Harper is not wrong that carbon dioxide appears to bolster plant growth — the greening up of the Arctic has, indeed, been observed. But that comes with many other consequences, including melting of glaciers and thawing of permafrost, which can emit still more carbon dioxide to the atmosphere. – Washington Post
Physicist William Happer believes there is global warming but unlike most, he believes it is good for us.
The Princeton physicst questions whether we should have any concerns about it at all. “Increased agricultural yields and modest warming far outweigh any harm.”
Even a doubling of carbon dioxide would not cause much real warming, he says, perhaps 0.5 and 1.5 degrees of warming. The UN believes the figures are more like 1.5 degrees – 4.5 degrees C.
Trees, plants and various farm-products are currently handicapped by too little carbon dioxide, not too much. More CO2 will help the world not hurt it, he thinks.
E&E News reported on the meeting but said it wasn’t certain whether the prof was under consideration for a post with the administration. Various science and energy positions remain open.
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Happer is an eminent physicist who held prominent positions at the Department of Energy, as well as at his university, and has 200 scientific publications to his name.