From TCS Daily:
Something stunningly sensible has just occurred in the field of climate change research. But what might actually induce gasps of amazement is that that something has been done by the US Government. And it is already causing shock and dismay among tree huggers and Gaia worshippers everywhere, however simple, elegant and even desirable this something is.
By way of background, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) is the UN-sponsored organization looking into climate change on our behalves. We had the Third Report from them back a few years ago and it was that report that became the impetus for the great global warming outcry -- bringing the whole subject to fore of our collective consciousness. Now, it's time for the Fourth Report to be compiled; obviously science has not stood still in recent years. In fact, given the money and effort being expended on this subject, we'd rather hope it hadn't. That Fourth Report is due to be published next year.
OK, so, fine, the process goes on apace and what's so remarkable about that? Well, the draft report has historically been kept secret. Sooper-seekkrit. You see, the scientists (and the rather more political creatures who write the summaries) want to be able to work in peace and deliver the report at once in a blaze of publicity. So what has the US Government gone and done? Posted a draft of it on the Internet! (Right here).
Now, admittedly, you do have to apply for a password to get onto the site, but I can assure you that it's set up as an automatic function and if the choice of password that I got is any indication we're all going to be getting exactly the same one.
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