Andrew Weaver (BC Green MLA, and climate scientist): Unprincipled in both politics and science (or irresponsibly ignorant?)

Andrew Weaver

In this his recent article, Dimitri Lascaris makes a reasoned criticism of the Green political leader Andrew Weaver: "The problem with Andrew Weaver: A fellow Green raises concerns about B.C. party’s leadership and direction, Opinion by Dimitri Lascaris, ricochet, May 8, 2017".

In the article, as a side-show we see the immoral elite Greens (Weaver and federal leader Elizabeth May) at work in a disgusting display of undemocratic behaviour working against justice and human rights in the world.

Equally interesting is Mr. Lascaris' complement about the climate science work of Dr. Weaver, a well cited academic scientist who has made his successful research career commenting on model forecasts of climate when CO2 is increased.

Mr. Lascaris should not be too quick to positively evaluate scientific things he knows little about, not even with the help of quotes from Naomi Klein.

Take one of Dr. Weaver's (2nd author) most cited paper in a high-profile journal for example: "N.P. Gillett et al. Detecting the effect of climate change on Canadian forest fires. Geophysical Research Letters, 2004, vol. 31, L18211".

The said paper is garbage, and has done more harm than good to the science of climate and forest fires. I describe the many misleading and fatal flaws in the paper in detail in my critical review of the field: "Rancourt, D.G., Anatomy of the false link between forest fires and anthropogenic CO2, Research Gate (May 2016), 18 pages. DOI:10.13140/RG.2.1.2059.6087", starting at page 7.

Therefore, no, Dr. Weaver's behavioural flaws are not at all saved by his science work. He has acted as an unprincipled politician in both his politics and his science.

Anatomy of the false link between forest fires and anthropogenic CO2

Here is my latest article, published moments ago on Research Gate.

Anatomy of the false link between forest fires and anthropogenic CO2

By D. G. Rancourt, PhD
Research Gate, May 2016
DOI: 10.13140/RG.2.1.2059.6087

Summary: In this critical review of the scientific literature about fire, I describe how the false notion of a link between forest fires and anthropogenic CO2 was ignited in 2006 by a fatally flawed article promoted in the science-trend-setting magazine Science, and spread like wildfire through the scientific literature and beyond, driven in part by high winds of climate modelling extravagance, while fortunately leaving large unburnt patches. There is no evidentiary basis for such a link. On the contrary, established knowledge about forest fires leads to the conclusion that dedication to teasing out such a link is preposterous: In the present circumstances starting in approximately 1900, the dominant effect is direct human impacts on land use, which causes global fire occurrences to be dramatically less than from the known long-term natural cycles (modern fire deficit). No special circumstances or regions have been correctly identified where forest fire behaviour can be attributed to CO2. Canada’s recent Fort McMurray fire is no exception. The claimed 7 g mean birth weight loss arising from mothers’ general exposure to CO2-driven southern California wildfires, like all such claims, is a product of statistical and conceptual overenthusiasm. I use concepts from the animal-behaviour scientific literature to explain how some scientists and their followers can get so carried away.

Read the entire article HERE.

Backed up here: https://archive.ph/gAjLs