Katie Couric's Notebook: Copenhagen

By: Katie Couric
Topics: Katie Couric's Notebook

An ominous cloud is hanging over the climate change summit in Copenhagen, as toxic as carbon emissions. It's a cloud of doubt about the science behind global warming.

There's a scandal in the scientific community right now...known as Climategate. Hacked emails reveal a handful of scientists may have manipulated or concealed evidence that would have weakened their argument...that the earth's temperature is in fact rising.

But at least 97 percent of climatologists believe global warming is real...and largely man-made.

A picture is worth a thousand emails...and pictures of the polar ice caps show a 20 percent decrease since 1979. NASA images of Arctic ice show a thinning of more than 7 inches a year since 2004.

What the scientists did was absolutely wrong, but most experts agree that the science itself is not...and the health of the earth should not be a political issue.

The atmosphere after all can't handle too many more people blowing smoke.

That's a page from my notebook.

I'm Katie Couric, CBS News.

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by oxyopia_ December 12, 2009 6:28 PM EST: Very Good News, Katie.; Reply to this comment


by shylove2 December 10, 2009 6:08 PM EST: So do you need a scientist to tell you CO2 emissions may be a issue why not err on the side of caution. We don't have to worry about the effects of our human activity until it is conclusively proven that we have poisoned ourselves. While we are at it lets go full speed ahead toward a cliff until the point when some proves conclusively that there is a cliff before applying the breaks to the population ponzi scheme of an economy only based on growth and not sustainability. We can have cities with domes over them and oxygen plants instead of real plants if our deforestation depletes our oxygenization.; Reply to this comment


by petersemkiw December 9, 2009 12:44 PM EST: This is what the Little Mermaid of Copenhagen told me to tell all the delegates at the Climate Change International Conference to inspire them:

" 'Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness, that most frightens us. Your playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won't feel insecure around you. We are all meant to shine as children do. It is not just in some of us; it is in everyone. And as we let our own lights shine, we unconsciously give other people the power to do the same. As we our liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others.' And, by the way, many thanks to Coach Carter(2005)!"

"Now that you understand, Go Forth, Let your Lights Shine, and solve the problems of Climate Change !! Have a successful Climate Change Summit !!
"It is time for me to take a small swim in the oceans of the world."; Reply to this comment


by FredStaal December 9, 2009 5:20 AM EST: "A picture is worth a thousand emails...and pictures of the polar ice caps show a 20 percent decrease since 1979. NASA images of Arctic ice show a thinning of more than 7 inches a year since 2004."

Why people always ignore the fact that Antarctica is growing at a unprecedented (AGW people love this word...) pace.

Read the Geophysical Research Letters:
"A 30-year minimum Antarctic snowmelt record occurred during austral summer 2008?2009 according to spaceborne microwave observations for 1980?2009. Strong positive phases of both the El-Niño Southern Oscillation (ENSO) and the Southern Hemisphere Annular Mode (SAM) were recorded during the months leading up to and including the 2008?2009 melt season."

Isn't news suppose to show both sides of the story?; Reply to this comment


by gbir55 December 8, 2009 7:26 PM EST: What an obvious and pathetic lie, Katie Couric - that "at least 97 percent of climatologists believe global warming is real...and largely man-made. Are you are incapable of objectivity?

Please provide the evidence for your wild assertion, Ms. Couric, or honorably issue a retraction!; Reply to this comment


by gbir55 December 8, 2009 7:14 PM EST: What an obvious and pathetic lie, Katie Couric ? that ?at least 97 percent of climatologists believe global warming is real...and largely man-made.? Are you are incapable of objectivity?

Please provide the evidence for your wild assertion, Ms. Couric, or honorably issue a retraction!; Reply to this comment


by dquertermous December 8, 2009 3:12 PM EST: There are many well-respected, successful scientists who do not subscribe to the "politically correct" views of global warming. (Not sure your 97% statistic is correct.) In the interest of real journalism, why don't you at least give that side a hearing? The former state climatologist of Oregon, George Taylor, is an award-winning author, columnist, radio personality and a highly sought-after speaker. Maybe you could just consider talking to someone of his stature.; Reply to this comment

by caine47 December 8, 2009 12:10 PM EST

The perky one is at it again. Listen up, perkster. Take those Democrat talking points and put them on the corner of your desk for a minute. Disconnect that hot line to the White House. 97% of the world's climatologists do not agree that global warming is taking place, and 97% certainly don't agree that man is the cause of global warming. That is simply an out-and-out lie. Science is not about a "consensus" either, oh perky one. It is about fact and determining what is true. For example, we know that global temperatures have been COOLING for the past several years. You failed to point that out in your sock puppet presentation. The problem with the Climategate scandal is that science was, in fact, abandoned. A bunch of people, who stood to profit by cashing in on the global warming con game, were manipulating data and working to silence alternative viewpoints. Now, perky one, go over and look in the mirror and ask yourself this..."As living proof of the Peter Principle in action, is there a remote ray of hope that I'll ever be able to produce a creative thought of my own?"

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by GHG-BS-Vern January 15, 2010 7:10 PM EST: Caine47,

You nailed it. Couric's spot was a white-washing blurb in place of what should be a huge story on Climate Gate. The drive-by media and so many other parts of our society have been drinking the human-caused climate change Kool-Aid for so long that they can't kick the addiction even when the truth is laid in their lap.

Thx,

Vern Hershberger
Tijeras, NM


by casey_abbott December 8, 2009 9:21 AM EST: Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate.; Reply to this comment


by DougleEagleDave December 7, 2009 11:14 PM EST: Let's define the word "trick." - Dictionary.com says: Trick - a crafty or underhanded device, maneuver, stratagem, or the like, intended to deceive or cheat; artifice; ruse; wile. Seems pretty self-explanatory to me. And the words "hide the decline." What on earth science could he mean except hiding the reality of the data. They clearly manipulated data to suit what they were looking for. It's political climatolgoy at its worst...shame on them!; Reply to this comment