RE: Article from The Hindu: Russian scientists deny climate change
Dear Priya: This is what a colleague of mine in Russia has to say. He is a former government official and has also worked for the UN system and I trust him. Yes, the article is an accurate presentation of views of a small but vocal group of Russian scientists. There is a long tradition of questioning the anthropogenic factor, as the main reason for climate change/global warming. It was personified by Academician Budyko (I think he passed away), the leading climate authority in the USSR. He nurtured a group of young talented scientists who still produce bizarre ideas and projects, like pumping industrially produced ozone into the atmosphere, rather than banning CFCs and other ODS. To many in Russia, their explanation of climate change is hard to refute. The article's author is also correct in pointing to political interests. Putin did say a few years back that global warming is good for Russia. And, there is the conspiracy side. I know Utkin well. He's been consistent about the Montreal Protocol destroying the Russian refrigeration industry (however, he's in FAO now, and not dealing with policy). I think we haven't seen the end of the debate, which is likely to be used by the government in different ways, to suit shifting economic and political priorities (not least playing with India and China). Regards, Pam Pamela S. Chasek, Ph.D. Executive Editor, Earth Negotiations Bulletin IISD Reporting Services 300 East 56th Street #11A New York, NY 10022 USA Tel: +1 212-888-2737- Fax: +1 646 219 0955 E-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED]mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) www.iisd.orgfile:///C:\Documents%20and%20Settings\pam\Local%20Settings\Temporary%20Internet%20Files\www.iisd.org IISD Reporting Services - Earth Negotiations Bulletin www.iisd.cafile:///C:\Documents%20and%20Settings\pam\Local%20Settings\Temporary%20Internet%20Files\www.iisd.ca Subscribe for free to our publications http://www.iisd.ca/email/subscribe.htm From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Priya Kurian Sent: Monday, July 28, 2008 9:10 PM To: gep-ed@listserve1.allegheny.edu Subject: FW: Article from The Hindu: Russian scientists deny climate change Would anyone know whether this article, written by the Moscow correspondent for a leading Indian daily, The Hindu, is an accurate representation of the views of Russian scientists on climate change? Priya Priya Kurian Associate Professor Department of Political Science and Public Policy The University of Waikato, Hamilton, NEW ZEALAND Tel: (+64-7) 838-4466 ext. 6109 Fax: (+64-7) 838-4203 -Original Message- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [ mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Friday, 18 July 2008 4:29 a.m. Source: The Hindu ( http://www.hinduonnet.com/2008/07/10/stories/2008071055521000.htm) Opinion - Leader Page Articles Challenging the basis of Kyoto Protocol Vladimir Radyuhin Russian scientists deny that the Kyoto Protocol reflects a consensus view of the world scientific community. As western nations step up pressure on India and China to curb the emission of greenhouse gases, Russian scientists reject the very idea that carbon dioxide may be responsible for global warming. Russian critics of the Kyoto Protocol, which calls for cuts in CO2 emissions, say that the theory underlying the pact lacks scientific basis. Under the Theory of Anthropogenic Global Warming, it is human-generated greenhouse gases, and mainly CO2, that cause climate change. 'The Kyoto theorists have put the cart before the horse,' says renowned Russian geographer Andrei Kapitsa. 'It is global warming that triggers higher levels of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere, not the other way round.' Russian researchers made this discovery while studying ice cores recovered from the depth of 3.5 kilometres in Antarctica. Analysis of ancient ice and air bubbles trapped inside revealed the composition of the atmosphere and air temperature going back as far as 400,000 years. 'We found that the level of CO2 had fluctuated greatly over the period but at any given time increases in air temperature preceded higher concentrations of CO2,'says academician Kapitsa, who worked in Antarctica for many years. Russian studies showed that throughout history, CO2 levels in the air rose 500 to 600 years after the climate warmed up. Therefore, higher concentrations of greenhouse gases registered today are the result, not the cause, of global warming. Critics of the CO2 role in climate change point out that water vapours are a far more potent factor in creating the greenhouse effect as their concentration in the atmosphere is five to 10 times higher than that of CO2. 'Even if all CO2 were removed from the earth atmosphere, global climate would not become any cooler,'says solar physicist Vladimir Bashkirtsev. The hypothesis of anthropogenic greenhouse gases was born out of computer modelling of climate changes.
