Richard Muller, Professor of Physics, UC Berkeley

Physicist Richard Muller generated headlines last fall when he said evidence for climate change “is clear and incontrovertible.” Until then he had questioned temperature measurements gathered around the world, which he now says are valid and without bias.
 
Yet his views on specific figures and funding from industrialists David and Charles Koch still make him a controversial figure among the climate intelligentsia. Muller says while average temperatures are rising one third of US cities have undergone cooling in the last 100 years. He also contends that scientists who claim that human fingerprints can be found on extreme weather events are “cherry picking” evidence.
 
Despite those differences, he agrees with IPCC scientists that climate disruption “is urgent and we need to do something about it.” The best course of action is to convert China from coal to natural gas, he says, noting most future emissions of carbon pollution will come from developing economies. What about Americans switching to electric cars? Muller says temperature increases of 1/40th of one degree Celsius can be attributed to US automobiles, although he acknowledges the US overall has contributed more than our fair share of temperature increases so far. Natural gas is a boon to the United States and Muller thinks “produced water” from hydraulic fracturing should be drinkable.
 
Join us for a lively conversation about powering America’s future. 

Location: SF Club Office
Time: 5:30 p.m. check-in, 6:00 p.m. program, 7:00 p.m. reception
Cost: $20 standard, $12 members, $7 students (with valid ID)
Also know:  The speakers and audience will be videotaped for future broadcast on the Climate One TV show on KRCB TV 22 on Comcast and DirecTV