Roy Spencer

Roy W. Spencer

Credentials

  • Ph.D., M.S. Meteorology, University of Wisconsin-Madison (1980, 1981).1About,” Drroyspencer.com. Archived September 6, 2016. Archive.is URL: https://archive.is/YPxqO
  • B.S., atmospheric sciences, University of Michigan (1978)2About,” Drroyspencer.com. Archived September 6, 2016. Archive.is URL: https://archive.is/YPxqO

Background

Roy W. Spencer is a research scientist at the University of Alabama, Huntsville. He operates his own blog on global warming where he describes himself as a “climatologist, author, [and] former NASA scientist.”3About,” Drroyspencer.com. Archived September 6, 2016. Archive.is URL: https://archive.is/YPxqO

Spencer is an advisor to the Cornwall Alliance, formerly the Interfaith Steward Alliance (ISA), an evangelical Christian group that claims environmentalism is “one of the greatest threats to society and the church today.”4Who We Are,” Cornwall Alliance For the Stewardship of Creation. Archived September 6, 2016. Archive.is URL: https://archive.is/YSysZ 5Advisory Board,” Interfaith Stewardship Alliance. Archived October 24, 2006. Archive.is URL: https://archive.is/6bbxQ 6Brian Kaylor. “Signers of Environmental Statement Funded by ExxonMobil,” EthicsDaily.com, October 8, 2006. Archived May 6, 2008. Archive.is URL: https://archive.is/mqyQX

According to “Global Warming 101,” a section of Spencer’s website, “the extra carbon dioxide we pump into the atmosphere is not enough to cause the observed warming in the last 100 years.”7GW 101: Global Warming Theory in a Nutshell,” DrRoySpencer.com. Archived September 6, 2016. Archive.is UR: https://archive.is/7dQyx

Stance on Climate Change

April 23, 2021

“It matters because there is no Climate Crisis. There is no Climate Emergency. Yes, irregular warming is occurring. Yes, it is at least partly due to human greenhouse gas emissions. But seldom are the benefits of a somewhat warmer climate system mentioned, or the benefits of more CO2 in the atmosphere (which is required for life on Earth to exist),” Spencer claimed in an article at the Global Warming Policy Forum.8Roy Spencer. “Global warming trend is only half of what climate modellers have predicted,” The Global Warming Policy Forum, April 23, 2021. Archived April 26, 2021. Archive URL: https://archive.ph/uTU9r

September 7, 2017

In a Fox Business interview where he promoted his new book, An Inconvenient Deception, Spencer also outlined his views on climate change:9Roy Spencer – Fox Business – Varney – 9-7-2017,” YouTube video uploaded by user “Stagepost Live Shot Guests.” Archived .mp4 on file at DeSmog.

“We’re warmer than we’ve been in probably a few centuries, and I think some of that warmth is due to the CO2 we’re producing, but the warming is not nearly as fast as what has been predicted. I think about half of it’s natural, and from a policy standpoint there’s really nothing we could do about the human caused portion of it anyway,” Spencer said.

December 8, 2016

“Global warming is not something that we should be terribly worried about from a policy perspective, which is my view,” Spencer declared in his presentation at the “At the Crossroads III Energy and Climate Policy Summit.”10Part 5 – At the Crossroads III: Energy and Climate Policy Summit,” YouTube video uploaded by user The Heritage Foundation, December 9, 2016. Archived .mp4 on file at DeSmog.

September 24, 2008

“There’s probably a natural reason for global warming […] We will look back on it as a gigantic false alarm.”

“The Earth isn’t that sensitive to how much CO2 we put into the atmosphere. I think we need to consider the possibility that more carbon dioxide is better than less,” Spencer said, quoted in The Wichita Eagle.11David Klepper. “Expert: We must act fast on warming” (PDF), The Wichita Eagle (Kansas), September 24, 2008. Printed by the uptown neighbourhood association. Archived November 1, 2012. Archived .pdf on file at DeSmogBlog.

Key Quotes

November 30, 2017

Speaking at the “At the Crossroads IV: Energy & Climate Policy Summit,” co-hosted by The Heritage Foundation and Texas Public Policy Foundation (TPPF), Spencer claimed uncertainty surrounding climate science:12At the Crossroads IV: Energy & Climate Policy Summit,” The Heritage Foundation, November 30, 2017. Archived .mp4 on file at DeSmog. Archive.is URL: https://archive.is/jmAfj

“I wish I could tell you that we know things for sure, but in science we don’t know anything for sure. I tell people, science isn’t truth it’s just our idea of how things should work, and usually scientists are wrong.”

September 6, 2017

Fox News interviewed Spencer in a segment criticizing Al Gore’s new movie, “An Inconvenient Sequel”:13Climatologist Calls Out ‘False Claims’ & ‘Erroneous Information’ in New Al Gore Film,” Fox News, September 6, 2017. Archived February 25, 2018. Archive.is URL: https://archive.is/Kq11X

“For instance, melting on the Greenland ice sheet. That happens every summer, but he makes it sound like it’s due to us,” Spencer said. “Rising sea level in Miami Beach. That is partly natural and it’s partly because Miami Beach was built on reclaimed swampland, which is sinking just as fast as sea level has been rising for the last 150 years.”

“In any event, [temperatures are] not rising nearly as fast as the climate models say it should be rising. And those climate models are what are being used to dictate our future energy policy,” Spencer said.

December 8, 2016

“Global warming is not something that anybody will ever feel in their lifetime.”14Part 5 – At the Crossroads III: Energy and Climate Policy Summit,” YouTube video uploaded by user The Heritage Foundation, December 9, 2016. Archived .mp4 on file at DeSmog.

“I am one of the skeptics who believes that adding CO2 to the atmosphere, theoretically, should cause some warming. […] I would expect slow warming to continue in the future–but I wouldn’t bet money on it.”15Part 5 – At the Crossroads III: Energy and Climate Policy Summit,” YouTube video uploaded by user The Heritage Foundation, December 9, 2016. Archived .mp4 on file at DeSmog.

“I’m somewhat of a rocket scientist. I can tell you, predicting climate change isn’t rocket science. It’s way harder than that.16Part 5 – At the Crossroads III: Energy and Climate Policy Summit,” YouTube video uploaded by user The Heritage Foundation, December 9, 2016. Archived .mp4 on file at DeSmog.

2016

“Besides, if global warming is settled science, like gravity or the Earth not being flat, why isn’t the agreement 100 percent? And since when is science settled by a survey or a poll? The hallmark of a good scientific theory is its ability to make good predictions.”

“From what we’ve seen, global warming theory is definitely lacking in this regard.”17Michael Bastasch. “Former NASA Scientist Dispels Notion Global Warming Is ‘Settled’ Science,” The Daily Caller, July 20, 2016. Archived September 6, 2016. Archive.is URL: https://archive.is/j2vLd

2015

“We have no idea what’s natural and what’s man made. […] There is no fingerprint of human-caused warming.”18Connor Gibson, “Climate Change Deniers Hate Me. Here’s Why,’ Huffington Post, June 16, 2015. Archived September 6, 2016. Archive.is URL: https://archive.is/MbmEJ

2014

“All scientists should be skeptics. The reason why is that, even with the best of scientific measurements, we can come up with all kinds of explanations of what those measurements mean in terms of cause and effect, and yet most of those explanations are wrong. It’s really easy to be wrong in science … it’s really hard to be right.”19World’s largest climate change skeptics convention includes UAH’s Roy Spencer as speaker,” AL.com, June 11, 2014. Archived September 6, 2016. Archive.is URL: https://archive.is/N9dhH

2011

“Twice I have testified in congress that unbiased funding on the subject of the causes of warming would be much closer to a reality if 50% of that money was devoted to finding natural reasons for climate change.”20Roy W. Spencer. “Why Most Published Research Findings are False,” Drroyspencer.com, January 3, 2011. Archived September 6, 2016. Archive.is URL: https://archive.is/j87ro

May, 2007

“Politicians and some of the scientists like to say that there’s a consensus now on global warming or the science has been settled, but you have to ask them, what is there a consensus on? Because it really makes a difference. What are you talking about? The only consensus I`m aware of is that it’s warmed in the last century. They completely ignore the fact that there’s this thing called the Oregon petition that was signed by 19,000 professionals and scientists who don’t agree with the idea that we are causing climate change.”21Exposed: The Climate of Fear,” CNN, Glenn Beck special, May 2, 2007.

