Heartland Responds to CWG Climate Commentary

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In response to a June 18 commentary by CWG's Steve Tracton critical of a recent climate conference sponsored by the Heartland Institute, Heartland's senior fellow for environmental policy, James Taylor, has challenged Tracton's assertion that the conference presented only the view of those who doubt that humans are the main cause of global warming.

Below is the note left by Taylor in the comments section of the post, followed by a response sent by Tracton to Taylor via e-mail.

Steve's entire blog posting offers a valuable insight into the delusional mindset of the hardcore alarmists. What I find most amusing is Steve's extended whining about how we only presented one side of the issue.

Keep reading for the rest of Taylor's comment and Tracton's response...

Was Steve asleep or did he merely have his head buried in the sand when I stated from the microphone that we had invited Al Gore, James Hansen, Gavin Schmidt, Michael Mann, etc., to give presentations? Had they accepted our invitations, the conference would have had a very robust mix of alarmists vs. realists. But, as is almost always the case, the alarmists look for the nearest chair to hide under when there is a chance they may have to answer critical questions from an informed panel of peers.

If you were disappointed, Steve, that alarmists weren't filling slots on the panels, you have only your alarmist friends to blame.

James M. Taylor Senior Fellow, Environment Policy The Heartland Institute

Tracton's response...

Yes, Mr. Taylor stated he invited Al Gore, Jim Hansen, etc from the floor. What he fails to acknowledge here is what he said immediately following announcement of issuing the invitations, namely that they must know they are wrong and we are right (followed by laughter). Of course the invited individuals were well aware this was Heartland's position. For them to accept would have been equivalent to Newton appearing before an audience of vehement enthusiasts totally dedicated to and unwaveringly convinced of the proposition that gravity causes apples to fall up, not down from apple trees. There is little doubt that Heartland knew the invited individuals would not accept and, hence, its primary motive was the PR for being able to pronounce at the meeting invitations were issued but not accepted.

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