Climate: The Counter Consensus [Paperback]

Bob Carter's book could as easily be titled "The Case Against Anthropogenic Global Warming (AGW)". The book is a magnificent tour de force of information and insightful commentary regarding the full scope of climate change science, climate modeling and climate change policy that Bob refers to as the Science Reality, the Virtual Reality and the Public Reality, respectively. Compilations of scientific research such as "Nature, Not Human Activity, Rules the Climate" and "Climate Change Reconsidered" present the scientific evidence against AGW in more detail, and other books provide details regarding specific aspects of climate science that don't support the AGW hypothesis. However, with exceptional scholarship and the perspective of a palaeoclimatologist, Bob has integrated and summarized copious amounts of information contained in hundreds of scientific works, online articles, and policy reports into a well-organized, well-argued and very readable book that demonstrates that natural processes and not human-produced CO2 are the primary drivers of climate change.

Dr. Carter obviously has a deep understanding of the scientific method and how to interpret scientific data. Chapter 6, Circumstantial Evidence and the Null Hypothesis, is an excellent tutorial on how to interpret scientific data, especially as it applies to climate science data. In Chapter 7, Noble Cause Corruption, Bob discusses how and why so much of climate science has become corrupt. In Chapter 10, The Cost of Precaution, he argues against the precautionary principle of the alarmists and instead proposes the more prudent course of adaptation. In Chapter 11, Bob elaborates with Plan B which, in contrast to the alarmist proposals for dealing with AGW, is a rational, measured approach to mitigating certain aspects of climate change regardless of the processes that control it.

"Climate: The Counter Consensus" is an important critical analysis of climate science and alarmist claims regarding AGW. It is must reading for policy makers, scientists and those who simply want to understand why more and more scientists have become either skeptical of, or are discarding the hypothesis of AGW.

Bob Carter's book is a breath of fresh air. Clearly written, concise, methodical, it sets out the case for a longer term view of climate patterns rather than just looking at the last decade. In the end, one cannot but be persuaded that the current variations in both climate and weather patterns are much more likely to represent natural rather than man-made changes.

The book is at its best in dissecting the science behind climate, which it does in the first 5 chapters. The later parts take on an air that would be regarded as a bit paranoid - nay, even conspiracy theorist - were it not for the new ways of politics, spin, and media hooks that we are increasingly aware are driving political agendas since the mid-90's, and in the end, despite the softer substance, one is inclined to accept his version.

The vast majority of readers will be in no position to contest the facts that are laid before them by Prof Carter. These should be countered by other facts if there is dispute, and not by modelling or worse, by opinions driven by scientifically ignorant ideology. In the end, my conclusion after reading this book was that - while I am certainly inclined to despoil "Gaia" as little as possible - there is simply insufficient evidence to suggest that man's emission of carbon DIOXIDE (no, we are not talking about 'dirty' carbon soot here) is having any appreciable effect on the global climate.

We should reduce our emissions because it is nice to do so, but Carter makes clear the pointlessness of any form of a price on carbon because it will have little effect (beyond grand posturing) on greenhouse gases, does not actually address a problem that needs fixing, and will be a financial imposte on all economies the likes of which has never before been seen.

This book is a must-read for anyone keen to move beyond simple-minded climate sloganeering.

Together with A. Montford's more technical "The Hockey Stick Illusion", and Ian Plimer's "Heaven and Earth", this book is one of the most authoritative summaries about the hypothesis that human-produced CO2 causes the earth's climate to change catastrophically. The main strengh of the book is that it presents convincing scientific arguments without needing to refer to "majorities", "authorities" or "consensus". In that sense the title is a bit unfortunate, but that doesn't change the fact that this is a well-written, well argued piece of work, in which all factual statements are backed up with solid, checkable references. Fanatic proponents of the theory of Anthropocentric Global Warming would really have a hard time defusing (or overshouting) the arguments in this book, and for that reason, would probably prefer to ignore it. However, for those interested in the scienctific discussion (as opposed to the emotional and political one), it is an absolute must-read.