April, 2007

“We see something change in our climate and we blame ourselves . . . I don’t think we understand what happens. We can watch it happen on the (climate) models, we know it happens, but we don’t know for sure how it happens.”22Wendy Reeves. “Scientist: Warming not caused by humans,” The Huntsville Times, April 19, 2007. Archived April 22, 2007. Archive.is URL: https://archive.is/tFEZC

Key Actions

April 23, 2021

Spencer wrote an article for the Global Warming Policy Forum titled “Global warming trend is only half of what climate modellers have predicted.” In the article, Spencer argued, “Just about every climate claim made by politicians, and even many vocal scientists, has been either an exaggeration or a lie.”23Roy Spencer. “Global warming trend is only half of what climate modellers have predicted,” The Global Warming Policy Forum, April 23, 2021. Archived April 26, 2021. Archive URL: https://archive.ph/uTU9r

Spencer claimed official climate models had been “promoted for the purposes of implementing expensive, economically-damaging, and poverty-worsening energy policies.” He also claimed, “Just about every climate claim made by politicians, and even many vocal scientists, has been either an exaggeration or a lie.”24Roy Spencer. “Global warming trend is only half of what climate modellers have predicted,” The Global Warming Policy Forum, April 23, 2021. Archived April 26, 2021. Archive URL: https://archive.ph/uTU9r

Elsewhere in the article, Spencer wrote: “It matters because there is no Climate Crisis. There is no Climate Emergency.”25Roy Spencer. “Global warming trend is only half of what climate modellers have predicted,” The Global Warming Policy Forum, April 23, 2021. Archived April 26, 2021. Archive URL: https://archive.ph/uTU9r

February 17, 2021

In a tribute to the late Rush Limbaugh, Spencer wrote at his website recollecting some personal anecdotes about Limbaugh and when he was called on to his show to speak about climate change.26Roy W. Spencer. “A Tribute to Rush Limbaugh,” DrRoySpencer.com, February 17, 2021. Archived March 31, 2021. Archive URL: https://archive.ph/3XSy7

Following Spencer’s appearance on Rush Limbaugh’s show more than 10 years prior, Spencer recounted that “Within days he was calling me the ‘Chief Climatologist of the EIB Network’. An unpaid position, but he knew that mentioning my name on the radio was plenty payment enough; it led to many speaking opportunities in the years that followed. He provided me with his ‘super-secret’ email address, and that’s how we would correspond from then on.”27Roy W. Spencer. “A Tribute to Rush Limbaugh,” DrRoySpencer.com, February 17, 2021. Archived March 31, 2021. Archive URL: https://archive.ph/3XSy7

Spencer commented that Limbaugh had helped his first book gain popularity: “He immediately suggested I write my first book, and when it came out he plugged it on the show quite a few times. Within a couple weeks, his influence got the book on the NYT bestsellers list. When I told him the news, he had a typically funny response, ‘Watch out, Oprah!'”28Roy W. Spencer. “A Tribute to Rush Limbaugh,” DrRoySpencer.com, February 17, 2021. Archived March 31, 2021. Archive URL: https://archive.ph/3XSy7

He added: “Over the last 10 years, he has always read my emails to him, and responded when appropriate. I could usually tell when it was something he would use on the air (and it was usually not related to climate). It took years before I got used to the idea that he was actually interested in what I had to say.”29Roy W. Spencer. “A Tribute to Rush Limbaugh,” DrRoySpencer.com, February 17, 2021. Archived March 31, 2021. Archive URL: https://archive.ph/3XSy7

September 24, 2020

Spencer appeared in Marc Morano’s 2020 film Climate Hustle 2: Rise of the Climate Monarchy, produced by the Committee for a Constructive Tomorrow (CFACT). During a discussion which disputed the scientific consensus on the manmade causes of climate change, Spencer stated:30Climate Hustle 2: Rise of the Climate Monarchy. CFACT/ CDR Communications, Inc., 2020

“The government, you know, trying to erase the recent hiatus in global warming, it really feels politically motivated.”

January 8, 2020

Spencer took to his blog to declare that the Australian bushfires were likely caused by human error and not climate change:31Roy Spencer. “Are Australia Bushfires Worsening From Human-Caused Climate Change?drroyspencer.com, January 8, 2020. Archived January 11, 2020. Archive.is URL: http://archive.is/12yqf

“My personal opinion, based upon the available evidence, is that any long-term increase in wildfire activity in any specific location like Australia (or California) is dominated by the increase in human-caused ignition events, whether they be accidental or purposeful. […] to automatically blame the Australian bushfires on human-caused climate change is mostly alarmist nonsense, with virtually no basis in fact.”32Roy Spencer. “Are Australia Bushfires Worsening From Human-Caused Climate Change?drroyspencer.com, January 8, 2020. Archived January 11, 2020. Archive.is URL: http://archive.is/12yqf

Claims that environmental policies and arson were to blame for the bushfires have been debunked, though they continue to be propagated by social media bots and fringe websites such as Alex Jones’s InfoWars.33Mat Hope. “These Climate Science Deniers are Spreading Misinformation about the Australian Bushfires,” DeSmog, January 9, 2019.

August 13, 2019

Spencer appeared in a Nature Communications article that ranked 386 “climate change contrarians” based on media visibility. The article also ranked bona fide climate scientists and found that deniers had nearly 50% more visibility in the media than mainstream scientists.34Alexander Michael Petersen, Emmanuel M. Vincent, Anthony LeRoy Westerling. “Discrepancy in scientific authority and media visibility of climate change scientists and contrarians,” Nature Communications, August 13, 2019. Archived August 14, 2019. Archive.is URL: http://archive.is/WC84u. Archived .pdf on file at DeSmog.

Spencer was ranked #5 among other noted deniers, including Marc Morano (#1), Sen. James Inhofe, Energy Secretary Rick Perry, Freeman Dyson, Ross McKitrick, Steven Hayward, John Hinderaker, and Judith Curry.35Alexander Michael Petersen, Emmanuel M. Vincent, Anthony LeRoy Westerling. “Discrepancy in scientific authority and media visibility of climate change scientists and contrarians,” Nature Communications, August 13, 2019. Archived August 14, 2019. Archive.is URL: http://archive.is/WC84u. Archived .pdf on file at DeSmog.

September 14, 2018

Roy Spencer wrote an op-ed at USA Today claiming Hurricane Florence is “just the weather.”36Roy W. Spencer. “Hurricane Florence is not climate change or global warming. It’s just the weather,USA Today, September 14, 2018. Archived September 17, 2018. Archive URL: https://archive.fo/JmQii

“Hurricane Florence is not the result of global warming. It’s likely due to natural weather patterns, not climate change,” Spencer wrote.37Roy W. Spencer. “Hurricane Florence is not climate change or global warming. It’s just the weather,USA Today, September 14, 2018. Archived September 17, 2018. Archive URL: https://archive.fo/JmQii

“[L]ike most claims regarding global warming, the real effect is small, probably temporary, and most likely due to natural weather patterns,” he claimed.38Roy W. Spencer. “Hurricane Florence is not climate change or global warming. It’s just the weather,USA Today, September 14, 2018. Archived September 17, 2018. Archive URL: https://archive.fo/JmQii

A team from Stony Brook University, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory and the U.S. National Center for Atmospheric Research found that Florence was potentially longer and more intense due to the impact of climate change, bringing as much as 50 percent more rain to coastal areas, CBC News reported.39Nicole Mortillaro. “Hurricane Florence likely worsened by effects of climate change, researchers say,” CBC, September 15, 2018. Archived September 17, 2018. Archive URL: https://archive.fo/6joxy

August 7, 2018

Spencer spoke at the Heartland Institute‘s “America First Energy Conference” (AFEC 2018) in New Orleans, Louisiana.40Speakers,” America First Energy Conference 2018. Archived August 1, 2018. Archive.fo URL: https://archive.fo/mwtga

“The purpose of this event is to promote and expand energy freedom in the United States, as outlined in President Donald Trump’s bold America First Energy Plan, a proposal first released during the 2016 presidential campaign. The president’s plan marks a decisive change in direction from the Obama administration’s ‘war on fossil fuels’ and focus on the theory of catastrophic man-caused climate change,” the conference description reads.41About,” America First Energy Conference 2018. Archived July 23, 2018. Archive.is URL: https://archive.fo/E4Gnt

Spencer is spoke on a panel titled “Why CO2 Emissions Are Not Creating a Climate Crisis” and give a lunch keynote.42ROY SPENCER, PH.D.,” America First Energy Conference 2018. Archived August 1, 2018. Archive URL: https://archive.fo/8Xa1r

November 30, 2017

Roy Spencer spoke at the “At the Crossroads IV: Energy & Climate Policy Summit” co-hosted by The Heritage Foundation and Texas Public Policy Foundation (TPPF).43At the Crossroads IV: Energy & Climate Policy Summit,” The Heritage Foundation, November 30, 2017. Archived .mp4 on file at DeSmog. Archive.is URL: https://archive.is/jmAfj

Spencer summarizes at the start of his talk, suggesting that the warming is “about half” of what is predicted by climate models (note that this article at SkepticalScience counters the idea that models are inaccurate):

“Basically, the variety of observations we have for measuring temperatures, whether it’s in atmosphere or in the ocean, are all pointing to a picture that suggests the warming we’ve seen lately, even if it is due to increasing CO2, which isn’t entirely clear […] the warming is still only about half of what is being predicted by climate models. And remember those climate models are the basis for energy policy,” Spencer began, going on to show “our version of the hockey stick” graph, which he had crafted with the help of John Christy.

He repeatedly suggests that “the climate models aren’t working right,” and also insinuated that the other main source of satellite temperature data “revise[d] their data upward to get more warming.”44At the Crossroads IV: Energy & Climate Policy Summit,” The Heritage Foundation, November 30, 2017. Archived .mp4 on file at DeSmog. Archive.is URL: https://archive.is/jmAfj

Spencer also claimed in his talk that “the oceans also haven’t been warming as fast as they should be for the climate system to be sensative,” and repeats his suggestion that climate sensitivity is low (see Christy’s latter point discussed at SkepticalScience).45At the Crossroads IV: Energy & Climate Policy Summit,” The Heritage Foundation, November 30, 2017. Archived .mp4 on file at DeSmog. Archive.is URL: https://archive.is/jmAfj

So the bottom line is climate sensitivity could be significantly less than 2 degrees, we really don’t know,” Spencer concludes.

For more information, he points his audience to Judith Curry‘s blog, and also to work by Nick Lewis.

October 2017

A leaked email from the Heartland Institute‘s Joe Bast included a note to “find independent funding for Roy Spencer, David Schnare, Willie Soon, Craig Idso, David Legates, etc.”46Brendan DeMelle. “Heartland Institute ‘Red Team’ Climate Lists Revealed, And Science Deniers Are Upset With Pruitt,” DeSmog, October 25, 2017.

