Ralph Evans

Ralph Evans has brought together in his book "Toast" a huge amount of technical facts and information. Unlike many of the climate change deniers, he has the qualifications to make sense of this data (though at one point he disarmingly describes himself as a "layman"). The book is written from a distinctly Australian perspective....including the politics..... though the arguments have world-wide application.
Like Ralph, I have long been puzzled by the resistance of intelligent people to accepting either the fact of climate change or the contribution that burning fossil fuels is making to the change. And, apart from the wealth of facts that Ralph presents, he actually delves a little into the "denier" psychology: that any contrary facts simply make the believer (denier) dig-in deeper and look for ever more fanciful counter arguments. This seems to be supported by what we see being played out in the media (and what I've observed with some of my friends).
I've always tried to listen and give due weight to the counter arguments for any proposal. But, as Ralph points out, our beliefs are framed basically by emotions...and are very resistant to logical arguments.
He writes beautifully. Very clear: cogent and authoritative. A couple of typos but I only detected one tangential error of fact. (Measurements of carbon dioxide at Mauna Loa prior to the 1970's were made using infra red gas analysers (IRGAs) not with laser techniques ...that came later. I recall this because In the late 1960's I, and colleagues, were interested in the measurement of photosynthesis and IRGAs were state of the art. I also recall seeing the early part of those rising CO2 levels (around 1969) and being informed by my far sighted scientific colleagues in the CSIRO that this would result in global warming. They were right).
Ralph examines, very objectively, various ways in which a run-away growth in global warming might be averted: technological, biological, etc. ...and I found this part of the book quite fascinating.
Given his background, as a consultant, as CEO of Austrade and CEO of the Institute of Company Directors, he has clearly rubbed shoulders with most of the "establishment"....including (probably) most of the influential climate change deniers...and, I guess, some of those meetings must have been rather uncomfortable for him. I wonder if the terrible bush fires in Australia of 2019/2020 have started to turn the tide against the deniers. There seem to be some signs of this......Tony Abbott (ex Prime Minister) losing his "safe" seat for example. But what is astonishing is that whilst all the polls show that most people accept the reality of human induced global warming.....a small number of vocal and passionate deniers have been so successful in preventing the introduction of a carbon price. (Which would have done more to bring about positive change than any of the alternatives thrown up.
Will Ralph's book have an impact on the climate debate? Not sure. Most of his facts are reasonably well known (though he's collected them in a coherent framework). He's highlighted that logical arguments are unlikely to dislodge the deniers. Maybe the best hope is with our young people who will soon be taking over and with the Greta Thunberg's of the world. Though I find myself asking the same sort of questions that I have over the people who fought so strongly against the science showing the damage that smoking caused and asbestos caused: surely these are massive crimes against humanity. Muggers are hunted down and jailed but what about those who opposed a carbon tax? The damage they have caused is orders of magnitude worse than the mugger. Will they be held to account?
Anyway, the bottom line is that this is a powerful book. Well argued and highly recommended I'm happy to give it 5 stars.… (mais)