Polish parliament hosts conference questioning human impact on climate, contradicting scientific consensus.
Conference Questioning Human Impact on Climate
The conference titled “Does human influence climate change?” held in the Sejm drew attention even before it took place. The gathered speakers argue that humans do not influence climate change, despite this contradicting scientific findings. The over five-hour meeting was opened by Dr. Mariusz Błochowiak, president of the Ordo Medicus foundation and co-creator of the “False Pandemic” position.
Claims of Scientific Corruption
Błochowiak, who is not a doctor or physicist, claimed that politics controls science funding. He described how in Norway about 20 years ago, he was told about a project to capture CO2 from the air and bury it underground, which he found absurd. He argued that scientists take money for strange projects because that’s how they make a living. He stated that the scientific consensus on human impact on climate is mainly among scientists receiving funding for those positions.
“Cold Kills, Not Heat”
Dr. Stefan Uhlig, a geologist and author of the book “Climate Fraud,” argued that climate changes are natural. He referenced events from thousands and millions of years ago, though current changes occur over decades rather than long periods. Uhlig used the terms “climate optima and pessima,” stating that cold periods historically brought droughts, famine, epidemics, shortages, and wars. He emphasized that winter mortality is much higher than summer mortality, claiming “cold kills, not heat.”
Contested Climate Evidence
Uhlig presented alleged evidence against global warming, including a temperature of -41.2°C recorded in Poland last year, though this was at a measurement station in Tatra Mountains’ Litworowy Kotle where temperatures can be 20°C lower than surrounding areas. He also claimed the polar bear population has tripled, which is a myth. Uhlig argued oceans can absorb “extraordinary amounts of CO2” and that releasing CO2 to the atmosphere is simply “returning to nature what came from it.”
“Climate Nonsense of the Year” Nominees
Among the speakers were Dr. Tadeusz Wójcik, a chemist and former AWS MP, and Dr. Jan Kubicki, a physicist, both nominated for “Climate Nonsense of the Year.” Wójcik claimed that “no one with sound mind questions that the climate is changing, but the reason is not the use of fossil fuels,” contradicting scientific consensus that burning fossil fuels is the main cause of contemporary climate warming.
Controversial Scientific Views
Kubicki presented his article on the “saturation of the greenhouse effect for CO2,” which was awarded third place in “Climate Nonsense of the Year.” The article relied on a flawed argument from Knut Ångström from the beginning of the 20th century. Kubicki lamented that opponents mainly use ridicule and that no substantive arguments were presented against his work. An engineering journal retracted his article after finding “irregularities in the review process” and losing confidence in the presented results.
Freedom of Speech in Parliament
During the discussion, Błochowiak returned to the topic of alleged corruption in science. He asked how scientists privately view energy issues and climate change, with guests responding that most scientists share their views but only “financially independent or retired can afford to speak out on this issue.” The Sejm’s media office stated that the conference, held under Vice-Marshal Krzysztof Bosak’s patronage, was “an expression of freedom of speech” and that the Sejm only provides technical support for various conferences organized there.