“Many people said ‘we need a PR plan’ or a ‘single strategy,’ otherwise we will continue to lose the battle with AGWalarmists,” Bast wrote in the email. “Heartland, CEI, and other organizations and individuals in the room do have plans and strategies […] We can always do better, and will, but we should not stop doing what is working.”47Brendan DeMelle. “Heartland Institute ‘Red Team’ Climate Lists Revealed, And Science Deniers Are Upset With Pruitt,” DeSmog, October 25, 2017.

September 2017

Spencer appeared as an “actual scientist” on the Louder with Crowder show to claim that hurricanes Harvey and Irma in 2017 weren’t correlated with climate change. A Friends of Science (FoS) press release notes that Spencer also made similar claims in an August 29, 2017 blog post and also in his new book, Inevitable Disaster.48Hurricanes Harvey and Irma Hysteria tied to Claims of Global Warming and Climate Change Debunked by Dr. Roy Spencer’s New Book says Friends of Science Society,” Friends of Science via PRWeb. September 30, 2017. Archived October 3, 2017. Archive.is URL: https://archive.is/7pPuK 49Texas Major Hurricane Intensity Not Related to Gulf Water Temperatures,” Drroyspencer.com, August 29, 2017. Archived October 3, 2017. Archive.is URL: https://archive.is/7pPuK

Spencer released his new book, Inevitable Disaster, on September 18, 2017. The Washington Times reported the book challenged statements “by Jennifer Lawrence, Bill Nye, Stevie Wonder and others linking global warming to this year’s active hurricane season.”50What Weather Looks Like,” The Washington Times, September 21, 2017. Archived October 3, 2017. Archive.is URL: https://archive.is/s9tsA

“What made Harvey rain totals exceptional was the system stalled next to the coast, which was due to a very temporary weakening of atmospheric steering currents,” Spencer said, quoted by The Washington Times. “Virtually the whole month of August was below normal in temperature over most of the U.S., not what global warming theory predicts at all.”51What Weather Looks Like,” The Washington Times, September 21, 2017. Archived October 3, 2017. Archive.is URL: https://archive.is/s9tsA

Notably, pointing to a single cold month as evidence contrary to global warming theory is listed as a common myth listed at Skepticalscience, right next to the idea that extreme weather isn’t linked to climate change. Writing at The Guardian in August, climate scientist Michael Man said that certain elements including sea level rise and sea surface temperatures contributed to the severity of Hurricane Harvey. “Harvey was almost certainly more intense than it would have been in the absence of human-caused warming, which means stronger winds, more wind damage and a larger storm surge,” Mann wrote.52Does cold weather disprove global warming?Skepticalscience. Archived October 3, 2017. Archive.is URL: https://archive.is/7dJg6 53Is extreme weather caused by global warming?SkepticalScience. Archived October 3, 2017. Archive.is URL: https://archive.is/Jjymp 54Michael E Mann. “It’s a fact: climate change made Hurricane Harvey more deadly,” The Guardian, August 28, 2017. Archived October 3, 2017. Archive.is URL: https://archive.is/kHT5X

August 19, 2017

Spencer released a book critiquing Al Gore’s movie, An Inconvenient Sequel: Truth to Power. In a Fox News interview, Spencer said he “whipped together a quick ebook in about two weeks to respond” to Al Gore’s movie.55Climatologist Calls Out ‘False Claims’ & ‘Erroneous Information’ in New Al Gore Film,” Fox News, September 6, 2017. Archived February 25, 2018. Archive.is URL: https://archive.is/Kq11X

“To counter what is in movie theaters now, I had to whip up this book in only 2 weeks, and I didn’t have a marching army of well-funded people like Gore has had. (Too bad he didn’t have someone doing fact-checking.) Despite my disadvantage, I think I present a powerful case that most of what he presents is, at the very least, very deceptive,” Spencer wrote in a post announcing his book’s release.56Roy Spencer. “An Inconvenient Deception: How Al Gore Distorts Climate Science and Energy Policy,DrRoySpencer.com, August 19, 2017. Archived September 29, 2017. Archive.is URL: https://archive.is/7Fe6M

July 25, 2017

The Institute for Public Affairs (IPA) listed Roy Spencer as a contributor to their book “Climate Change: The Facts 2017.” Prior versions of the book featured contributions from a range of prominent climate change deniers, and describes mainstream climate change research as “pseudo-science.”57Donate to Climate Change: The Facts 2017,” Institute of Public Affairs. Archived October 31, 2016. Archive.is URL: https://archive.is/KpLZh 58Climate Change: The facts 2014,” Catallaxyfiles.com. Archived October 31, 2016. Archive.is URL: https://archive.is/Trs4Y

According to the IPA’s media release, “Climate Change: The Facts 2017 contains 22 essays by internationally-renowned experts and commentators, including Dr Bjorn Lomborg, Dr Matt Ridley, Professor Peter Ridd, Dr Willie Soon, Dr Ian Plimer, Dr Roy Spencer, and literary giant Clive James. The volume is edited by Dr Jennifer Marohasy, Senior Fellow at the Institute of Public Affairs. Fourteen of the contributors currently hold or have held positions at a university or a scientific research organisation.”59“NEW BOOK – CLIMATE CHANGE: THE FACTS 2017” (PDF), Institute of Public Affairs, July 25, 2017.

Contributors include

May, 2017

John Abraham, a professor of thermal science, writes at The Guardian about additional errors identified in Roy Spencer and John Christy’s temperature estimates. According to Abraham, Spencer and Christy’s claims that troposphere and stratosphere temperatures have not been rising are wrong:60John Abraham. “More errors identified in contrarian climate scientists’ temperature estimates,” The Guardian, May 11, 2017. Archived May 12, 2017. Archive.is URL: https://archive.is/2bqE3

“They errantly include stratosphere temperatures in their lower atmosphere readings; and they have incorrect temperature calibration on the satellites,” Abraham writes.61John Abraham. “More errors identified in contrarian climate scientists’ temperature estimates,” The Guardian, May 11, 2017. Archived May 12, 2017. Archive.is URL: https://archive.is/2bqE3

He also points to a recent paper that had questioned Christy and Spencer’s decision to use preliminary data in their congressional testimony while it was still in the peer review stage:62John Abraham. “More errors identified in contrarian climate scientists’ temperature estimates,” The Guardian, May 11, 2017. Archived May 12, 2017. Archive.is URL: https://archive.is/2bqE3

“At present, the UAH v6 (most recent Christy/Spencer data) results are preliminary and a fifth revision has now been released as v6beta5 (Spencer 2016). The release of the UAH version 6 products before publication is unusual, and Spencer recently stated that a manuscript has been submitted for a peer-reviewed publication. While some may find it scientifically inappropriate to utilize UAH v6b6 data before publication, these data have already been presented in testimony during congressional hearings before both the U.S. House and Senate and have also appeared on websites and in public print articles,” Abraham quotes the January 207 paper.63John Abraham. “More errors identified in contrarian climate scientists’ temperature estimates,” The Guardian, May 11, 2017. Archived May 12, 2017. Archive.is URL: https://archive.is/2bqE3

Abraham adds, “let’s not be deluded into thinking these satellites are more accurate than thermometers (as some people suggest).”64John Abraham. “More errors identified in contrarian climate scientists’ temperature estimates,” The Guardian, May 11, 2017. Archived May 12, 2017. Archive.is URL: https://archive.is/2bqE3

February 23, 2017

Spencer was a signatory of a petition (PDF) organized by Richard Lindzen of the Cato Institute urging President Donald Trump to pull the United States out of the United Nations international convention on climate change (UNFCCC).65“PETITION” (PDF), February 23, 2017. Richard Lindzen. PDF Archived at DeSmog.

“In just a few weeks, more than 300 eminent scientists and other qualified individuals from around the world have signed the petition below,” Lindzen wrote in the letter.66“PETITION” (PDF), February 23, 2017. Richard Lindzen. PDF Archived at DeSmog.

DeSmog investigated the list, and found that only a small handful of the signatories could be considered “even remotely ‘qualified’ or ‘eminent’ — but not in the field of climate science.” The list included individuals “interested in climate,” and one signatory who only identified as an “emailer who wished to sign the petition” while some signers provided no affiliation or address whatsoever.67Graham Readfearn. “Climate Science Denier Richard Lindzen’s List of 300 “Scientists” Sent to Trump Is the Usual Parade of Non-Experts,” DeSmog, February 27, 2017.

January 5, 2017

Roy Spencer was a signatory to a Cornwall Alliance open letter supporting Scott Pruitt for EPA Administrator under the Trump administration.68Open Letter Supporting Scott Pruitt for EPA Administrator,” Cornwall Alliance, January 5, 2017. Archived January 19, 2017. Archive.is URL: https://archive.is/xMash

“Mr. Pruitt has also demonstrated understanding of and open-mindedness toward scientific insights crucial to the formulation and implementation of environmental regulation. He is prepared to hear all sides in debates over the risks and benefits of various activities that come under the purview of the EPA,” reads the letter.

On January 12, 2017, Senate Democrats raised conflict of interest concerns regarding Scott Prutt’s fossil fuel ties. Pruitt had spent years working to combat the Obama Administration’s Clean Power Plan.69Ben Jervey. “Mapping EPA Nominee Scott Pruitt’s Many Fossil Fuel Ties,” DeSmog, January 13, 2017.

In an open letter to the Office of Government Ethics, members of the Senate’s environmental panel commented:

“During his tenure as Attorney General of Oklahoma, Mr. Pruitt has blurred the distinction between official and political actions, often at the behest of corporations he will regulate if confirmed to lead EPA,” the letter said. “Public reporting based on documents produced by Freedom of Information Act requests illustrate how Mr. Pruitt and members of his staff have worked closely with fossil fuel lobbyists to craft his office’s official positions.”

