MIT Colleagues Weigh In On Lindzen As Oz Senate "Skeptic" Prepares To Vote On Climate Plan

[hatrack]

CLIMATE scientists at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in the US have distanced themselves from the views of a colleague who helped shape Family First senator Steve Fielding's sceptical stance on global warming. Senator Fielding appears likely to vote against the Government's emissions trading legislation in tomorrow's crucial vote after a recent trip to the US as a climate change sceptic.

During his trip Senator Fielding heard several speakers question whether human-related emissions were leading to dangerous climate change. It is believed that a talk by MIT atmospheric physicist Dick Lindzen convinced him that the case supporting climate change was being exaggerated.

Ron Prinn, a professor of atmospheric science at MIT and former department head, told BusinessDay that, while the university did not have a collective position, Professor Lindzen was a ''lone wolf'' in the climate-change debate. ''The concept of academic freedom is important to protect, but it is safe to say Dick Lindzen's view is definitely in the minority,'' he said. ''I am surprised did not make the time to talk to any other people. The vast majority of scientists, not just at MIT but throughout the US, believe climate change is happening.''

EDIT

In June, the Government's former climate change adviser, Ross Garnaut, said he had spoken to Professor Lindzen in compiling his review but had discounted his opinion that the global-warming effect of carbon dioxide was overestimated. ''I would have been delighted if there were 10 or 20 or, better still, 100 Richard Lindzens around the world but unfortunately he's a one-off,'' Professor Garnaut said. ''It would be imprudent beyond the normal limits of irrationality to grab one dissenting view among the serious climate scientists and say, 'I am going to believe that' and not to believe the views of all of Australia's credentialled climate scientists.''

EDIT

http://www.theage.com.au/environment/global-warming/mit-scientists-weigh-in-on-sceptic-fielding-20090811-egyo.html