Deborah Byers on The Honest Broker

[Deborah Byers]

Roger, appreciate your ongoing effort to bring balance to all these discussions including critical examination of key assumptions and methodologies in the multi disciplinary field that is Climate research. As a curious consultant in the energy space I have been trying hard to understand all the complex issues. We are asking taxpayers, companies and governments to spend literally trillions on the basis of IPCC consensus policy recommendations. This matters on so many economic fronts---especially if large parts of the non Western world is not aligned. Your writing is some of the best and easily digestible. I am however alarmed by the following tags on You Tube Videos of various scientist describing theories. See copied language of one such video:

"Climate change

United Nations

Climate change refers to long-term shifts in temperatures and weather patterns, mainly caused by human activities, especially the burning of fossil fuels.

140. Climate Alarmism w/ Professor Richard Lindzen".

This worries me because it is so definitive and any lay person, such as myself, would think these videos are all incorrect. Our college students making a cursory effort to research some of the claims the media outlets you mention would encounter this tag on all such videos that challenge the current consensus narrative. This is yet another example of suppressing debate on the greatest challenge humanity may be facing---how to adapt and thrive n a changing climate. Have you encountered this on a regular basis?

[Roger Pielke Jr.]

Yes, the various social media sites have policed discourse on climate. Facebook has partnered with a group (Climate Feedback) that I have called out on multiple occasions for spreading misinformation as it tries to police misinformation. It's a mess.