Pruitt was further grilled on his fossil fuel ties at his confirmation hearing on January 18.70Ben Jervey and Steve Horn. “EPA Nominee Scott Pruitt Gets Grilled on Fossil Fuel Ties at Confirmation Hearing,” DeSmog, January 18, 2017.

Some notable signatories of the Cornwall Alliance letter, as of January 5, 2017, included:

December 8, 2016

Roy Spencer was a speaker at the “At the Crossroads III Energy and Climate Summit,” an event co-hosted by the Heritage Foundation and the Texas Public Policy Foundation (TPPF). The event was billed as “the premier energy-and-climate policy event in America,” and attracted a range of prominent climate change deniers as well as a range of names connected to Donald Trump and his transition team. The full video is now listed as “private” on YouTube. Choice quotes below.71At the Crossroads III: Energy and Climate Policy Summit,” Heritage Foundation, December 8, 2016. Archived December 22, 2016. Archive.is URL: https://archive.is/AKaKq

“Global warming is not something that we should be terribly worried about from a policy perspective, which is my view.” [58:03]

“These [models] take marching armies of experts in all different areas.” [58:58]

“No one’s an expert with all of that stuff […] it’s almost hopelessly complex.” [59:16]

“The observations are saying it ain’t warming that fast.” [60:14]

“Clearly, the deep layer atmosphere is not warming as much as the models say it should be.” [61:34]

“We don’t even trust those surface temperatures. Every time they get adjusted, they und up getting a warmer and warmer trend. […] They’re trying to force those surface temperatures to warm up to what the models are saying. They’re trying to make the measurements fit the theory.” [61:34]

“Global warming is not something that anybody will ever feel in their lifetime.” [66:18]

“I am one of the skeptics who believes that adding CO2 to the atmosphere, theoretically, should cause some warming. […] I would expect slow warming to continue in the future–but I wouldn’t bet money on it.” [66:39]

“They’re trying hard to make these data sets better match the models. In the matter of the next couple of years, ours will probably have the coldest temperature trend out of all of them, and we will be increasingly marginalized.” [67:12]

“I’m somewhat of a rocket scientist. I can tell you, predicting climate change isn’t rocket science. It’s way harder than that. [68:01]

Doug Domenech, director of the Texas Public Policy Foundation’s “Fueling Freedom” project, wrote about the proceedings at The Hill. Domenech outlined the common climate change denial message shared among the speakers: “Is climate change real? Yes, it has happened in the past and will happen in the future. Is man making an impact on the climate? Perhaps but in very small ways. But the overarching consensus remains the climate change we are experiencing is by no means catastrophic.”72Doug Domenech. “Climate change: Speaking truth to power,The Hill, December 13, 2016. Archived December 21, 2016. Archive.is URL: https://archive.is/zAEH5

Speakers included:

October 25, 2016

Roy Spencer published an article in Forbes titled “Hillary Clinton Boards The Climate Crisis Train To Nowhere” where he makes a number of contentions about climate change. For example, Spencer writes:73Roy W. Spencer. “Hillary Clinton Boards The Climate Crisis Train To Nowhere,” Forbes, October 25, 2016. Archived .pdf on file at DeSmog.

“Global warming and climate change, even if it is 100% caused by humans, is so slow that it cannot be observed by anyone in their lifetime. Hurricanes, tornadoes, floods, droughts and other natural disasters have yet to show any obvious long-term change. “

Eight scientists analyzed Spencer’s article and concluded that it’s overall scientific credibility was “very low.” Their responses are published at Climate Feedback, with overall feedback summarized below:74Analysis of ‘Hillary Clinton Boards The Climate Crisis Train To Nowhere’,” Climate Feedback. Archived November 3, 2016. Archive.is URL: https://archive.is/7sJOS

Kerry Emanuel, Professor of Atmospheric Science, MIT:
The article is inaccurate in several places and conveys that one must choose between solving immediate problems, such as poverty, and long-term risks such as climate change. We can do both, and indeed must do both if we take poverty seriously, since climate change disproportionately affects the poor.

Jim Kossin, Research Scientist, NOAA’s Center for Weather and Climate:
The author makes a number of statements that are not supported by the science or by established scientific process. He is basically playing by a different set of rules than the scientific community at large, which allows him to say anything he wants in order to make his case. A number of statements are misleading and some are obfuscating, particularly in terms of potential impacts of climate change on humans.

Victor Venema, Scientist, University of Bonn, Germany:
This article by Roy Spencer is misleading when it comes to his own work on tropospheric temperature changes and several times severely wrong outside of his expertise. It does not give a fair overview of the state of the science.

Peter Gleick, President Emeritus and Chief Scientist, Pacific Institute:
Almost every claim in this article is scientifically inaccurate or misleading.

Alexis Berg, Associate Research Scholar, Princeton University:
This articles uses a number of misleading statements, logical flaws and unsubstantiated claims to try to defend the erroneous idea that climate change is nothing to worry about, that there is nothing to do about it anyway, and that wanting to address it is all a power play by politicians.

Benjamin Horton, Professor, Rutgers University:
The discussion on sea level rise is misleading.

September 1, 2016

Roy Spencer and John Christy co-released a temperature record analysis, finding “August 2016 was the warmest August in the Northern Hemisphere in the satellite temperature record,” reports the press release.75(Press Release) “AUGUST 2016 AND 2016-TO-DATE ARE SECOND WARMEST,” University of Alabama Huntsville, September 1, 2016.. Republished at NewsRise. Archive.is URL: https://archive.is/CLezm

“While global average temperatures peaked higher this year than they did in 1998, temperatures fell faster this spring and summer to levels that are cooler than they were at this same time of year in 1998,” said Spencer. “We had three months this year that were warmer than their 1998 counterparts, and five that were cooler. There is really no reliable way of predicting what the next four months will do, compared to those same months in 1998.”

Spencer and Christy had released earlier temperature analysis in March, 2016, reports the Washington Post.76Jason Samenow. “February was Earth’s warmest month in the satellite record,” The Washington Post, March 1, 2016. Archive.is URL: https://archive.is/JjVHS

“I’ve always cautioned fellow skeptics that it’s dangerous to claim no warming,” Spencer told the Post in March. “There has been warming. The question is how much warming there’s been and how does that compare to what’s expected and what’s predicted.”

July, 2016

Roy Spencer authored a new report, published by the Texas Public Policy Foundation (TPPF), titled “A Guide to Understanding Global Warming Data.”77Roy W. Spencer. “A Guide to Understanding Global Temperature Data” (PDF), Texas Public Policy Foundation, July, 2016. Archived .pdf on file at Desmog.

Spencer’s report was also picked up The Daily Caller.78Michael Bastasch. “Former NASA Scientist Dispels Notion Global Warming Is ‘Settled’ Science,” The Daily Caller, July 20, 2016. Archived September 6, 2016. Archive.is URL: https://archive.is/j2vLd

“It should be clear that the science of global warming is far from settled,” Spencer writes in the report. “Uncertainties in the adjustments to our global temperature datasets, the small amount of warming those datasets have measured compared to what climate models expect, and uncertainties over the possible role of Mother Nature in recent warming, all combine to make climate change beliefs as much faith-based as science-based.”

The Guardian notes that the Texas Public Policy Foundation has received substantial funding from both the tobacco and fossil fuel industries, including $65,000 from ExxonMobil and at least $911,499 from Koch-related foundations since 1998, as well as over $3 million from “dark money” groups Donors Trust and Donors Capital Fund.79Dana Nuccitelli. “These are the best arguments from the 3% of climate scientist ‘skeptics.’ Really.” The Guardian, July 25, 2016. Archived September 6, 2016. Archive.is URL: https://archive.is/wRaXT

The Guardian describes Spencer’s white paper as “a variety of long-debunked myths” and provides examples or refutations provided by the SkepticalScience.80Dana Nuccitelli. “These are the best arguments from the 3% of climate scientist ‘skeptics.’ Really.” The Guardian, July 25, 2016. Archived September 6, 2016. Archive.is URL: https://archive.is/wRaXT

June 13, 2016

Roy Spencer was among individuals listed as creditors in Peabody Energy’s 2016 bankruptcy filings, reports the Center for Media and Democracy (CMD/PRWatch).81Nick Surgey. “Peabody Coal Bankruptcy Reveals Climate Denial Network Funding,” PRWatch, June 13, 2016. Archived June 20, 2016. Archive.is URL: https://archive.is/DR5pv

While the available bankruptcy documents do not list the scale or dates of funding, they outline Peabody Energy’s financial ties to a large network of groups promoting climate change denial.82In re: Peabody Energy Corporation, et al. Debtors,” United States Bankruptcy Court Eastern District of Missouri Eastern Division, Case 16-42529, May 27, 2016. Retrieved from DocumentCloud. Archive.is URL: https://archive.is/QGKCb

Other individuals appearing in the documents include climate deniers Willie Soon, Richard Lindzen, and Richard Berman. The long list of organizations also includes groups such as Americans for Prosperity, American Legislative Exchange Council, CFACT, Institute for Energy Research, State Policy Network, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and dozens more.83Farron Cousins. “Court Documents Show Coal Giant Peabody Energy Funded Dozens Of Climate Denial Groups,” DeSmogBlog, June 13, 2016.

The Guardian also analysed and reported on the Peabody bankruptcy findings:84Suzanne Goldenberg and Helena Bengtsson. “Biggest US coal company funded dozens of groups questioning climate change,” The Guardian, June 13, 2016. Archived June 20, 2016. Archive.is URL: https://archive.is/Oibzy

“These groups collectively are the heart and soul of climate denial,” said Kert Davies, founder of the Climate Investigation Center, who has spent 20 years tracking funding for climate denial. “It’s the broadest list I have seen of one company funding so many nodes in the denial machine.”

