Climate Maverick to Quit NASA

[n2doc]

Source: NYT

James E. Hansen, the climate scientist who issued the clearest warning of the 20th century about the dangers of global warming, will retire from NASA this week, giving himself more freedom to pursue political and legal efforts to limit greenhouse gases.

His departure, after a 46-year career at the space agency’s Goddard Institute for Space Studies in Manhattan, will deprive federally sponsored climate research of its best-known public figure.

At the same time, retirement will allow Dr. Hansen to press his cause in court. He plans to take a more active role in lawsuits challenging the federal and state governments over their failure to limit emissions, for instance, as well as in fighting the development in Canada of a particularly dirty form of oil extracted from tar sands.

“As a government employee, you can’t testify against the government,” he said in an interview.

Dr. Hansen had already become an activist in recent years, taking vacation time from NASA to appear at climate protests and allowing himself to be arrested or cited a half-dozen times.


Read more: http://www.nytimes.com/2013/04/02/science/james-e-hansen-retiring-from-nasa-to-fight-global-warming.html?hp&_r=0

[randome]

1. More like this.

Thank you, Mr. Hansen.

[limpyhobbler]

2. +1

[caraher]

3. "Maverick?"

Really, New York Times? What's "mavericky" about Hansen on climate? Yes, he's an activist, but he's also among the most distinguished scientists who developed what's taken as the scientific mainstream assessment of climate change.

If they mean he's an activist, they should just say so, rather than using a word that could be taken to mean that he's some kind of marginal voice on the fringe...

[Buzz Clik]

7. I would prefer "pioneer" or even "prophet". Maverick? No.

[FreeBC]

14. I concur.

[Bigmack]

4. Excuse me,,, but James Hansen is NO

maverick! He is a SERIOUS scientist, and his position on climate change is the RULING position among climate scientists. Ms. Bigmack

[drm604]

5. I'm giving this a K&R in spite of the stupid headline, because this is a good thing.

Hopefully Dr. Hansen is going to be in the news a lot in the near future, drawing attention to this issue.

I hope that he's prepared for the onslaught that will be coming from the fossil fuel industries' mouthpieces, because they're going to do everything they can to attack and discredit this guy.

As others have said, he's not a maverick, he's very much in line with mainstream scientific opinion. The deniers are the mavericks.

[dreamnightwind]

9. They've been after him for years

trying to discredit the messenger. Hansen has been a lightning-rod for deniers for a long time, he's used to it. Here's wishing him success in his future endeavors. A man of courage and conviction.

[Buzz Clik]

6. Hansen is a hero of mine, but I worry.

Very often when scientists have been reined in by the institution of their employment and they retire to get more freedom, they go rogue. NASA demanded that Hansen be able to back up all his comments 100%, and by doing so made Hansen nearly bullet proof.

He will now have no such constraint and will be entering more fully into the world of politics and law. I hope he continues to show the same discipline as he has done up until now. He will be facing a pack of hungry, angry wolves who will attack him constantly.

sigh.

Great work, Dr. Hansen. God speed.

[AverageJoe90]

11. I hope so, too. Believe me on that.....

Sadly, James Lovelock, another early pioneer, kinda went off the deep end with his own public predictions, claiming that it was possible that Berlin would become like Baghdad and that the Sahara would move into Southern Europe, etc.

[AnotherDreamWeaver]

8. The 350.org organization got their name from his work.... nt

[AverageJoe90]

10. He WAS kind of a maverick, yes. But one who also did make some important contributions as well.

Good luck, Dr. Hansen. May your next endeavors be successful as well.

[PolitFreak]

12. Knock 'em dead, Jim!

Hansen is a true

[Hekate]

13. He's *retiring* after almost 50 years, not quitting!

There is a bit of a difference.

Best wishes to him in his new advocacy role!

Hekate