While doing research 12 or 13 years ago, I met Jim Hansen, the scientist who in 1988 predicted the greenhouse effect before Congress. I went over to the window with him and looked out on Broadway in New York City and said, “If what you’re saying about the greenhouse effect is true, is anything going to look different down there in 20 years?” He looked for a while and was quiet and didn’t say anything for a couple seconds. Then he said, “Well, there will be more traffic.” I, of course, didn’t think he heard the question right. Then he explained, “The West Side Highway [which runs along the Hudson River] will be under water. And there will be tape across the windows across the street because of high winds. And the same birds won’t be there. The trees in the median strip will change.” Then he said, “There will be more police cars.” Why? “Well, you know what happens to crime when the heat goes up.”
And so far, over the last 10 years, we’ve had 10 of the hottest years on record.
Didn’t he also say that restaurants would have signs in their windows that read, “Water by request only.”
Under the greenhouse effect, extreme weather increases. Depending on where you are in terms of the hydrological cycle, you get more of whatever you’re prone to get. New York can get droughts, the droughts can get more severe and you’ll have signs in restaurants saying “Water by request only.”
When did he say this will happen?
Within 20 or 30 years. And remember we had this conversation in 1988 or 1989.
Does he still believe these things?
Yes, he still believes everything. I talked to him a few months ago and he said he wouldn’t change anything that he said then.
No need to worry about 24 oz soft drinks in Manhattan!
It may be that this story is true. I do not know. I do know that there is a post on Skeptical science specifically devoted to explaining it (pretty much) away.
http://www.skepticalscience.com/Hansen-West-Side-Highway.htm
For once, they are just about plausible. I do not think it is a good idea to keep raising this story unless you can also specifically address the later spin on it by James Hansen.
Hansen is a weapons-grade cock but I would hate to think that, given the quantity of rock-solid sticks he has already fabricated for us to beat him with, that we are using a somewhat bogus one.
The sky is falling!!! CO2 hits 400 PPM!!!!
Really? Their defense is that he was speaking of a doubling of CO2?
As Hillary said, “What difference does it make?” 😆
It is still a dumbass and overly dramatic grantologist lie. A doubling or even tripling of CO2 would not have that effect. Hansen is a lunatic and a liar.