The U.S. government’s Climate Assessment gets off to a poor start

The U.S. government’s Climate Assessment gets off to a poor start

Last week the U.S. Federal Government issued its fourth report on the Climate, as mandated every four years since 1990. Despite its being released on the day after Thanksgiving, it got plenty of airplay. But the report itself could do a lot better job of summarizing its pointed conclusions in a way that anyone, even…

The government’s climate change report features meaty data but a squishy summary

The government’s climate change report features meaty data but a squishy summary

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and several other government organizations are completing a report on global climate science. Someone leaked a late draft to the New York Times, which published it. The 545 page report is a great case study on how (and how not) to summarize technical information. The executive summary features telling…

Game theory reveals a chilling reason for denying climate change

Game theory reveals a chilling reason for denying climate change

Fixing the climate has a cost. So does failing to fix it. Both costs are huge, but if you believe that climate change is a real phenomenon, then the human and economic costs of inaction are staggering. What justifies failing to act? My analysis reveals that the explanation that many Republicans stand behind — that climate change…