A study published in Science says the Amazon forest is not going to become extinct if the temperature rises by a couple of degrees after all, but it is under threat from deforestation. But the truly remarkable thing is that this story is reported by the Graun:

http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2010/nov/11/climate-change-forests-water-amazon

I think this is a first for the Guardian: acknowledging that something other than AGW is a more serious threat to the environment.

very worrying – In Germany

http://notrickszone.com/2010/11/11/branding-of-science-dissenters-has-begun-clearing-the-path-to-a-climate-science-pogrom/

Subject: Deniers of climate change in the coalition government

The so-called “climate change sceptics” or “climate change deniers” for years have been a permanent fixture in American politics. Their influence on American politics is not insignificant. They are mainly supported and funded by the fossil fuels industry like Exxon (Esso) or Koch Industries. Now it appears that their influence is now growing in Germany and in Europe. In the past weeks various press releases and other reports have appeared in the “Financial Times Deutschland” and news magazine “Der Spiegel” about on how certain climate change deniers were given a discussion forum by the CDU and FDP Bundestag’s factions and that some parliamentarians of the ruling CDU and FDP factions were sympathetic to the ideas put forth by climate denier Fred Singer. This and a range of other activities by the so-called climate sceptics in Germany compel us to ask the German Government for its assessment.

We ask the German Federal Government:

6. Is the German Government aware of who financed Mr Singer for his activities? Is the Federal Government aware of the funders who – like Exxon und Koch Industries in den USA – fund the activities of the climate change deniers in Germany?

7. Does the German Government share the opinion that events involving Mr Singer provide a forum for the pure interests of the fossil fuel industry, and thus enhance their unscientific work and non-serious activities?

8. Are there voices within the German Government who question the anthropogenic causes of climate change?

10. Is the German Government aware of whether climate denier conferences are also being financed by public funds, for example by the Liberal Institute of the Friedrich-Naumann-Foundation?

11. Fundamentally, does the German Government approve of the use of public funds for spreading the ideas of climate deniers like Fred Singer?

http://notrickszone.com/2010/11/11/branding-of-science-dissenters-has-begun-clearing-the-path-to-a-climate-science-pogrom/

lubos motl:
http://motls.blogspot.com/2010/11/pogrom-against-german-climate-realists.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+LuboMotlsReferenceFrame+%28Lubos+Motl%27s+reference+frame%29&utm_content=Google+Reader

“A letter not too tastefully titled “Deniers of climate change in the coalition government” (it used to be “Jewish elite spoiling the Aryan lives”) signed by the whole Parliamentary faction of the Greater Green Party was sent to the government one week ago.

In the letter, the green people complain that the influence of climate skepticism is rising in the U.S. as well as Germany where some people even dare to listen to Fred Singer. Imagine the crime! ”

Uncertainty gets a seat at the “big table”
by Judith Curry

On Nov 17, the U.S. House of Representative’s Committee on Science and Technology Subcommittee on Energy and Environment is holding a hearing on “Rational Discussion of Climate Change: the Science, the Evidence, the Response.”

I have been invited to present testimony for this hearing.

I have been specifically asked by the minority (Republicans) to discuss how we can go about responding to the climate change issue in the face of uncertainty, dissent and disagreement.

http://judithcurry.com/2010/11/10/uncertainty-gets-a-seat-at-the-“big-table”/

A short piece in Scientific American on Hauser (Harvard psychologist accused of scientific fraud) discussing confirmation bias - giving examples, one of which is climate science. Unusual for SA to allow this to appear.

http://www.scientificamerican.com/article.cfm?id=fudge-factor

Lord Beaverbrook

That bright red star you can see is not Antares, It's the aircraft warning light on your local wind turbine.

“Up to three-quarters of councils are planning to turn off street lamps or dim the lights in an attempt to save money and meet climate change targets, a poll has found."
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1328243/Up-75-cent-councils-dimming-street-lights-save-money.html

Aarrhh, to see the divine beauty of the heavens at night again!

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-south-scotland-11718678

[Scottish] Energy Minister Jim Mather has approved a wind farm in the Lammermuir Hills despite a lengthy opposition campaign.
A total of 48-turbines can now be built by North British Wind Power at Fallago Rig in the Scottish Borders.
Opponents have claimed the decision "rides roughshod" over the opinions and concerns of the community.
Mr Mather said construction would create hundreds of jobs and would represent a "significant boost" to the local economy.
"Once up and running the wind farm is expected achieve a carbon saving of thousands of tonnes of carbon dioxide each year," he said.

Sigh.....

Report on the Today program this morning that the water melons are lobying government on the affects of household water usage on biodiversity in the UK.

WWF are stating that a 20% enforced drop in the amount of water that households and business use is essential in an attempt to lower the amount of water being taken from rivers and lakes and limit the effect that we have on biodiversity.

I will be attending the debate with Roger Pielke Jr and Benny Peiser in London on November 16th - I will write a report here afterwards.

Does anyone know a tracker of the Met office weather forecast? Living in East London, I look at http://www.metoffice.gov.uk/weather/uk/se/london_forecast_weather.html for weather. It seems to be wrong rain very frequently.

If there isn't an audit, is it possible to see the data from actual weather stations, so that the forecast can be compared to the recorded weather?