P r a i s e f o r Th e Hockey Stick and the Climate Wars

“Th e best part, in my science-geeky opinion, is that readers of this book will enjoy a dazzling, informative tour of the science underlying climatology and especially the analysis that went into the diagram that caused all the ruckus.” —Daily Kos

“A harrowing ride through the politics of truth and denial.” —Shawn Lawrence Otto, Huffi ngton Post

“ . . . this is a book you should read, because it clearly shows the contrast between how science works and how politics works. Th e diff erence is dra- matic. And fateful.” —Ben Bova, Naples (FL) Daily News

“ . . . vitally important to all citizens of a warming planet Earth.” —James P. Lenfestey, Star Tribune

“ . . . a must-read for every serious student of climate change science, and gets my highest rating: fi ve stars out of fi ve.” —Jeff Masters, Dr. Jeff Masters ’s WunderBlog , WunderGround.com

“I heartily recommend this book for an unusually clear view of the action on the front line of climate science from one of its principle paleoclimate protagonists.” —Colin Summerhayes, Geoscientist Magazine

“Michael E. Mann deserves our respect and admiration for what he has been through and for his willingness to discuss it. Th e narrative is a deeply honest scientifi c coming-of-age story.” —Naomi Oreskes, Physics Today

“Th is book is well written and tells a remarkable story that is likely to be of interest to a wide range of readers.” —Australian Book Review

“Michael Mann’s account and nontechnical rebuttal of the attacks on climate science provide an excellent primer on contemporary climate science. . . . Highly recommended.” —Choice

“One of the most useful books yet in explaining climate science, especially the use of paleoclimate proxy data to assess the history of Earth’s climate.” —Rudy M. Baum, Chemical & Engineering News “Michael Mann, a brilliant and courageous climatologist, knows what it’s like to be viciously attacked by the well-funded deniers of scientifi c evidence and how critical it is to respond. In this gripping, personal, frontline account of climate politics, he eloquently conveys the importance of both doing great science and communicating its societal implications to a wider public.” —Paul R. Ehrlich, coauthor of Th e Dominant Animal: Human Evolution and the Environment

“Michael Mann has been the most important, resilient, and outspoken warrior in the climate change battle, responding to threats and persecution with courage and resolve every step of the way. Anyone who cares about the climate issue must read his fascinating—and enraging—story.” —Chris Mooney, coauthor of Unscientifi c America: How Scientifi c Illiteracy Th reatens Our Future

“Michael Mann presents his conviction that climate change is real and potentially deadly. A truly readable book on a topic that will remain evergreen.” —James Lovelock, author of Th e Revenge of Gaia: Earth ’ s Climate Crisis and the Fate of Humanity

“As one of the nation’s leading climate researchers, no one has felt the brunt of the attacks from politicians and the fossil fuel industry more than Michael Mann. Th is is his personal account from the center of the mael- strom, documenting the lies and distortions about his work and his heroic eff orts to stand up for scientifi c truth.” —Henry Waxman, Democratic member of the U.S. House of Representatives, former chairman of the House Energy and Commerce Committee

“A must-read to appreciate the endless disinformation campaign by cli- mate change deniers at the highest levels of government and corporate America and the chilling yet serious implications of the crusade to dis- credit distinguished scientists like Michael Mann.” —Sherwood Boehlert, Republican member of the U.S. House of Representatives (1983–2007), former chairman of the House Science Committee

“And if you read just one book on climate change, make it Michael Mann’s riveting exposé of disinformation and denial. . . .” — Irish Times THE HOCKEY STICK AND THE CLIMATE WARS DISPATCHES FROM THE FRONT LINES Michael E. Mann

COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY PRESS NEW YORK Columbia University Press Publishers Since 1893 New York Chichester, West Sussex cup.columbia.edu Copyright © 2012 Michael E. Mann Foreword © 2014 Bill Nye Paperback edition, 2014 All rights reserved

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data Mann, Michael E., 1965– Th e hockey stick and the climate wars : dispatches from the front lines / Michael E. Mann. p. cm. Includes bibliographical references and index. ISBN 978-0-231-15254-9 (cloth : alk. paper) — ISBN 978-0-231-15255-6 (pbk. : alk. paper) — ISBN 978-0-231-52638-8 (e-book) 1. Climatic changes—Public opinion. 2. Climatic extremes—Public opinion. 3. Global warming—Public opinion. 4. Climatology. 5. Environmental policy. I. Title. QC903.M36 2012 577.2'2—dc23 2011038813

Columbia University Press books are printed on permanent and durable acid-free paper. Th is book is printed on paper with recycled content. Printed in the United States of America c 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 p 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1

Cover design : Milenda Nan Ok Lee

References to Internet Web sites (URLs) were accurate at the time of writing. Neither the author nor Columbia University Press is responsible for URLs that may have expired or changed since the manuscript was prepared. Th is book

is dedicated to

Megan Dorothy Mann

and to

the memory of

Jonathan Cliff ord Mann