The company’s filings reveal funding for a range of organisations which have fought Barack Obama’s plans to cut greenhouse gas emissions, and denied the very existence of climate change. […]

Among Peabody’s beneficiaries, the Center for the Study of Carbon Dioxide and Global Change has insisted – wrongly – that carbon emissions are not a threat but “the elixir of life” while the American Legislative Exchange Council is trying to overturn Environmental Protection Agency rules cutting emissions from power plants. Meanwhile, Americans for Prosperity campaigns against carbon pricing. The Oklahoma chapter was on the list. […]

“The breadth of the groups with financial ties to Peabody is extraordinary. Thinktanks, litigation groups, climate scientists, political organisations, dozens of organisations blocking action on climate all receiving funding from the coal industry,” said Nick Surgey, director of research for the Center for Media and Democracy.

“We expected to see some denial money, but it looks like Peabody is the treasury for a very substantial part of the climate denial movement.”85Suzanne Goldenberg and Helena Bengtsson. “Biggest US coal company funded dozens of groups questioning climate change,” The Guardian, June 13, 2016. Archived June 20, 2016. Archive.is URL: https://archive.is/Oibzy

Notable organizations also listed as creditors in the bankruptcy documents include:

June 10, 2016

Roy Spencer was a signatory to a Cornwall Alliance open letter written by Calvin Beisner and addressed to U.S. attorneys general about climate change.86E. Calvin Beisner. “Open Letter to Attorneys General about Climate Change,” Cornwall Alliance, June 10, 2016. Archived June 24, 2016. Archive.is URL: https://archive.is/SjRkt

The letter responds to recent investigations by U.S. Attorney General Loretta Lynch and members of Attorneys General United for Clean Power into what ExxonMobil knew about climate change and when, started by a coalition of attorneys general in the US.87David Hasemyer. “Climate Fraud Investigation of Exxon Draws Attention of 17 Attorneys General,” InsideClimate News, March 30, 2016. Archived September 6, 2016. 88Ben Jervey. “State Investigations Into What Exxon Knew Double, and Exxon Gets Defensive,” Desmog, April 1, 2016.

Calvin Beisner writes that the attorneys generals’ actions are “a dead giveaway that you’re ignorant about climate science and related climate and energy policy.”89E. Calvin Beisner. “Open Letter to Attorneys General about Climate Change,” Cornwall Alliance, June 10, 2016. Archived June 24, 2016. Archive.is URL: https://archive.is/SjRkt

“[U]nlike in the case of tobacco’s health risks, there are innumerable and enormous holes in the case (not for human contribution to global warming but) for manmade global warming dangerous enough to justify spending trillions of dollars reinventing the world’s energy system to mitigate it, particularly when competing use of those trillions might bring far greater benefit,” Beisner addresses the attorneys general. And you, intelligent and learned all, are ignorant of those enormous holes.”90E. Calvin Beisner. “Open Letter to Attorneys General about Climate Change,” Cornwall Alliance, June 10, 2016. Archived June 24, 2016. Archive.is URL: https://archive.is/SjRkt

The Cornwall Alliance lists the following signatories to its open letter:91E. Calvin Beisner. “Open Letter to Attorneys General about Climate Change,” Cornwall Alliance, June 10, 2016. Archived June 24, 2016. Archive.is URL: https://archive.is/SjRkt

May 2, 2016

Roy Spencer was listed among “Key Scientists” appearing in Marc Morano‘s movie, Climate Hustle. The full list included the following:92“Background on Key Scientists Appearing in Climate Hustle” (PDF), ClimateHustle.org. Archived .pdf on file at Desmog.

Marc Morano’s Climate Hustle was released in U.S. theatres on May 2, 2016. Bill Nye described it as “not in our national interest and the world’s interest.”93‘Climate Hustle’ debuts as skeptics take on global-warming ‘consensus’,” The Washington Times, May 1, 2016. Archived August 26, 2016. Archive.is URL: https://archive.is/XtLXp

The film was produced by the Committee for Constructive Tomorrow (CFACT) and CDRCommunications. As noted at Desmog’s project, ClimateHustler.org, CFACT has received funding from ExxonMobil, Chevron, as well as hundreds of thousands of dollars from foundations associated with Richard Mellon Scaife. CFACT has also received at least $7.8 million in “dark money” through DonorsTrust and Donors Capital Fund.94Background on Climate Hustle Host and Producers,” ClimateHustle.org. Archived .pdf on file at Desmog. 95Homepage, climatehustler.org. Archive.is URL: https://archive.is/NB9qn

CDR Communications was behind the 2010 video by the Cornwall Alliance titled Resisting the Green Dragon, which claimed environmentalism was a “false religion” and a “global government” power grab. Chris Rogers of CDR Communictions is also chairman of The James Partnership, the umbrella arm that includes the Cornwall Alliance as one of its projects and pays the salary of Calvin Beisner, Cornwall’s founder and spokesperson.96Graham Readfearn. “The Evangelical Christian Climate Deniers Behind Marc Morano’s Climate Hustle Documentary,” Desmog, November 19, 2015.

Climate Hustle initially premiered on December 7, 2015 in Paris, France during the COP21 United Nations summit on climate change.97Matthew Kasper, “Climate Hustle, Latest Global Warming Denial Documentary, Set For World Premiere In Paris During COP21,” Republic Report, November 13, 2015. Archive.is URL: https://archive.is/s7OHs 98Climate Hustle,” SourceWatch, accessed November 14, 2015. Archive.is URL: https://archive.is/bOG35

“We are putting together what I think is the most comprehensive, unique, entertaining and humorous climate documentary that has ever been done or attempted,” Morano had said before the film was released.99Graham Readfearn. “Marc Morano’s Climate Hustle Film Set For Paris Premiere With Same Old Denial Myths,” Desmog, November 12, 2015.

“The reason that this is a unique film,” Morano has said, “is that we are going for a pop culture-friendly… sarcastic approach and we actually give both sides in this movie.”100Graham Readfearn. “Marc Morano’s Climate Hustle Film Set For Paris Premiere With Same Old Denial Myths,” Desmog, November 12, 2015.

In an interview with Ezra Levant, Morano said:

“I am not interviewing a lot of the main climate sceptical scientists because I feel like they have been interviewed by many other people and their stories have been told. I am trying to find another layer of scientist whose stories have not been out there yet. You will see a lot of new names in this.”101Graham Readfearn. “Marc Morano’s Climate Hustle Film Set For Paris Premiere With Same Old Denial Myths,” Desmog, November 12, 2015.

See a preview of the film below:

At the Paris premier of the film, reporters from Desmog and the Irish Times were denied entrance after having their RSVPs accepted days earlier.102Graham Readfearn. “The Fakery of the Paris ‘Red Carpet’ Premiere of Marc Morano’s Climate Hustle Film,” Desmog, December 30, 2015.

April 2016

Roy Spencer was one of several witnesses sponsored by Peabody Energy, fighting a legal case on Minnesota’s Social Cost of Carbon (SCC). Peabody Energy’s list of skeptical scientists included the following:103John Mashey. “Peabody’s Outlier Gang Couldn’t Shoot Straight In Minnesota Carbon Case, Judge Rebuffs Happer, Lindzen, Spencer, Mendelsohn, Bezdek,” Desmog, June 7, 2016.

DeSmog reviewed the case findings, and reported how the arguments presented by Peabody were rejected by the Administrative Law Judge (ALJ). Some of Peabody’s central “scientific” arguments, as commented on by The ALJ in findings documents, were as follows:104“Re: In the Matter of the Further Investigation into Environmental and Socioeconomic Costs Under Minn. Stat. § 216B.2422, Subd. 3” (PDF), April 12, 2016. PDF archived at DeSmog.

p.18 “Peabody asserted that significant climate change is not occurring or, to the extent climate change is occurring, it is not due to anthropogenic causes. Furthermore, Peabody insisted that any current warming and increased CO2 in the Earth’s atmosphere are beneficial. Based on its position on climate change, Peabody maintained that the externality value of CO2 would most accurately be set at or below zero.…”

p.31 “The Administrative Law Judge concludes that Peabody Energy has failed to demonstrate, by a preponderance of the evidence, that climate change is not occurring or, to the extent climate change is occurring, the warming and increased CO2 in the Earth’s atmosphere are beneficial.”

The Judge ruled unambiguously against Peabody, as reported Bloomberg BNA.105ALJ: Minnesota Should Use Federal Costs of Carbon in Decisions,” Bloomberg BNA, April 20, 2016. Archived September 6, 2016. Archive.is URL: https://archive.is/IHASX

The Guardian also suggested a number of reasons that Peabody Energy lost the case, including Richard Lindzen‘s own admission that the case hinged on ignoring the IPCC expert consensus, and instead listening to contrarian science:106Coal made its best case against climate change, and lost,” The Guardian, May 11, 2016. Archived June 27, 2016. Archive.is URL: https://archive.is/Vwf5D

“All of this [opposition] testimony is flawed to the extent it simply relies on … predictions by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change […] today the best evidence indicates that … a much lower climate sensitivity value of 1°C or 1.5°C is correct […]”107Coal made its best case against climate change, and lost,” The Guardian, May 11, 2016. Archived June 27, 2016. Archive.is URL: https://archive.is/Vwf5D

“Peabody’s scientists made errors that were easy to identify and point out to the Judge. Furthermore, the Judge was smart, quickly able to see through nonsense non-science,” The Guardian reports. “For those of you that read the report, you’ll notice that the Peabody side made claims about the natural variability of Earth’s climate, about Earth temperature changes, and about extreme weather events.”108Peabody coal’s contrarian scientist witnesses lose their court case,” The Guardian, May 2, 2016. Archived June 27, 2016. Archive.is URL: https://archive.is/8kVij

Some notable judicial conclusions were as follows, reports The Guardian:109Peabody coal’s contrarian scientist witnesses lose their court case,” The Guardian, May 2, 2016. Archived June 27, 2016. Archive.is URL: https://archive.is/8kVij

“22. The Administrative Law Judge concludes that Peabody failed to demonstrate that an equilibrium climate sensitivity of 1 or 1.5°C is correct.”

