. Hang on to your hat. [more]
Uncertainty-Not-Your-Friend Meets Greg Craven
Newell and Smithson have published perhaps the most elegantly accessible and bulletproof expression of Greg Craven’s argument via decision matrix regarding climate risk asymmetry. [more]
On Commenting at P3
Comments sent by anyone other than a logged-in member are moderated before posting, usually within a day. Comments, if any, that don’t appear to constructive are visible in each article’s “shadow thread” visible at the bottom of the comments with a “click *here*” link. If your comment appears in neither place within a couple of days, it was a false positive for the spam detectors, and fell afoul of the automated spam filter. [more]
Bill McKibben in the Belly of the Beast
Bill McKibben was at the University of Texas talking divestment, which has a sort of bizarre aspect since taken literally, the university would have to divest from itself. [more]
Maureen Raymo via Peter Sinclair
Of all the dangers we face, from climate chaos to permanent war, none is so great as [the] deadening of our response. Joanna Macy (h/t Martin Gisser and Dan Olner – follow that link!)
Our Capacities Are Immense
Our problems and risks are huge, but so are our capabilities. [more]
Shell Signs Trillion Ton Manifesto
Unilever, Shell, BT, and EDF Energy are among 70 leading companies today calling on governments across the globe to step up efforts to tackle climate change. The statement urges political leaders to set a timeline for achieving net zero emissions before the end of the century, design a credible strategy to transform the energy system, and create a plan to tackle the global economy’s reliance on fossil fuels. [more]
Ugo Bardi Resigns as Chief Topic Editor over Journal’s Conduct in Lewandowski et al Retraction (UPDATES)
Our friend and contributor Ugo Bardi has resigned as Chief Specialty Editor of Energy Systems and Policy of the Frontiers Journal in protest against the behavior of the journal in the “Recursive Fury” case. UPDATE: Two more Frontiers editors have resigned. [more]
Promising TV Series on Climate Change
A series of reports on climate change is airing on the Showtime cable network in the US on Sunday evenings. If you’re in America, you can see the first episode here. It’s aimed at awakening a broad audience to the climate issue. [more]
April Open Thread
Suggested Topic: Have you read the IPCC WG II Summary for Policymakers yet? Or are you all focused on whether Nate Silver’s choice of Roger Pielke Jr. as a climate statistician makes any sense?
Anything goes. Moderation is lighter than on other articles.
New Journal Statement re “Recursive Fury”
The journal has belatedly issued an explanation of the retraction that does not make them look quite as stupid at first glance. They did not retract their earlier position, though, that there were no “academic or ethical” issues with the study. Their position now emerges as incoherent, and new evidence coming out makes matters look even worse for them.
[more]
The Idea Formerly Known As Wisconsin
The Walker administration continues its program of reducing Wisconsin to the squalid and inequitable status of a typical red state. Dan Kaufman explains a particularly alarming environmental development in an opinion piece in the New York Times. [more]