CNBC anchor Joe Kernen used Richard Lindzen’s grossly inaccurate column in today’s WSJ to repeatedly claim there is “no consensus” on whether global warming exists. Kernen suggests that “as old as the planet is” there is no way “puny, gnawing little humans” could change the climate in “70 years.” Watch it:
Kernen also claims that “99 percent” of the media is sure that global warming is real. Actually, “53 percent of articles in the mainstream media” cast doubt on global warming science. None of this doubt is express in peer-reviewed scientific literature.
Transcript:
JOE: Alright, let’s take a look at one headline that caught my attention. It’s in the Wall Street Journal. It’s on the editorial page. It is written by a — the Alfred P. Sloan professor of atmospheric science at MIT. And the byline is, “There is no consensus on global warming.” And I like this little quote right here, “An Inconvenient Truth for Al Gore.” What right now — give me an honest answer — how sure is the media that global warming is real? Is it 99%?
CARL: I think they’re more 60/40, sure.
JOE: I think it’s 99 percent. And here, Leslie (?) “There was a clear attempt to establish truth, not by scientific methods, but by perpetual repetition,” which is a good point to make.
CHARLIE: Do you think there is no evidence to suggest that there is global warming?
JOE: I am not an expert. All I know is that the science, if you actually look at the science that there is no consensus at this point. And it’s pointed out by this gentleman, who I would definitely defer to him — I would defer to this guy before Al Gore.
CHARLIE: There is no scientific consensus. There is clearly a media consensus.
JOE: The arctic was warmer years ago. We saw an article a couple weeks ago about that, there is even more evidence presented here as to whether — I mean, we’re basing our whole future on human behavior causing this. And all our policies are based on it.
BECKY: I would say we don’t know exactly how much of this is something that happens every 11,000 years, how much of this is trends that have happened before. But we do know that for the first time it looks like there is scientific evidence that we as humans are having some sort of impact on how fast it’s happening.
JOE: if you read this, that’s open to speculation.
BECKY: your common sense — even if it’s not something we are entirely creating, doesn’t it tell you that we are having some impact on it.
JOE: It doesn’t tell me. As old as the planet is and our puny, gnawing little humans, for seventy years we’ve changed the whole — how long have hydrocarbons been around?
BECKY: I believe my dad. He’s a geologist. He tells me he thinks there’s some impact.
JOE: I just think there is room for you know — since you don’t see a movie and go, “Wow, it’s not a political argument, it’s a moral argument.” I don’t know. Watch the mail come in now.