Introducing the ICSF:
The Irish Climate Science Forum (ICSF) was founded in 2016 and its members include Irish scientists, engineers and other professions. We are committed to identifying and disseminating the latest climate science to all with an open and enquiring mind, driven by the imperative of objectivity without vested interests. We are self-funded through modest personal contributions; to ensure scientific objectivity, we do not accept corporate or sector funding.
We seek a sustainable future for Ireland and its people. Accordingly, we aim to better inform national energy and climate-related policymaking in the best long-term national interest through arranging lectures and engaging in relevant public consultations.
We advocate progressive policies to 2030, based on prudent energy efficiency and conservation, consistent with safeguarding our national economy, international competitiveness and environmental sustainability. Longer term policies to 2050 should be based on evolving technology, better-understood climate science and ongoing observations.
ICSF and Climate Science:
Earth’s climate has continually changed over its 4.5 billion-year history. In recent millennia and centuries, since the most recent Interglacial, there have been warm periods (such as in the Medieval, Roman and Minoan periods), with the coldest period within that timescale being the Little Ice Age, which ended about 1850. Since then, the planet has gradually warmed by about 1°C and sea level has risen by about 20cm.
Global temperature observations over the last 40 years indicate an average temperature increase of just on 0.15°C per decade, which if continued, points to a further temperature rise of about 1°C by 2100, probably less as the greenhouse effect reaches saturation. Global mean sea level observations, based on tide gauges for the last 100 years and on satellite data in the last 30 years indicate a steady rate of rise of 2-3mm/year, pointing to a further rise of about 25cm by 2100.
Part of this warming has been caused by anthropogenic GHG (Green House Gas) emissions, though recent research and observations indicate significantly lower climate sensitivity, that is, significantly less global temperature rise due to increasing emission levels than is predicted by IPCC (Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change). It is also evident that there are solar-related and other natural influences on earth’s climate; the relative magnitudes of these influences may be comparable to, or possibly even greater than, those of GHG.
The ICSF views have been informed by its lecture series by the world’s leading scientists, as well as through its daily study of the latest scientific literature. The latest science and real-world observations do not point to a climate emergency. An August 2022 presentation by the ICSF Chair summarised its views linked here. ICSF members also acted as Expert Reviewers of recent IPCC Reports and issued a critique of the recently-released IPCC AR6 Synthesis Report in March 2023 click here. In February 2024, ICSF submitted a critique of the EPA’s “Ireland’s Climate Change Assessment” linked here.
The ICSF is particularly concerned that in recent years, particularly during the current Coalition Government, policymaking in Ireland, although well-intentioned, has been premised on the erroneous notion of there being a climate “crisis”. It is now evident that the associated policies, which will have no perceptible impact on climate, are unfortunately leading towards serious economic decline.
Accordingly, in view of an upcoming General Election, the ICSF has in August 2024 prepared a plea to Irish Politicians for pragmatism in climate-related agricultural, energy and economic policies in the next electoral cycle linked here. This paper is complemented by two papers specifically relating to Agriculture, one being a detailed version linked here the other a summary linked here, both highlighting the minimal impact of agriculture-related Green House Gases.
The ICSF scientific views coincides with those of the Dutch-based CLINTEL organization, which now includes over 1900 of the world’s leading climate scientists and professionals in over 30 countries. Based on this common conviction, several ICSF members have co-signed the CLINTEL World Climate Declaration “There is No Climate Emergency” (see https://clintel.org/ireland/).
"Climate: The Movie (The Cold Truth) " highlights a different perspective on the climate change debate and is supported by the world’s leading scientists who have signed CLINTEL's World Climate Declaration. This group of researchers presents a challenging alternative narrative in the face of the dominant discourse.
The 80-minute film was premiered recently in the UK, Netherlands and USA and has now been made freely available to the public on various internet platforms. It contains a strong message, from highly reputable international experts, many of whom have given ICSF lectures. We are already aware of some “censorship” efforts to shut down some of the platforms. At the moment it is available on YouTube: Climate the Movie on YouTube, also at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A24fWmNA6lM. A set of annotated notes on the content of the Movie may be seen here
Contact Us:
You are welcome to contact ICSF via ICSFcomm@gmail.com or at jim.obrien.csr@gmail.com
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