RE: Article from The Hindu: Russian scientists deny climate change
Hi Priya, Yes and no. The writer is either blatantly dishonest or misguided when he claims the Russian Academy urged rejection of Kyoto. The Russian Academy of Science signed on to the consensus statement on climate change in 2005, which was signed by most of the leading national academies. The consensus statement concluded that climate change was a serious issue, driven predominantly by anthropogenic emissions of greenhouse gases. The Academy signed on to the 2008 statement of the Academies also, calling for a rapid transition to a low carbon society. However, there are a number of Russian scientists (most of whom are not climatologists, which is the case throughout the world) who are vociferous skeptics, including Sorokhtin, Kapitsa, and Yuri Izrael, who until recently was co-chair of the Russian delegation to the UNFCCC COPs! In my opinion, they do exert substantial influence on public opinion on climate change. It does not help that many of the impacts of climate change will be salutary for Russia, at least until mid-century to the 2070s, which explains why polling recently showed that only one in three Russians believe that climate change is a serious issue that requires immediate action, in contrast to much higher numbers in most European countries, Australia, South America, and even in the U.S. (about 43% here believe immediate action is warranted). However, if you factor in the folks who believe that climate change should be addressed, even in Russia you are talking about 66% who believe climate change is a real problem linked to human factors. wil Dr. Wil Burns, Editor in Chief Journal of International Wildlife Law Policy 1702 Arlington Blvd. El Cerrito, CA 94530 USA Ph: 650.281.9126 Fax: 510.779.5361 mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] [EMAIL PROTECTED] http://www.jiwlp.com/ http://www.jiwlp.com SSRN site: http://ssrn.com/author=240348 From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Priya Kurian Sent: Monday, July 28, 2008 6:10 PM To: gep-ed@listserve1.allegheny.edu Subject: FW: Article from The Hindu: Russian scientists deny climate change Would anyone know whether this article, written by the Moscow correspondent for a leading Indian daily, The Hindu, is an accurate representation of the views of Russian scientists on climate change? Priya Priya Kurian Associate Professor Department of Political Science and Public Policy The University of Waikato, Hamilton, NEW ZEALAND Tel: (+64-7) 838-4466 ext. 6109 Fax: (+64-7) 838-4203 -Original Message- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [ mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] ] Sent: Friday, 18 July 2008 4:29 a.m. Source: The Hindu ( http://www.hinduonnet.com/2008/07/10/stories/2008071055521000.htm http://www.hinduonnet.com/2008/07/10/stories/2008071055521000.htm) Opinion - Leader Page Articles Challenging the basis of Kyoto Protocol Vladimir Radyuhin Russian scientists deny that the Kyoto Protocol reflects a consensus view of the world scientific community. As western nations step up pressure on India and China to curb the emission of greenhouse gases, Russian scientists reject the very idea that carbon dioxide may be responsible for global warming. Russian critics of the Kyoto Protocol, which calls for cuts in CO2 emissions, say that the theory underlying the pact lacks scientific basis. Under the Theory of Anthropogenic Global Warming, it is human-generated greenhouse gases, and mainly CO2, that cause climate change. 'The Kyoto theorists have put the cart before the horse,' says renowned Russian geographer Andrei Kapitsa. 'It is global warming that triggers higher levels of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere, not the other way round.' Russian researchers made this discovery while studying ice cores recovered from the depth of 3.5 kilometres in Antarctica. Analysis of ancient ice and air bubbles trapped inside revealed the composition of the atmosphere and air temperature going back as far as 400,000 years. 'We found that the level of CO2 had fluctuated greatly over the period but at any given time increases in air temperature preceded higher concentrations of CO2,'says academician Kapitsa, who worked in Antarctica for many years. Russian studies showed that throughout history, CO2 levels in the air rose 500 to 600 years after the climate warmed up. Therefore, higher concentrations of greenhouse gases registered today are the result, not the cause, of global warming. Critics of the CO2 role in climate change point out that water vapours are a far more potent factor in creating the greenhouse effect as their concentration in the atmosphere is five to 10 times higher than that of CO2. 'Even if all CO2 were removed from the earth atmosphere, global climate would not become any cooler,'says solar physicist Vladimir Bashkirtsev. The hypothesis of anthropogenic greenhouse gases was born out of computer modelling of climate
