Nebraska Monkey Climate Study?: The View from the Roasterie XXXIII: November 14, 2013
It is not too soon for Nebraska to begin getting ready for the impact of global warming on it. It will be interesting to see how far the Republicans go in trying to produce a study of climate change in Nebraska without taking human production of Greenhouse gases into effect. And it will be interesting if anybody outside Nebraska notices...
Nancy Gaarder: State climate change study may go begging for scientists:
LINCOLN — Nebraska may be poised to conduct a climate change study that its own scientists don't want to be associated with. The state's drought and climate task force wrestled Wednesday with the awkward job of developing a study on the impact of climate change in Nebraska but possibly excluding the role of humans in changing the climate. The study is to be completed next year and cost no more than $44,000.
The Legislature approved the study this year and handed the task to Nebraska's already-existing Climate Assessment and Response Committee, a governor-appointed group that mostly advises the state on drought issues. The sticking point in Wednesday's discussion, beyond the lack of money and time for the study, was what the Legislature meant when it voted to limit the study to “cyclical” climate change. The word “cyclical” was added to the legislation by State Sen. Beau McCoy, a Republican who represents western Douglas County and is a candidate for governor. McCoy could not be reached late Wednesday....
University of Nebraska-Lincoln scientists at the meeting said they wouldn't participate in the climate study if it excludes the influence of humans. Some said they wouldn't be willing to ask others to consider doing the study, either. Mark Svoboda, a climatologist with the university's acclaimed National Drought Mitigation Center, said he would not be comfortable circulating a study proposal to his peers if it excluded the role of humans. “Personally, I would not send it out,” Svoboda said...
