Baby it's cold outside

It’s colder now than throughout almost all of history

During the last 2 billion years the Earth’s climate has alternated between a frigid “Ice House”, like today’s world, and a steaming “Hot House”, like the world of the dinosaurs.

We’re in the “Ice House” right now.

Should we tell the whole truth about climate change? | Climate Etc.

Since this has been going on in the context of the climate change problem for 20+ years, we’ve seen that simplicity doesn’t work, and the “good guys” often behave badly (whichever side you define to be “good”; Peter Gleick is the most recent example).  In fact  when oversimplification is uncovered (e.g. hiding the decline is a case in point), there can be very substantial backlash and loss of trust in the scientists.

Obama Energy Sec.: ‘I Don’t Own A Car’ | JunkScience.com

No wonder the gas price crisis doesn’t register with Steven Chu.

Click for the video.

China Says Climate Ambition Depends on Funding From Rich Nations - Bloomberg

China said developing nations could take more action on climate change only when they get more
money and technology from rich countries, which need to recognize their past responsibility for greenhouse-gas output.

“Social and economic development and poverty eradication are first and overriding priorities of developing-country
parties,” China said in a filing published today on the website of the United Nations climate unit. Whether they can “enhance
their actions both on mitigation and adaptation depends on the enhanced finance and technology supports by developed-country parties.”

Energy subsidies total $24 billion, most to renewables - Mar. 7, 2012

NEW YORK (CNNMoney) -- The federal government spent $24 billion on energy subsidies in 2011, with the vast majority going to renewable energy sources, according to a government report.