Author Archives: John Gibbons
Latest recruit to Confederacy of Climate Dunces
One by one, they’re coming out of the woodwork. Occasional climate sceptic William Reville was the latest to re-surface, this time in his weekly Irish Times column. I read it with dismay; I genuinely have no problem with him having … Continue reading
Posted in Global Warming, Irish Focus, Media, Sceptics
Tagged climate, climate hoax, Climategate, CRU, Phil Jones, Reville, sceptics, UCC
33 Comments
A sceptic on the couch
I’ve had my say on KennyGate, as have a good many other people (to my new cadre of hate-mailers, sorry for not posting all your anonymous spleen. Life’s a bitch, eh? Give my regards to Elvis). Meanwhile, a regular correspondent, … Continue reading
Posted in Global Warming, Irish Focus, Media, Sceptics, Sustainability
Tagged Media, Pat K, Pat Kenny, RTE, sceptics
6 Comments
John The Apostle Walks The Plank
Hell, it seems, hath no fury like a broadcaster scorned. After my recent adventures with RTE’s Pat Kenny, it was only a matter of time before the veteran broadcaster would try to even the score for what he no doubt … Continue reading
Posted in Global Warming, Irish Focus, Media, Sceptics
Tagged climate, climate hoax, climate sceptic, Holford, Ian Plimer, Pat Kenny, RTE
46 Comments
Keeping our heads above (rising) water
In these dark November days, as parts of Ireland lie submerged after a virtually stormless deluge, it’s natural to want to look for some positive news. Images of tens of thousands of people using the public sector strike on Tuesday … Continue reading
Posted in Global Warming, Irish Focus, Sustainability
Tagged Copenhagen, emissions, Mary Robinson, Obama, RTE
13 Comments
Full steam ahead!
While the mud flies to the left and to the right, now, with just 12 days to the opening of the COP15 climate conference in Copenhagen, looks like it’s all hands on deck, women and children first, etc. etc. as … Continue reading
Posted in Global Warming, Irish Focus, Media, Sceptics
Tagged climate, Ireland, Media, sceptics, Titanic
1 Comment
Nothing new under the sun?
Around seven years ago, I read a history of the planet in the 20th century, entitled ‘Something New Under The Sun‘, by Georgetown University professor, JR McNeill. The book examined the biosphere, slice by slice, and concluded that, whatever else, … Continue reading
Posted in Global Warming, Irish Focus, Media, Sceptics
Tagged climate sceptic, JR McNeill, Pat Kenny, RTE
36 Comments
To the last drop?
Take a minute or two to study the chart below. It is just issued by the International Energy Agency, an industry-centric organisation not prone to engaging in eco-alarmism. But this is alarming, truly shocking in fact. The dark blue chart … Continue reading
Posted in Energy, Global Warming, Irish Focus, Nuclear, Sustainability
Tagged carbon, climate change, emissions, Energy, global warming, nuclear, Peak Oil
31 Comments
McCarthy: ability without sustainabilty?
Quis custodiet ipsos custodes? This well-known Latin phrase from the poet Juvenal, loosely translates to “Who will guard the guards?” It came to mind when thinking about the Talented Mr McCarthy and his oversized shears, better known as An Bord … Continue reading
Posted in Economics, Global Warming, Irish Focus, Sustainability
Tagged Bord, Bord Snip Nua, Colm McCarthy, Comhar, eco, economists, Friedman, Green N, John Gibbons, McCa, sustain, Sustainability
2 Comments
Now we’re getting somewhere
Earlier today, at a very well attended press conference in Leinster House, the all-party Oireachtas Committee on Climate Change and Energy released their report, ‘The case for a climate change law’. Committee rapporteur, Liz McManus likened the position we now … Continue reading
Posted in Global Warming, Irish Focus, Media, Sustainability
Tagged Climate law, EPA, ESRI, Labour, Liz McManus, Media, Rachel English, radio, Richard Tol, RTE, Sunday Times
29 Comments
A smart tax, on so many levels
James Tobin had a very, very good idea. So good, in fact, they named it after him. And that’s the Tobin Tax. It’s a small tax with very big potential. And best of all, it’s a damn good idea, in … Continue reading
Posted in Economics, Global Warming, Irish Focus, Media, Sustainability
Tagged bankers, banks, foreign currency, Germany, greed, speculation, tax, Tobin tax
3 Comments
Cool, sparkling sense comes dropping slow
Amazing the things you never knew you never knew. This morning, for instance, I found out that if you spell ‘naive’ backwards, you come up with Evian, the cool, sparkling spring water that is full of, er, volcanicity – this … Continue reading
Posted in Global Warming, Irish Focus, Media, Sustainability
Tagged bottled water, David McWilli, David McWilliams, economists, Newstalk, Peak Everything, Tom Dunne, water
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Challenging the infallible economist
Colm McCarthy chaired the Special Group on Public Service Numbers and Expenditure Programmes, better known as An Bord Snip Nua. It issued its various prescription for what ails us in July, and much of the national discussion since then has … Continue reading
Posted in Economics, Global Warming, Irish Focus, Media, Sustainability
Tagged Arctic, Bord Snip Nua, carbon, climate change, collapse, Colm McCarthy, Convery, emissions, Energy, Sustainability
6 Comments
Blowing up a political s**t storm
Fintan O’Toole is, for my money, the most insightful commentator on Irish life, and has been for years. Like any of the rest of us, he has his hobby horses, and I’ve often been disappointed that he rarely turns his … Continue reading
Posted in Global Warming, Irish Focus, Media, Sceptics
Tagged Daily Mail, Fintan O'Toole, Gormley, Green Party, Kevin Myers, Nama, RTE
6 Comments
A fair wind for renewable energy sector?
The Green Party seems to have snatched an unlikely victory at the weekend – they somehow maneuvered themselves from being pinned between the proverbial rock and a hard place and wriggled free with party unity intact and a hatful of … Continue reading
Posted in Energy, Global Warming, Irish Focus
Tagged Andris Piebalgs, Arklow Bay, car, carbon, CO2, Eamon Ryan, elect, electricity, Energy, fossil fuels, Green Party, interconnector, supply, wind, wind farms
6 Comments
