Unsettled: A Book Talk on Climate Science with Dr. Steven E. Koonin

For the average American, climate science may as well be divination. Without extensive training in the subject, consumers and policymakers often learn only what advocates, media, and governments choose to report. At a time when “following the science” may seem like a policy unto itself, the question of what the science actually says has never been more important—or unclear.

Steven E. Koonin’s new book, Unsettled: What Climate Science Tells us, What it Doesn’t, and Why It Matters, explains the science for policymakers and everyday people with clarity and candor, informed by decades in the trenches of climate science as a researcher, professor, and Under Secretary of Science in the Obama Administration’s Department of Energy.

Please join the Manhattan Institute on May 25, 2021 at 1pm EDT for a virtual book talk with Steven E. Koonin, in conversation with Mark P. Mills, about Unsettled, the state of climate science, and its implications for energy and environmental policy.

[saulorocha]

I’m not a physicist but way back when I saw politicians getting so into climate change and all the catastrophe alarmism in media I thought something is wrong here and isn’t the climate. I immediately looked for different point of views from scientific community I couldn’t find in media and was astounded to find plenty. Thanks for the video.

[electricbadgercollc]

Only when you cannot win a debate with logical, cogent and persuasive arguments, do you resort to calling your opponent a 'denier'.

[padraigadhastair]

"Physics is a license to poke your nose into anyone's business", I love it.

[richardhall]

Never have I seen an interview where the host does 95% of the talking and the actual expert guest occasionally gets a word in edgeways. What a remarkable “interview”.

[alvinmanalaysay]

Three mile island! One of the pithiest comment on THAT issue was distilled on a bumper sticker seen at the Submarine Base in Groton CT. It read
"Chappaquiddick One, Three Mile Island Zero"

[tommore]

A good conversation from two pretty well qualified and experienced people. Well worth the time.

[tofo]

I miss the subject of how well we can compete with the fossil powered machinery currently deployed?

There are many combustion engines in operation doing all kind of work.

The simplicity of liquid fuel that you can view, touch, store seems like something you can not simply replace with nuclear reactors and battery operated things.

The complexity of battery manufacturing, electric motors, electronics etc does not add anything to usability.

How capable are we actually on transitioning given the new devices are more complex and harder to keep in operation over time.

If we get rid of liquid fuels, how efficient will society be?

What is the overall efficiency of a nuclear+battery society over time.

Does the small motor/machine transition make sense?

[Goethite_A]

As a geologist, I would be looking at the prehistoric relationship between temperature, atmospheric chemistry, bioproductivity and continental distribution around the planet as shown by continental drift modelling. There have been periods of much higher CO2, warmer temperatures, and extremely productive ecosystems. Why are we concerned about "climate catastrophy" when humans have been shown to be amongst the most adaptive of organisms?
The main threat i can see is to the built environment if sea levels should rise, which is a threat to fixed and institurional wealth.

[lloydmunga]

A question :
what explains the higher CO2 emissions from thousands of years ago? Was it the Egyptian chariots that ran on leaded or was it all the Egyptian oxen farting? Of maybe it was all the beer making?

Or have we not found the hidden technologies that they used in ancient times?

Are we gonna see an Egyptian John Deere tractor fuel guzzler soon? Maybe those pyramids are actually commercial flying objects that run on kerosene?

Or maybe there was 7 billion people all breathing heavy that long ago huh? Makes about as much sense as what they’re saying now .

Another question:

If ALL these politicians say that we’ll be under water in 2020, how come they still live at Martha’s Vineyard and own beach houses all along the waterfront?

We may be contributing some, but nowhere near what they’re saying.

It’s an excuse to legislate, then regulate and tax the crap out of us. That’s it, that’s all

[larrydugan]

Alarmism is very big business.
WWF raised 408 million last year.
Greenpeace budget 350 million.
Earth Justice budget 154 million.
Sierra Club 152 million.
"Donate now" requires alarmism.
The reality is the polar bears and great barrier reef are doing great.
The planet has greened 20% . Crop yields are up and desertification is down.

[thomasmcdonnell]

In the 60’s the UK gov announced that electricity would be free to all homes due to nuclear plants. I believe “climate change” / “climate chaos” (both a abbreviated CC, numeric value 33) are a means/excuse to subjugate the little man even more. Instead of free abundant energy we’re now told we have to ration energy via lifestyle / movement restrictions that will never apply to those in power, what a shocker. Hence nuclear would solve the “crisis” but is condemned as unsafe & therefore unviable.

I listened to the interview in full, it was ok. I was hoping to hear more on the books conclusion & less about the brilliant film princess bride, though that did make you both relatable to me (I am not academic at all).

God bless both & good luck.

[mb]

Unsettled is a great book that explains "The Science", and provides rational ways of addressing climate change. Great discussion!

[thebritishbookworm]

You're playing the lies and consequences down massively in this conversation. Just read the book and it gets a 5/5. Excellent book.

[jamesscott]

A couple of matters re your discussion. First of all you made a throw away comment that thermometers are not very accurate. I disagree and note that the world is covered with thermometers and these millions of readings are recorded every hour of the day. Another issue that is being pushed by dissenters is that we need CO2 and Nitrogen. Nobody is advocating that all CO2 and N need to be removed from the atmosphere. What is required is to have a healthy ratio for plants and animals. This is made more difficult by land clearing which is a big threat to achieving the correct balance for life.

[badone]

Dr. Steven E. Koonin is true all the way.

[jamesferrick]

By my recollection the observations 50+ years ago that every 40 years fusion energy supply was just 40 years in the future.

[kathreenpoulos]

Well since a group of people are hell bent on a dystopian totalitarian future for society I think it will be difficult to have an unbiased organization to discuss science that goes against the preferred narrative.

[stanleymcomber]

“They will go elsewhere”, ThorCon is doing just that. They build the reactors here in the US, and are shipping them out to Indonesia now. And has contracts with other countries.

[BasaPete]

Great conversation, Guys! "Unsettled" sounds like an a-must-read.

[MrBubbadon]

Really they want to do one of these and let the guy who wrote the book talk for a bit