Author Archives: John Gibbons
Mann on a mission – Hockey Stick scientist interviewed
Michael Mann is one of the world’s leading climate scientists. He is director of the Earth Systems Science Centre in Penn State University and has been a lead IPCC author since 2001. His ‘Hockey Stick graph’ became the defining symbol … Continue reading
Posted in Arctic, Global Warming, Media, Psychology, Sceptics
Tagged denial, fossil fuel, hockey stick, Michael Mann
2 Comments
A Prime lesson in how not to cover climate change
On Tuesday of last week, PrimeTime did something extremely unusual – at least for RTE. It had a programme on climate change. Well, ok, that’s not strictly true; the one-hour show actually carried three items, so climate change was wedged … Continue reading
Posted in Economics, Global Warming, Irish Focus, Media, Sceptics
Tagged GWPF, Media, Primetime, RTE
21 Comments
It’s not fair! I can prove I’m better than BOD…
In a recent newspaper article, I wondered aloud if maybe, just maybe, the tide was finally beginning to turn regarding Ireland getting real about climate change. As if to answer the question, the producer of Today FM’s The Last Word … Continue reading
Posted in Global Warming, Irish Focus, Sceptics
48 Comments
Gravity of climate crisis has yet to sink in nationally
Below, my article more or less as it appeared in the Irish Times last Friday. The day it appeared, rain bucketed down across the country, and maybe this is why the article struck a chord – it was the ‘Most … Continue reading
Posted in Global Warming, Irish Focus, Media
1 Comment
A welcome Eye on the climate crisis
Last Tuesday evening, Duncan Stewart’s excellent Eco Eye series turned its focus on climate change, and specifically, the impacts already manifesting themselves on Ireland’s weather. You can watch the full show below: Among the experts directly interviewed for the show … Continue reading
Posted in Global Warming, Irish Focus, Media, Sceptics
3 Comments
Climate change fuelling our weather extremes
Below, my article as it appeared in the Irish Times this week: IN THE FIRST week of January last year, I placed an 80 euro bet that 2013 would be among the top ten hottest years since global instrumental records … Continue reading
Posted in Arctic, Global Warming, Irish Focus, Sustainability
4 Comments
Time to sign up for the climate change war
Below, my article, as it appears in today’s Irish Times. There has been a pretty strong reaction thus far on Twitter (not that much uptake on Facebook) and quite a useful online discussion accompanying the piece on the Irish Times … Continue reading
Posted in Biodiversity, Economics, Global Warming, Psychology, Sceptics
Tagged Arctic 30, Brad Werner, Franklin D. Roosevelt, Gus Speth, Lonnie Thompson, Pope Francis, World Bank
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Billionaire baddies bringing us to the brink
Below is my article, as it appears in the current edition of Village magazine. I’ve long been fascinated by denial and our seemingly limitless power to delude ourselves about unpleasant or unpalatable realities. This was brought home to me yet again … Continue reading
Posted in Global Warming, Sceptics
1 Comment
The oceans: cradle and graveyard of life on Earth
My first newspaper environmental column appeared in mid-March 2008, headlined: ‘Out of our depth in tackling overfishing disaster’. In researching the piece, I was staggered to read a quote from a senior UNEP official to the effect that even if … Continue reading
Posted in Biodiversity, Global Warming, Habitat/Species, Sustainability
3 Comments
IPCC AR5 set to reiterate bleakest of messages
Below, my article as it appeared in yesterday’s Irish Times. I had a bit of a swipe at Fine Gael’s former Environment spokesman, Simon Coveney, having sat down recently to re-watch a clip I recorded for Climatechange.ie back in January … Continue reading
Posted in Global Warming, Irish Focus, Media, Psychology
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Who’d want to live in a world without us? (hint: everything else)
World Population Day earlier this month threw up some portentous figures. Here’s one to conjure with: today, there are 1.8 billion people between the age of 10 and 24 – almost as many humans as were alive at the beginning … Continue reading
Posted in Biodiversity, Global Warming, Sustainability
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Obama turns up the heat on climate change denial, inaction
It has been a long time coming, but it was – just about – worth the wait. Last Tuesday, President Obama finally put climate change front and centre on his critical second term agenda. It was perhaps apposite that he … Continue reading
Posted in Energy, Global Warming, Media
8 Comments
Science does not support rigid anti-nuclear stance
Below, my article, as it appeared in this Thursday’s Irish Times. To date, it has attracted over 180 comments on the site, with a strong pickup on both Facebook and Twitter. Having grown accustomed to having the online discussion of … Continue reading
Posted in Energy, Global Warming, Nuclear
21 Comments
Ecological Ponzi scheme ignores natural capital
Below, my article, as it appears in today’s Irish Times: AT THE weekend, I took a load of junk from the garden shed up to the local recycling centre. Use of the Ballyogan facility costs €30 per car. Of course, … Continue reading
Posted in Biodiversity, Economics, Global Warming, Sustainability
1 Comment
World’s oceans drowning in plastic sludge
Below, my piece from the latest edition of ‘Village’ magazine. If you haven’t done so yet, dash out and buy it. Village is among the last vestiges of the non-corporatised media still standing in Ireland. It deserves, demands, our support. … Continue reading
Posted in Global Warming, Sustainability
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