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| === Global warming === | === Global warming === | ||
| He is a critic of organizations like the ] and their position with regard to ], although he has not published in the fields of ]. |
He is a critic of organizations like the ] and their position with regard to ], although he has not published in the fields of ]. However, he has researched on the construction of environmental knowledge, including 'global warming', for over thirty years. He regards himself as a Humeian 'mitigated sceptic' where 'global warming' is concerned. His attitude to climate change is best summed up in a central passage from a long letter published in ''The Daily Telegraph'' (June 10, 2005): "Climate change has to be broken down into three questions: 'Is climate changing and in what direction?' 'Are humans influencing climate change, and to what degree?' And: 'Are humans able to manage climate change predictably by adjusting one or two factors out of the thousands involved?' The most fundamental question is: 'Can humans manipulate climate predictably?' Or, more scientifically: 'Will cutting carbon dioxide emissions at the margin produce a linear, predictable change in climate?' The answer is 'No'. In so complex a coupled, non-linear, chaotic system as climate, not doing something at the margins is as unpredictable as doing something. This is the cautious science; the rest is dogma." For his views more generally on climate change, see . | ||
| === Energy policy === | === Energy policy === | ||
| His "alternative Charter for a sound energy policy" begins with what ''we need are strong economies that can adapt to climate change'' and he proposes that the ] be dropped because of "ts ‘command-and-control’ economics which have no chance of working in the face of world economic growth, especially in the developing world." . Stott is concerned that the UK is failing to address its core energy needs, which must involve a mix of clean coal, gas, and probably nuclear power. Stott also encourages development of energy infrastructure in the developing world. He sees most renewables as helpful (although he is critical of wind power), but only marginal to the core requirements of an advanced society. . | His "alternative Charter for a sound energy policy" begins with what ''we need are strong economies that can adapt to climate change'' and he proposes that the ] be dropped because of "ts ‘command-and-control’ economics which have no chance of working in the face of world economic growth, especially in the developing world." . He believes that the Kyoto Protocol is moribund politically. Stott is concerned that the UK is failing to address its core energy needs, which must involve a mix of clean coal, gas, and probably nuclear power. Stott also encourages development of energy infrastructure in the developing world. He sees most renewables as helpful (although he is critical of wind power), but only marginal to the core requirements of an advanced society. . | ||
| == External links == | == External links == | ||
Revision as of 16:55, 12 October 2005
Philip Stott is a professor emeritus of biogeography at the School of Oriental and African Studies, University of London and a former editor (1987-2004) of the Journal of Biogeography. In the early 1970s, Stott and his wife, a historian and biographer, lived in Thailand and he was carrying out field research at Kalasin. He has written academic papers on the vegetation and archaeology of Thailand and on the rest of southeast Asia. Stott recently published, with Santanee Phasuk, a book, 'Royal Siamese Maps: War and Trade in Nineteenth Century Thailand' (River Books & Thames and Hudson: 2005) for H.R.H. Princess Sirindhorn. He writes for the press, especially for 'The Times', and broadcasts regularly on BBC radio and television on subjects including biogeography, extinction, climatology and ecology. He now hosts a new Web Site (April 2005 onwards), based on Bruno Latour's 'A Parliament of Things' . In the UK, he is a life-long Labour supporter and he regards himself as mildly left wing politically. He is fiercely anti-tobacco (see his Blog). Two of his books are 'Global environmental change' (with Dr. Peter Moore and Professor Bill Chaloner) and 'Political ecology: science, myth and power' (edited with Dr. Sian Sullivan). He has also published four books of recorder music for children and recorder consorts, and he used to conduct an Early Music Consort called 'Pifaresca'. He is currently Chair of The Anglo-Thai Society, UK. He is no longer a member of the Scientific Alliance because he deems it important to be academically independent of all organisations, industry, and Green groups. He has two daughters.
Global warming
He is a critic of organizations like the IPCC and their position with regard to global warming, although he has not published in the fields of climate change. However, he has researched on the construction of environmental knowledge, including 'global warming', for over thirty years. He regards himself as a Humeian 'mitigated sceptic' where 'global warming' is concerned. His attitude to climate change is best summed up in a central passage from a long letter published in The Daily Telegraph (June 10, 2005): "Climate change has to be broken down into three questions: 'Is climate changing and in what direction?' 'Are humans influencing climate change, and to what degree?' And: 'Are humans able to manage climate change predictably by adjusting one or two factors out of the thousands involved?' The most fundamental question is: 'Can humans manipulate climate predictably?' Or, more scientifically: 'Will cutting carbon dioxide emissions at the margin produce a linear, predictable change in climate?' The answer is 'No'. In so complex a coupled, non-linear, chaotic system as climate, not doing something at the margins is as unpredictable as doing something. This is the cautious science; the rest is dogma." For his views more generally on climate change, see .
Energy policy
His "alternative Charter for a sound energy policy" begins with what we need are strong economies that can adapt to climate change and he proposes that the Kyoto Protocol be dropped because of "ts ‘command-and-control’ economics which have no chance of working in the face of world economic growth, especially in the developing world." . He believes that the Kyoto Protocol is moribund politically. Stott is concerned that the UK is failing to address its core energy needs, which must involve a mix of clean coal, gas, and probably nuclear power. Stott also encourages development of energy infrastructure in the developing world. He sees most renewables as helpful (although he is critical of wind power), but only marginal to the core requirements of an advanced society. .
External links
- EnviroSpin Watch Philip Stott's own weblog monitoring coverage of environmental issues and science in the UK media.
- A Parliament of Things His main Web Site.
- LobbyWatch article on Stott