An Iain Dale post seeks to show "no evidence of any warming trend" using data from the Met office. The problem is that the methodology has no statistical basis.
With the failure of global leaders to get a legally binding agreement in Copenhagen, you would think that all those engaged in the debate would place a premium on good evidence. Not so Iain Dale.
The prominent Tory blogger posted last night a message from one of his readers, who sought to show “no evidence of any warming trend” using data from the Met office. The only problem is that the methodology has absolutely no statistical basis whatsoever although that didn’t stop Iain Dale in the comments saying:
“As far as I can see Victor has calculated the figures very well. I have now been on the site to check myself. Not sure how a “professional” coudl do it differently to him. But feel free to try!”
Giles Wilkes, a trained economist, has done exactly that on Freethinking Economist. He also puts Dale’s folly in context:
“I haven’t checked out Iain Dale’s CV, but I suspect it does not include a period studying statistics. Because he seems to believe in a recent post that taking one month every ten years from one location in the UK is a sufficient reason to justify statements about the effect of carbon dioxide throughout the entire globe over a 150 year period”
Meanwhile, in a detailed post, Unity on Liberal Conspiracy shows what the real trend in Oxford looks like using the data more accurately:
When Left Foot Forward has got things wrong in the past, we’ve been grown up enough to admit it. But will Iain Dale do the same?
And while pseudo statistics continue to be used to argue against the scientific consensus on climate change, a far better use of all our time would be spent taking action to abate our global emissions – for example, heeding Claire Spencer’s advice and signing a petition to reduce food waste and therefore 10 per cent of our greenhouse gas emissions
To reach hundreds of thousands of new readers and to make the biggest impact we can in the next general election, we need to grow our donor base substantially.
That's why in 2024, we are seeking to generate 150 additional regular donors to support Left Foot Forward's work.
We still need another 124 people to donate to hit the target. You can help. Donate today.
17 Responses to “Will Iain Dale acknowledge his climate error?”
Leon Green
RT @leftfootfwd Will @IainDale acknowledge his climate error? http://bit.ly/5NVgCA
Claire Spencer
Read 'Will Iain Dale acknowledge his climate error?' on @leftfootfwd: http://bit.ly/5NVgCA – great post, with link to food waste campaign!
Political Scrapbook
RT @leftfootfwd: Will @IainDale acknowledge his climate error? http://bit.ly/5NVgCA <– LFF did when they got it wrong http://bit.ly/4QzLne
Chris Paul
RT @psbook: RT @leftfootfwd: Will @IainDale acknowledge his climate error? http://bit.ly/5NVgCA <– LFF did when they got it wrong ht …
Frank
How many times have those data been homogenized, value added and otherwise fiddled; sorry used more accurately?