The brighter side of global warming

One of Jerry Pournelle's readers points out a paper in the Journal of American Physicians and Surgeons [Yes, it's a right-wing mag for capitalist doctors. So?] by, among others, Arthur Robinson of Access to Energy (started by Petr Beckmann, who was previously mentioned here in Al Gore's electric bill). Robinson's quite an interesting character, you might say eccentric, but clearly brilliant for some value of brilliant. This paper has plenty of graphs and footnotes. It is in .pdf format. There's a small version, just under a megabyte, and a high-res color version, about 5.5 megabytes. I'll quote the conclusion here:

CONCLUSIONS

There are no experimental data to support the hypothesis that increases in human hydrocarbon use or in atmospheric carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases are causing or can be expected to cause unfavorable changes in global temperatures, weather, or landscape. There is no reason to limit human production of CO2, CH4, and other minor green house gases as has been proposed (82,83,97,123).

We also need not worry about environmental calamities even if the current natural warming trend continues. The Earth has been much warmer during the past 3,000 years without catastrophic effects. Warmer weather extends growing seasons and generally improves the habitability of colder regions.

As coal, oil, and natural gas are used to feed and lift from poverty vast numbers of people across the globe, more CO2 will be released into the atmosphere. This will help to maintain and improve the health, longevity, prosperity, and productivity of all people.

The United States and other countries need to produce more energy, not less. The most practical, economical, and environmentally sound methods available are hydrocarbon and nuclear technologies. Human use of coal, oil, and natural gas has not harmfully warmed the Earth, and the extrapolation of current trends shows that it will not do so in the foreseeable future. The CO2 produced does, however, accelerate the growth rates of plants and also permits plants to grow in drier regions. Animal life, which depends upon plants, also flourishes, and the diversity of plant and animal life is increased.

Human activities are producing part of the rise in CO2 in the atmosphere. Mankind is moving the carbon in coal, oil, and natural gas from below ground to the atmosphere, where it is available for conversion into living things. We are living in an increasingly lush environment of plants and animals as a result of this CO2 increase. Our children will therefore enjoy an Earth with far more plant and animal life than that with which we now are blessed.

It's a pleasant change to see someone looking on the bright side.

Colder:

Warmer:I know which picture I'd prefer to be in.