The State of Climate Science Today

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On 25^th July, U.S. Energy Secretary, Christopher Wright issued the report

“A Critical Review of Impacts of Greenhouse Gas Emissions on the U.S. Climate”.

This review of the state of climate science today was authored by a working group of five eminent climate scientists –

John Christie, Ph.D.

Judith Curry, Ph.D.

Steven Koonin, Ph.D.

Ross McKitrick, Ph.D.

Roy Spencer, Ph.D.

In the foreword, Chris Wright states:

“What I have found is that the media coverage often distorts the science. Many people walk away with a view of climate change that is exaggerated or incomplete. To provide clarity and balance, I asked a divers team of independent experts to critically review the current state of climate science, with a focus on how it relates to the United States.

I didn’t select these authors because we always agree – far from it. In fact, they may not always agree with each other.  But I chose them for their rigor, honesty, and willingness to elevate the debate. I exerted no control over their conclusions. What you’ll read are their words, drawn from the best available data and scientific assessments.”

Anyone interested in climate science, especially parents, teachers, students and politicians responsible for energy policies, will find this report an invaluable resource.

It is a 140-page document, but each of the twelve chapters begins with a short abstract so you can quickly absorb the gist if you do not have time to read the whole.

The authors’ concluding thoughts are pertinent to Australia too.

“This report supports a more nuanced and evidence-based approach for informing climate policy that explicitly acknowledges uncertainties. The risks and benefits of a climate changing under both natural and human influences must be weighed against the costs, efficacy, and collateral impacts of any “climate action”, considering the nation’s need for reliable and affordable energy with minimal local pollution.

Beyond continuing precise, un-interrupted observations of the global climate system, it will be important to make realistic assumptions about future emissions, re-evaluate climate models to address biases and uncertainties, and clearly acknowledge the limitations of extreme event attribution studies.

An approach that acknowledges both the potential risks and benefits of CO2, rather than relying on flawed models and extreme scenarios, is essential for informed and effective decision-making.”

Click here to download the pdf.

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Chris Wright is already having a positive effect on the lives of Americans.

Here is his clear and concise statement of all he intends to achieve.

Chris Wright’s Energy Policy

1. Advance energy addition, not subtraction:

“Going forward, my department’s goal will be to unleash the great abundance of American energy required to power modern life and to achieve a durable state of American energy dominance.”

2. Unleash American energy innovation:

“US research and development efforts will prioritise affordable, reliable, and secure energy technologies, including fossil fuels, advanced nuclear, geothermal and hydropower. The US must also prioritise true technological breakthroughs – such as nuclear fusion, high-performance computing, quantum computing, and AI – to maintain America’s global competitiveness.”

3. Return to regular order on LNG exports:

“America is blessed with abundant energy resources – we are the world’s top oil and gas producer and a net energy exporter for the first time in decades. Our energy abundance is an asset, not a liability. On January 20, the US resumed consideration of pending applications to export American liquefied natural gas to countries without a free-trade agreement with the US.”

4. Promote affordability and consumer choice in home appliances:

“A top US priority will be to ensure that American families can choose from a range of affordable home appliances and products. My department will initiate a comprehensive review of the DOE Appliance Standards Program. Any standards should include a cost-benefit analysis considering the upfront cost of purchasing new products and reflecting actual cost savings for American families.”

5. Refill the Strategic Petroleum Reserve:

“The SPR is a national asset that protects our security in times of crisis. It must be refilled. Unfortunately, the SPR is currently at historically low levels. We will not permit this to become a new status quo.”

6. Modernise America’s nuclear stockpile:

“We urgently need to modernise the nation’s nuclear weapons systems. My department will continue its critical mission of protecting our national security and nuclear deterrence in the development, modernisation and stewardship of America’s atomic weapons enterprise, including the peaceful use of nuclear technology and non-proliferation.”

7. Unleash commercial nuclear power in the US:

“The long-awaited American nuclear renaissance must launch during President Trump’s administration. As global energy demand continues to grow, America must lead the commercialisation of affordable and abundant nuclear energy. As such, the department will work diligently and creatively to enable the rapid deployment and export of next-generation nuclear technology.”

8. Strengthen grid reliability and security:

“Fortifying America’s electric grid is critical to the reliable and secure delivery of electricity. Under President Trump’s Executive Order, “Declaring a National Energy Emergency”, the department will identify and exercise all lawful authorities to strengthen the nation’s grid, including the backbone of the grid, our transmission system. Moreover, after two decades of very slow demand growth, electricity demand is forecast to soar in the coming years.”

9. Streamline permitting and identify undue burdens on American energy:

“The US will prioritise more efficient permitting to enable private sector investments and build the energy infrastructure needed to make energy more affordable, reliable and secure.”

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