“23. The Administrative Law Judge concludes that the climate sensitivity is reasonably considered to be in the 2-4.5°C range.”

“47. The Administrative Law Judge concludes that Peabody failed to demonstrate that the relied upon process is neither peer-reviewed nor transparent.”

December 13, 2015

Writing as a guest blogger on Watts Up With That, CFACT’s executive director Craig Rucker denounced the latest UN climate change agreement:110Craig Rucker. “Paris #COP21 agreement – Watered down but still dangerous,” Watts Up With That, December 13, 2015. Archived March 14, 2016. Archive.is URL: https://archive.is/UdaB2

“This agreement will not meaningfully alter the temperature of the Earth, even under the U.N.’s own computer models.

“The bad news is that it plants the seeds of a new UN climate regime that left unchecked will swell into a bureaucratic behemoth.”111Craig Rucker. “Paris #COP21 agreement – Watered down but still dangerous,” Watts Up With That, December 13, 2015. Archived March 14, 2016. Archive.is URL: https://archive.is/UdaB2

December 8, 2015

Roy Spencer wrote an article titled “Whose Supported Policies Kill More People: ISIS…or Greenpeace?” comparing Greenpeace to terrorists.112Roy W. Spencer. “Whose Supported Policies Kill More People: ISIS…or Greenpeace?” drroyspencer.com, December 8, 2015. Archived December 8, 2015. Archive.is URL: https://archive.is/Qexi5

“Since poverty is the leading cause of premature death in the world, and fossil fuels have enabled the world to prosper and live longer, more comfortable lives, being against fossil fuels is, in my opinion, either misguided or evil,” Spencer writes.113Roy W. Spencer. “Whose Supported Policies Kill More People: ISIS…or Greenpeace?” drroyspencer.com, December 8, 2015. Archived December 8, 2015. Archive.is URL: https://archive.is/Qexi5

Spencer’s article responds to a Greenpeace EnergyDesk investigation (“Academics-for-hire”), published the same day, which had revealed a number of academics were willing to take funds from oil companies in order to publish articles promoting the benefits of carbon dioxide.114Lawrence Carter and Maeve McLenaghan. “Exposed: Academics-for-hire agree not to disclose fossil fuel funding,” EnergyDesk, December 8, 2015. Archived September 6, 2016. Archive.is URL: https://archive.is/EirtF

The Greenpeace investigation found that Spencer had accepted $4,000 by Peabody Energy to testify at a Minnesota state hearing on the impacts of carbon dioxide.115Lawrence Carter and Maeve McLenaghan. “Exposed: Academics-for-hire agree not to disclose fossil fuel funding,” EnergyDesk, December 8, 2015. Archived September 6, 2016. Archive.is URL: https://archive.is/EirtF

Spencer provided the following statement in his own article:116Roy W. Spencer. “Whose Supported Policies Kill More People: ISIS…or Greenpeace?” drroyspencer.com, December 8, 2015. Archived December 8, 2015. Archive.is URL: https://archive.is/Qexi5

“Over the years, I’ve charged to give talks out-of-state, taking vacation time away from my research day job (which is 100% federal and state funded) to avoid any charges of “double-dipping”. A few of those talks have been for fossil fuel-related organizations, a few have been for environmental organizations, but most have not.

“My affiliations with the Marshall Institute and Cornwall Alliance have been on a volunteer basis. I’ve also been paid a modest amount to write a couple of reports over the years, as well as to help in a recent legal case. The total compensation I’ve received is very small compared to my day job, and it’s even very small compared to the ad revenue I receive from our little weather website, Weatherstreet.com.

“Many years ago I was paid to write articles for a website called TCSDaily.com, which turned out to be fossil-fuel funded. I didn’t know that at the time, but I don’t think it would have mattered. After all, like most of us in the modern world, I’ve given far more money to fossil fuel interests than I’ve ever received from them.

“I’m still waiting for that Big Check from Big Oil. After all, I’ve been carrying their water for years. In my case, my support of fossil fuels (and the prosperity and longevity they have enabled humanity to achieve) goes back decades. It’s a no-brainer. If there is another energy technology as cheap and reliable and large-scale, I’m all for it.”117Roy W. Spencer. “Whose Supported Policies Kill More People: ISIS…or Greenpeace?” drroyspencer.com, December 8, 2015. Archived December 8, 2015. Archive.is URL: https://archive.is/Qexi5

June 11–12, 2015

Roy Spencer was a speaker on Panel 2: “Climate Science and Accurate Data,” at the Heartland Institute’s Tenth International Conference on Climate Change (ICCC10) in Washington, D.C., with Anthony Watts and J. Scott Armstrong.118Speakers,” Heartland Institute. Archived June 30, 2015. Archive.is URL: https://archive.is/lpiqu

View Roy Spencer’s Panel 2 presentation at the Heartland Institute’s ICCC10, below:119Roy Spencer, ICCC10 (Panel 2: Turning Sound Science into Sound Policy),” Youtube video uploaded by suer “The Heartland Institute,” July 2, 2015. Archived .mp4 on file at DeSmog.

Confronted by a Greenpeace activist Connor Gibson on camera, Dr. Spencer was filmed repeating several disinformation myths. Spencer denied that the global average temperature record has a documented warming trend over the last century, and then denied that humans have caused the warming trend he refused to acknowledge.

June 1, 2015

Roy Spencer testified on behalf of coal giant Peabody Energy about the social cost of carbon in front of the Minnesota Public Utilities Commission, along with Roger Bezdek.120BEFORE THE OFFICE OF ADMINISTRATIVE HEARINGS FOR THE MINNESOTA PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION STATE OF MINNESOTA In the Matter of the Further Investigation in to Environmental and Socioeconomic Costs Under Minnesota Statute 216B.2422, Subdivision 3 OAH Docket No. 80-2500-31888 (PDF), June 1, 2015. Archived at Desmog.

Spencer argued that government-run climate change models are inaccurately “biased high” and should therefore not be used to determine the social cost of carbon.

“My testimony will address the validity of climate model projections of global and regional temperatures used in the determination of the social cost of carbon (SCC). Three independent classes of temperature observations show that the climate models used by governments for policy guidance have warmed 2 to 3 times faster than the real climate system over the last 35 to 55 years, which is the period of greatest greenhouse gas emissions and atmospheric greenhouse gas concentrations. Recent research suggests that the climate models are too sensitive to these emissions, and that increasing greenhouse gases do not cause as much warming and associated climate change as is commonly believed [emphasis added]. These results suggest that any SCC estimates based upon such models will be biased high.”121BEFORE THE OFFICE OF ADMINISTRATIVE HEARINGS FOR THE MINNESOTA PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION STATE OF MINNESOTA In the Matter of the Further Investigation in to Environmental and Socioeconomic Costs Under Minnesota Statute 216B.2422, Subdivision 3 OAH Docket No. 80-2500-31888 (PDF), June 1, 2015. Archived at Desmog.

Spencer went on to testify that he ascribes to the heavily debunked “no global warming in 18 years” hiatus theory, which he believes is due to “some combination of low climate sensitivity and a natural cooling effect, such as stronger La Nina event in recent years.”122BEFORE THE OFFICE OF ADMINISTRATIVE HEARINGS FOR THE MINNESOTA PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION STATE OF MINNESOTA In the Matter of the Further Investigation in to Environmental and Socioeconomic Costs Under Minnesota Statute 216B.2422, Subdivision 3 OAH Docket No. 80-2500-31888 (PDF), June 1, 2015. Archived at Desmog.

Spencer’s testimony on behalf of Peabody Energy can be read here: Direct Testimony and Exhibits of Professor Roy Spencer June 1, 2015 [PDF].

March 2015

Roy Spencer was one of several climate change skeptics cc’d on an email from S. Fred Singer in hopes of countering the documentary film “Merchants of Doubt,” which exposed the network of climate change skeptics and deniers trying to delay legislative action on climate change.123Katherine Bagley. “Leaked Email Reveals Who’s Who List of Climate Denialists,” InsideClimate News. March 12, 2015. Archived September 6, 2016. Archive.is URL: https://archive.is/CVOi5

The October, 2014 email was leaked to journalists before the documentary was released. “Can I sue for damages?” Singer asked in the email. “Can we get an injunction against the documentary?”124Katherine Bagley. “Leaked Email Reveals Who’s Who List of Climate Denialists,” InsideClimate News. March 12, 2015. Archived September 6, 2016. Archive.is URL: https://archive.is/CVOi5

InsideClimate News reports in their article “Leaked Email Reveals Who’s Who List of Climate Denialists,” how “Many of those copied on the email thread, such as Singer and communications specialist Steven Milloy, have financial ties to the tobacco, chemical, and oil and gas industries and have worked to defend them since the 1990s.”125Katherine Bagley. “Leaked Email Reveals Who’s Who List of Climate Denialists,” InsideClimate News. March 12, 2015. Archived September 6, 2016. Archive.is URL: https://archive.is/CVOi5

InsideClimate News also documented all those who were cc’d on the email, including the following skeptics and groups:

DeSmog covered the emails here: “Merchants of Doubt Film Debuts, Textbook Denial Attack Campaign Led By Fred Singer Ensues” and DeSmogBlog also archived a full copy of the Singer email thread (PDF).

