The Last Gasp for Global Warming?

At long last, one of the most notable global warming skeptics, Princeton University's Freeman Dyson, found a foe turned friend in his camp. The friend is liberal Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg. The subject was global warming.

The Supreme Court ruled 8-0 on the case of American Electric Power v. Connecticut. The ruling was less about global warming than it was about the law. Nevertheless, there was a newer, calmer tone to the public hysteria over global warming delivered in the decision of the Court. Global warming is no longer the condition of dire consequences people once believed it to be.

Justice Ginsburg read the decision and added the following, according to the Financial Post: "The court, we caution, endorses no particular view of the complicated issues related to carbon-dioxide emissions and climate change." At the same time, the Court recommended that alternative scientific views on the climate issue be read, specifically a 2009 New York Times Magazine piece on the notable climate change skeptic, Freeman Dyson. His scientific reflections on the subject suggest more experimentation and less modeling, even that a little more CO₂ is good for us all.

It is not insignificant that the most left-leaning justice would agree, making the Supreme Court's decision unanimous. It is further worthy of note that Justice Ginsburg noted CO₂ as necessary and ubiquitous. "After all, we each emit carbon dioxide merely by breathing," she said, according to the Financial Post. That CO₂ fact has been noted by many. Now Justice Ginsburg agrees. No wonder global warming is losing its steam.

Justice Ginsburg suggests also that CO₂ should not be the target of indiscriminate attacks. Savvy followers of the climate change debate regard such attacks as coming from the IPCC (International Panel on Climate Change), that ignominious panel seeking to heighten the hype. The oblique reference is apt in that the Panel supports global warming alarmism without sound scientific evidence. Plus, its computer models make dire predictions that simply don't pan out.

One can't help wondering whether global warming is grasping its last gasp. It may too soon to tell, as the EPA lives on and continues to rule -- when all is said and done -- on the issue. Nevertheless, when the highest court of the land breathes out an exhale of relief while citing a skeptic, the realization of CO₂ goodness for all can't be far behind.

Sources:

http://opinion.financialpost.com/2011/06/23/lawrence-solomon-supreme-skeptics/

http://probeinternational.org/library/wp-content/uploads/2011/06/10-1741.pdf

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/03/29/magazine/29Dyson-t.html