14 January 2009 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Global warming rejected – New Zealand cooler in 2008 than 141 years ago
New Zealand’s national average temperature of 12.9 degrees C during 2008, described by NIWA as ‘milder than normal” was
in fact cooler than it was 141 years ago, this, and worldwide drop in temperatures since 1998, demonstrate that claims
of man-made global warming have lost touch with reality. This today from Bryan Leyland, of the New Zealand Climate
Science Coalition, commenting on the news release by NIWA about last year’s temperature.
“More to the point, this cooler temperature has occurred at a time when carbon dioxide levels in the atmosphere, at 385
parts per million, are a third higher than the 1867 level of 290 ppm when the annual national temperature was officially
recorded as 13.1 degrees C (55.7 degrees F), - 0.2 deg warmer than this year??” says Mr Leyland. “This is yet more
evidence that there is little justification for alarmist claims that carbon dioxide emissions will cause catastrophic
warming as alleged by so many alarmists.”
The 1867 temperature readings are contained in the Transactions and Proceedings of the Royal Society of New Zealand
1868-1961, which contain tables, described as forming “the most reliable data for judging of the climate of New Zealand,
extracted from the reports of the Inspector of Meteorological Stations, for 1867.”
Mr Leyland said it is important that all New Zealanders, but especially politicians, understand the significance of the
two sets of temperature readings.
“Firstly, they are 141 years apart which is a more accurate period for changes in climate with its natural cycles of
warming and cooling. To put this difference of 0.2 degrees C into perspective it should be compared to the fourth
assessment report by IPCC in 2007 that the world warmed by 0.6 degrees C in the previous 100 years. Temperature
variations of this tiny extent are meaningless and certainly do not justify the extreme mitigation measures currently
being discussed.
“Secondly, this gives the lie to the myth about carbon dioxide as a cause of so-called global warming. We know from
Siple ice cores that the level of CO2 in the atmosphere was 290 ppm, and we know from the American readings at Mauna Loa
that the level today is almost a third higher at 385 ppm. CO2 increased but warming didn't,” Mr Leyland concluded.
ENDS