At a Glance
Climatologist David Legates challenges mainstream narratives on the climate, offering an important Christian perspective on the intersection of science, politics, and economics. Drawing insights from his book Climate and Energy: The Case for Realism, co-authored with leading scientists and economists, Legates builds upon our previous episode examining how climate science has shifted from objective inquiry to politicized advocacy.
We consider:
- Misleading claims in climate activism and how to respond critically.
- The implications of climate policy on global poverty, energy costs, and environmental stewardship.
- The rise of postmodern science and its impact on climate research
- Do climate change policies serve hidden agendas or impact broader societal transformations?
From the reliability of carbon dating to the role of the church in restoring scientific integrity, this episode invites you to question prevailing narratives and engage in practical, truth-centered environmental action.
Rediscover the essence of balanced climate science—and the hope for reclaiming stewardship that honors both creation and the Creator.
Listen to our last episode with David Legates here: Climate & Energy: The Case for Realism with E. Calvin Beisner & David R. Legates
David R. Legates, Ph.D.
David R. Legates, Ph.D., serves as the Director of Research and Education at The Cornwall Alliance for the Stewardship of Creation. He received a B.A. in Mathematics and Geography (double major) in 1982, a M.S. in Geography-Climatology in 1985, and a Ph.D. in Climatology in 1988, all from the University of Delaware. His expertise lies in hydroclimatology/surface water hydrology, precipitation and climate change, spatial analysis and spatial statistics, and statistical/numerical methods.
Legates has testified three times as an expert witness before the US Senate Committee on the Environment and Public Works and before both Pennsylvania House and Senate Committee meetings on climate change. He participated in the historic joint USA-USSR protocol for the exchange of climate information in 1990, won the 2002 Boeing Autometric Award for the Best Paper in Image Analysis and Interpretation by the American Society of Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing, won First Place in the International Statistical Institute (ISI) and ESRI Paper Competition in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, and was awarded the Courage in Defense of Science Award in 2015. In 2021, he was awarded the Frederick Seitz Memorial Award and the Petr Beckmann Award. Learn more.
What You'll Hear
Using the link above, you can read the transcript or listen along while highlighted text follows the podcast audio.
"When the facts change, I change my mind. What do you do, sir?"
David Legates quoting Winston Churchill (32:30)
Quotes
Go Deeper
Climate and Energy: The Case for Realism
The attempted cures for climate change are generally worse than the disease—especially for the poor. In this groundbreaking volume, experts in all the fields related to climate change explain for laymen what we know about climate change and evaluate from a Christian perspective the proposed responses.
Demands to transform the global energy infrastructure to depend heavily on wind, solar, and other renewables are harmful to people in America and the world–especially to the poor. Meanwhile, continued large-scale use of traditional energy sources like nuclear, hydro, and fossil fuels would reduce poverty while doing less harm to the environment.
Climate and Energy: The Case For Realism combines outstanding climate science, physics, economics, environmental science, political science, ethics, and theology to present a well-reasoned understanding of human-induced climate change and how to respond to it.