September 25, 2014

Roy Spencer attended the “At the Crossroads; Energy & Climate Policy Summit” in Houston, Texas, hosted by the Texas Public Policy Foundation and The Heritage Foundation. Spencer presented in “Panel I: The State of the Science,” with Judith Curry and Harold Doiron.126Roy Spencer. “Speakers,” At the Crossroads; Energy & Climate Policy Summit, Texas Public Policy Foundation, The Heritage Foundation, September 25/26, 2014. Archive.is URL: https://archive.is/GUScV

July 7–9, 2014

Roy Spencer was a speaker at the Heartland Institute’s Ninth International Conference on Climate Change (ICCC9) in Las Vegas, Nevada.127Return of Climate Denial-a-Palooza: Heartland Institute Hitches Anti-Science Wagon to Vegas FreedomFest,” DeSmog, July 7, 2014. Archived July 14, 2014.

DeSmogBlog has done in-depth research on the other speakers and sponsors from Heartland’s ICCC9, which can be found here.128Return of Climate Denial-a-Palooza: Heartland Institute Hitches Anti-Science Wagon to Vegas FreedomFest,” DeSmog, July 7, 2014. Archived July 14, 2014.

May 26, 2014

Roy Spencer co-wrote an op-ed in the Wall Street Journal with Heartland Institute president Joseph Bast entitled, “The Myth of the Climate Change ‘97%’.”129Joseph Bast and Roy Spencer. “The Myth of the Climate Change ‘97%’,” The Wall Street Journal, May 26, 2014. Archived .pdf on file at Desmog. Archive.is URL: https://archive.is/ap3J6

In the commentary attacking the overwhelming scientific consensus on climate science, Spencer and Bast argued that, “There is no basis for the claim that 97% of scientists believe that man-made climate change is a dangerous problem.”130Scientific consensus: Earth’s climate is warming,” NASA. Archive.is URL: https://archive.is/WmgEH 131Joseph Bast and Roy Spencer. “The Myth of the Climate Change ‘97%’,” The Wall Street Journal, May 26, 2014. Archived .pdf on file at Desmog. Archive.is URL: https://archive.is/ap3J6

February 2014

In a February 20, 2014 blog post titled, “Time to push back against the global warming Nazis,” Spencer wrote:132Roy W. Spencer. “Time to push back against the global warming Nazis,” DrRoySpencer.com, February 20, 2014. Archived September 6, 2016. Arhive.is URL: https://archive.is/GTp3k

When politicians and scientists started calling people like me “deniers”, they crossed the line. They are still doing it.

They indirectly equate (1) the skeptics’ view that global warming is not necessarily all manmade nor a serious problem, with (2) the denial that the Nazi’s extermination of millions of Jews ever happened.

Too many of us for too long have ignored the repulsive, extremist nature of the comparison. It’s time to push back.

I’m now going to start calling these people “global warming Nazis”.

July 2013

Dr Spencer gave evidence to the US Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works session on climate change. During the hearing (at 3hr 20s), Dr Spencer was asked by Democrat committee member Senator Sheldon Whitehouse: “Do you believe that the theory of creation actually has a much better scientific basis than the theory of evolution.”133Hearing entitled, ‘Climate Change: It’s Happening Now” (Embeded Video), United States Senate Committee Channel.

The question was apparently in reference to an article which Spencer had written several years earlier in which he stated the “theory of creation actually had a much better scientific basis than the theory of evolution.”134Roy Spencer. “Testing Truth with an Open Mind,” The Evolution Crisis. Archived September 6, 2016. Archive.is URL: https://archive.is/Pmo20

Spencer answered that he believed that “evolutionary theory is mostly religion” and that the DNA molecule could not have happened “by chance”. He also claimed that if he was placed in a debate, he would be able to offer more scientific evidence “supporting that life was created” than an opponent could offer that life had evolved.135Hearing entitled, ‘Climate Change: It’s Happening Now” (Embeded Video), United States Senate Committee Channel.

July 2011

In July 2011, a paper co-authored by Spencer was published in the journal Remote Sensing, “[which is] a fine [peer-reviewed] journal for geographers, but it does not deal with atmospheric and climate science,” RealClimate found.136Misdiagnosis of Surface Temperature Feedback,” RealClimate, July 29, 2011. Archived September 6, 2016. Archive.is URL: https://archive.is/TLQ5H

His paper looked at a potential connection between clouds and global warming. The paper received significant media attention, and climate change skeptics claimed that it “blow[s] a gaping hole in global warming alarmism.”137Scott Mandia. “Spencer & Braswell 2011: Proof that global warming is exaggerated? Or just bad science?“, Global Warming: Man or Myth?, August 3, 2011. Archived September 6, 2016. Archive.is URL: https://archive.is/m5oB

Within three days of the publication of Spencer & Braswell’s paper, two climate scientists (Kevin Trenberth & John Fasullo) repeated the analysis and showed that the IPCC models are in agreement with the observations, so refuting Spencer’s claims.138Misdiagnosis of Surface Temperature Feedback,” RealClimate, July 29, 2011. Archived September 6, 2016. Archive.is URL: https://archive.is/TLQ5H

In Andrew Dessler’s view, “[This] paper is not really intended for other scientists, since they do not take Roy Spencer seriously anymore (he’s been wrong too many times). Rather, he’s writing his papers for Fox News, the editorial board of the Wall Street Journal, Congressional staffers, and the blogs. These are his audience and the people for whom this research is actually useful — in stopping policies to reduce GHG emissions — which is what Roy wants.”139Joe Romm. “Climate Scientists Debunk Latest Bunk by Denier Roy Spencer,” ThinkProgress, July 29, 2011. Archive.is URL: https://archive.is/HNj0C

In response to the flawed peer review that allowed the publication of the paper, the Editor-in-Chief of Remote Sensing stepped down. He had this to say: (PDF)140Wolfgang Wagner. “Taking Responsibility on Publishing the Controversial Paper ‘On the Misdiagnosis of Surface Temperature Feedbacks from Variations in Earth’s Radiant Energy Balance” by Spencer and Braswell, Remote Sens. 2011, 3(8), 1603-1613″ (PDF), Remote Sensing (Editorial), September 2, 2011.

“After having become aware of the situation, and studying the various pro and contra arguments, I agree with the critics of the paper. Therefore, I would like to take the responsibility for this editorial decision and, as a result, step down as Editor-in-Chief of the journal Remote Sensing.

With this step I would also like to personally protest against how the authors and like-minded climate sceptics have much exaggerated the paper’s conclusions in public statements. . .”141Wolfgang Wagner. “Taking Responsibility on Publishing the Controversial Paper ‘On the Misdiagnosis of Surface Temperature Feedbacks from Variations in Earth’s Radiant Energy Balance” by Spencer and Braswell, Remote Sens. 2011, 3(8), 1603-1613″ (PDF), Remote Sensing (Editorial), September 2, 2011.

May 27, 2011

Roy Spencer was one of fourteen Amici, described as “well-qualified climate scientists,” who claimed that the “EPA’s endangerment finding is not ‘rational’ and therefore arbitrary and capricious.”142COALITION FOR RESPONSIBLE REGULATION, INC., ET AL. (Petitioners) v. ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY AND LISA P. JACKSON, ADMINISTRATOR, Respondents (PDF). Retrieved from World Climate Report. Archived.pdf on file at Desmog.

According to the petitioners, representing the Coalition for Responsible Regulation, Inc.:143COALITION FOR RESPONSIBLE REGULATION, INC., ET AL. (Petitioners) v. ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY AND LISA P. JACKSON, ADMINISTRATOR, Respondents (PDF). Retrieved from World Climate Report. Archived.pdf on file at Desmog.

“[T]he Earth’s climate is not changing in an unusual or anomalous fashion. The EPA relied on instrumental data that were adjusted to exaggerate the increase in global temperatures.”144COALITION FOR RESPONSIBLE REGULATION, INC., ET AL. (Petitioners) v. ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY AND LISA P. JACKSON, ADMINISTRATOR, Respondents (PDF). Retrieved from World Climate Report. Archived.pdf on file at Desmog.

Petitioners listed were:

April 2010

Spencer published The Great Global Warming Blunder: How Mother Nature Fooled the World’s Top Climatologists which is prominently advertised on his blog.145Roy W. Sencer. “The Great Global Warming Blunder: How Mother Nature Fooled the World’s Top Climate Scientists,” DrRoySpencer.com, April 20, 2010. Archived September 6, 2016. Archive.is URL: https://archive.is/4xmrF

Apart from concluding that global warming is likely caused by a natural cycle, Blunder poses the question, that “maybe putting more CO2 in the atmosphere is a good thing.”146Roy W. Sencer. “The Great Global Warming Blunder: How Mother Nature Fooled the World’s Top Climate Scientists,” DrRoySpencer.com, April 20, 2010. Archived September 6, 2016. Archive.is URL: https://archive.is/4xmrF

2008

Spencer published Climate Confusion: How Global Warming Hysteria Leads to Bad Science, Pandering Politicians, and Misguided Policies that Hurt the Poor in 2008.147Climate Confusion: How Global Warming Hysteria Leads to Bad Science, Pandering Politicians and Misguided Policies That Hurt the Poor. Retrieved from Amazon.com. Archive.is URL: https://archive.is/IEfxg

Confusion is described as “forsaking blindingly technical statistics” about global warming to describe the issue in “simple terms.”148Watch Out For Global Warming Muths!“, Irregular Times, February 20, 2009. Archived September 6, 2016. Archive.is URL: https://archive.is/lnTQg

March 8, 2007

Roy Spencer appeared on the The Great Global Warming Swindle to talk about the “Great Science Funding Conspiracy.” Spencer claims that “climate scientists need there to be a problem in order to get funding.”149Kevin Grandia. “A Global Warming Swindle play-by-play,” Desmog, March 12, 2007.

