A Slightly Skeptical Look at Global Warming by Allen Best

And, finally, there is the role of natural variability in changes now being observed. Nobody disputes that the climate, independent of human activities, changes. The question is to what extent changes now underway can be attributed to natural variability. “So far, in the 21st century, global warming has stabilized and no one really knows why,” writes Dr. William Cotton, a professor of atmospheric science at Colorado State University. “None of the ‘known’ climate forcing mechanisms can explain the discrepancy.” We know too little about natural variability of the climate to confidently make predictions, he insists.

In fact, 2008 globally was the coldest year since 2000. But Trenberth notes that it was still in the top 10 of globally averaged annual temperatures. The slowing of warming, he insists, is only temporary, and has something to do with the “weird formation of clouds.” Why this is, he can’t say—nor can anybody else. That is exactly the point Cotton makes.

What's The Electric Vehicle Charging Market Worth In 5 Years? : TreeHugger

Research & Markets is projecting $200 million dollars in annual US electric vehicle charging sales by 2015. Let's assume that's a reasonable estimate. Compared to existing gasoline sales in the US, which approaches $2 billion/year, it's obvious that we have a long way to go before plug-in hybrids and electric vehicles, together, make a serious dent in gasoline markets.

Open Passage Expedition: Still burning fossil fuel, Northwest Passage still far away

We've been sailing for about three weeks now, and have covered some 1700 miles. We've just reached Dutch Harbor, Unalaska. But we'll only spend a few days here to re-provision and refuel before again setting off, this time turning North. This is a pretty brisk pace for yacht cruising, and we're not really getting time to visit the towns we've passed through so far.

So why bother, you might ask. We're doing all this sailing to get to Canada's Northwest Passage, which is still nearly 2,000 miles away. It's easy to forget the purpose to all this when you're kept busy with watches,
cooking and keeping the boat moving forward. Climate change and cultural preservation seem a lot less pressing when you are groggily pulling on your oil skins at 0300hrs and there's a cold rain falling on deck.