'No Global Warming'? Critics Slam 2 Articles

Science writers are in a tizzy over two articles this weekend that deny the existence of global warming. One, signed by 16 scientists in the Wall Street Journal, notes "the lack of global warming for well over 10 years now." It argues that a world economy unburdened by carbon controls would enjoy an excellent "benefit-to-cost ratio" and strengthen developing countries. Another, in the Daily Mail, warns readers that solar activity will soon die down and plunge Earth into "cold summers" and "bitter winters." Enter the critics:

• Both articles are "amazingly bad," fumes Discover magazine. "Nine of the hottest ten years on record all occurred since the year 2000." And "solar activity ... [has] very little to do with climate."
• The author of the "benefit-to-cost ratio" study cited in the Journal says he was "completely misrepresented," reports the New York Times. A supporter of carbon taxes, Yale professor William Nordhaus writes in an email: "I can only assume they [are] either completely ignorant of the economics on the issue or are willfully misstating my findings."
• Yes, solar activity will decrease; no, it won't counteract global warming, writes Brad Plumer in the Washington Post. His source is the Met UK Office—also the Daily Mail's source, which promptly refuted the article.

See more criticism from Greg Laden, The Intersection, GetEnergySmartNow, and Forbes. (More global warming stories.)