Swindle received critical response from the scientific community, including a letter addressed to ABC signed by thirty-seven British Scientists that claimed “the misrepresentations of facts and views, both of which occur in your programme, are so serious that repeat broadcasts of the programme, without amendment, are not in the public interest. In view of the seriousness of climate change as an issue, it is crucial that public debate about it is balanced and well-informed.”150Kevin Grandia. “A Global Warming Swindle play-by-play,” Desmog, March 12, 2007.

ABC Australia’s Tony Jones also brings the film’s scientific accuracy into question in an interview with the film’s director, Martin Durkin.151Kevin Grandia. “ABC Australia’s Tony Jones and Durkin Transcript,” Desmog, July 16, 2007.

February 28, 2007

Roy Spencer was interviewed on Rush Limbaugh’s Show. See an excerpt below:152Facts, Science Smash the Global Warming Myth” (Transcript), RushLimbaugh.com, February 28, 2007. Archived September 6, 2016. Archive.is URL: https://archive.is/f7D5

RUSH: You called yesterday and you wanted to say that my instincts on this global warming as you’ve heard me discuss them, are accurate. You started a discussion of the calculations here, these climate models, saying that they do not factor — because it’s not easy to do or maybe it’s not even possible to factor — in the role of precipitation and clouds. Could you start there, and basically whatever you were going to say yesterday, go ahead and launch.

DR. SPENCER: Well, I feel like — and there are a few of us that are like this — that the Earth has a natural air-conditioning process which occurs that is mainly through precipitation systems. Now, people will think, “Oh, well, you mean when they come by they cool off the air,” and that’s not what I’m talking about. It’s about the Earth’s natural greenhouse effect which is mostly water vapor and clouds. The Earth has a natural greenhouse effect that keeps the surface of the Earth warm.

RUSH: Isn’t it true that the majority of greenhouse gases do come from the sources you just mentioned, not manmade sources?

DR. SPENCER: Well, yeah, that’s true. Carbon dioxide is a relatively small part of the Earth’s natural greenhouse effect. . . .

There’s a big problem with [the accepted explanation for the greenhouse effect], though. It makes it sound like the greenhouse effect is what determines the temperature of the Earth, and actually the truth is it’s more the other way around. Given a certain amount of sunlight coming in, that is mostly absorbed at the surface of the Earth, weather processes happen which create the greenhouse effect because most of the greenhouse effect is from evaporated water which then turns into clouds, and of course water vapor is a strong greenhouse gas.

RUSH: I dare say I have to interrupt you at this point because most people who only pay attention to the crisis mongers, believe that there is no greenhouse effect other than that created by man. The whole notion of the greenhouse effect has led people to believe that man has totally manufactured this and that it’s totally harmful. What you’re saying is it’s a natural thing that helps keep the Earth’s temperatures moderate?

DR. SPENCER: Yeah, that’s right. That’s right. All the scientists agree with that. What you’re talking about is the fact that the media distorts things so much that people don’t get the right information. If you’re using the media to rely on to get the science about this issue, you won’t.153Facts, Science Smash the Global Warming Myth” (Transcript), RushLimbaugh.com, February 28, 2007. Archived September 6, 2016. Archive.is URL: https://archive.is/f7D5

December 13, 2007

Spencer is listed as a signatory to a 2007 open letter to UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon that denied man-made climate change.154Open Letter to the Secretary-General of the United Nations,” (PDF) December 13, 2007. Reprinted by the Science & Public Policy Institute. Archived .pdf on file at Desmog.

The letter states that “it is not possible to stop climate change, a natural phenomenon that has affected humanity throughout the ages.”155Open Letter to the Secretary-General of the United Nations,” (PDF) December 13, 2007. Reprinted by the Science & Public Policy Institute. Archived .pdf on file at Desmog.

July 2006

Spencer is listed as a “scientific advisor” for an organization called the “Interfaith Stewardship Alliance” (ISA), now the Cornwall Alliance. According to their website, the ISA is “a coalition of religious leaders, clergy, theologians, scientists, academics, and other policy experts committed to bringing a proper and balanced Biblical view of stewardship to the critical issues of environment and development.”156Advisory Board,” Interfaith Stewardship Alliance. Archived October 24, 2006. Archive.is URL: https://archive.is/6bbxQ 157Homepage, Interfaith Stewardship Alliance. Archived August 27, 2006. Archive.is URL: https://archive.is/iZQKw

In July 2006, Spencer co-authored an ISA report refuting the work of another religious organization called the Evangelical Climate Initiative. The ISA report was titled A Call to Truth, Prudence and Protection of the Poor: an Evangelical Response to Global Warming. Along with the report was a letter of endorsement signed by numerous representatives of various organizations, including six that have received a total of $2.32 million in donations from ExxonMobil over the last three years.158Brian Kaylor. “Signers of Environmental Statement Funded by ExxonMobil,” EthicsDaily.com, October 8, 2006. Archived May 6, 2008. Archive.is URL: https://archive.is/mqyQX

The other authors of the ISA’s report were Calvin Beisner, Paul Driessen, and Ross McKitrick.

April 2006

Roy Spencer was one of the 60 “accredited experts” to sign a 2006 open letter to Prime Minister Stephen Harper denying man-made climate change while urging the government avoid implementing climate policy.159Richard Littlemore. “Denying Climate Change; Urging Inaction,” Desmog, April 29, 2006.

The letter states that “climate changes all the time due to natural causes and the human impact still remains impossible to distinguish from this natural ‘noise.'”160Richard Littlemore. “Denying Climate Change; Urging Inaction,” Desmog, April 29, 2006.

August 2005

According to an August 12, 2005 New York Times article, Spencer, along with another well-known “skeptic,” John Christy, admitted they made a mistake in their satellite data research that they said demonstrated a cooling in the troposphere (the earth’s lowest layer of atmosphere). It turned out that the exact opposite was occurring and the troposphere was getting warmer.161Andrew C. Revkin. “Errors Cited in Assessing Climate Data,” New York Times, August 12, 2005. Archive.is URL: https://archive.is/zfd3D

“These papers should lay to rest once and for all the claims by John Christy and other global warming skeptics that a disagreement between tropospheric and surface temperature trends means that there are problems with surface temperature records or with climate models,” said Alan Robock, a meteorologist at Rutgers University.162Andrew C. Revkin. “Errors Cited in Assessing Climate Data,” New York Times, August 12, 2005. Archive.is URL: https://archive.is/zfd3D

November 16, 2004

Spencer signed a 2004 open letter to John McCain refuting the findings by the Arctic Climate Impact Assessment (ACIA).163Climate Experts Respond to Arctic Climate Impact Assessment,” PrNewswire, November 16, 2004. Archived September 6, 2016. Archive.is URL: https://archive.is/L3Tgj

The letter concludes that any past warming that occurred in the arctic cannot be attributed to greenhouse gas concentrations. It was signed by prominent climate change skeptics including Richard Lindzen, Tim Ball, David Legates, Pat Michaels, Gary D. Sharp, Willie Soon and Sallie Baliunas.164Climate Experts Respond to Arctic Climate Impact Assessment,” PrNewswire, November 16, 2004. Archived September 6, 2016. Archive.is URL: https://archive.is/L3Tgj

1998

Spencer appeared as a “Featured Expert” in a video by the Greening Earth Society (a project of the Western Fuels Association) called The Greening of Planet Earth Continues.165The Greening of Planet Earth Continues,” Co2 Science. Archived September 6, 2016. Archive.is URL: https://archive.is/ntdRE

In the video, “expert scientists assert that CO2 is not a pollutant, but a nutrient to life on earth.”166The Greening of Planet Earth Continues,” Co2 Science. Archived September 6, 2016. Archive.is URL: https://archive.is/ntdRE

July 15, 1997

Spencer appeared in a “Global Warming Conference” with Jonathan Adler, director of the Environmental Program at the Competitive Enterprise Institute (CEI). While Spencer says that the potential threat of global warming warrants research funding, he also suggests scientists may be influenced by this funding as well as by “peer pressure.”167Dr. Roy Spencer. “Global Warming Conference: The State of Climate Change Science,“ Competitive Enterprise Institute, July 15, 1997. Archived November 27, 2002. Archive.is URL: https://archive.is/2AnWB

“Certainly global warming is a good area for submitting proposals to get government funding to do government-funded research. And I agree that the threat of global warming is sufficient to where we should have that funded activity, Spencer said. […] Now this isn’t meant to be an indictment of the scientific process. I just want to point out that scientists are people too. And while the most objective people I’ve ever met are scientists, for the most part, people that speak out on the issue of global warming have greater motivations than just searching for how things work.”168Dr. Roy Spencer. “Global Warming Conference: The State of Climate Change Science,“ Competitive Enterprise Institute, July 15, 1997. Archived November 27, 2002. Archive.is URL: https://archive.is/2AnWB

Outlining where he stands on global warming, Spencer said that he would expect the trend to be revised downward:169Dr. Roy Spencer. “Global Warming Conference: The State of Climate Change Science,“ Competitive Enterprise Institute, July 15, 1997. Archived November 27, 2002. Archive.is URL: https://archive.is/2AnWB

“I could probably be convinced that maybe – yeah, we’ll just see direct radiative effect of CO2 which maybe, might give you, one – one and a half degree C by the end of the next century. But, I don’t have a whole lot of confidence in that. But I have even less confidence in positive feedbacks in the climate models. And I think as the new reports come out, say in the year 2000, that these estimates of global warming will be further revised downward.”170Dr. Roy Spencer. “Global Warming Conference: The State of Climate Change Science,“ Competitive Enterprise Institute, July 15, 1997. Archived November 27, 2002. Archive.is URL: https://archive.is/2AnWB

Affiliations

Publications

Spencer has published research articles in peer-reviewed journals on the subject of satellite climate measurements.

Other Resources

Resources

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