Summary of Ken DeGraaf: Frmr fighter pilot/now CO Rep. on Chicken Little climate hysteria | Tom Nelson Pod #180

00:00:00 - 00:55:00

In the podcast episode titled "Ken DeGraaf: Frmr fighter pilot/now CO Rep. on Chicken Little climate hysteria | Tom Nelson Pod #180," retired Air Force pilot and Colorado House Representative Ken DeGraaf discusses his perspective on climate science and the role of politics in the issue. DeGraaf argues that politicians are attracted to the climate crisis as it enables them to create existential crises and implement extreme solutions. He emphasizes the importance of questioning the climate science behind the crisis and returning to empirical research. DeGraaf also disputes the significant impact of carbon dioxide on the Earth's atmosphere, as it accounts for only a minuscule percentage of the total amount. He questions the use of Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change reports as political tools and calls for further scientific exploration on the relationship between carbon dioxide, water vapor, and the climate. DeGraaf emphasizes the lack of understanding of the climate issue among politicians and encourages people to educate themselves to challenge misinformation and faulty legislation

• 00:00:00 In this section of the podcast, Ken DeGraaf, a retired Air Force pilot and first-term Colorado House Representative, discusses his perspective on the climate crisis and the role politicians play in the issue. According to DeGraaf, politicians are drawn to the climate crisis because it allows them to have an existential crisis and implement existential solutions. He also emphasizes the importance of returning to empirical science and questioning the climate science behind the crisis. DeGraaf argues that carbon dioxide, a major contributor to the greenhouse gas effect, makes up only about 1% of the total amount in the atmosphere. Human activity, specifically in Colorado, contributes a minuscule amount to this percentage. Therefore, DeGraaf believes that the push for net-zero emissions has little impact and is not worth the investment. He also refers to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) reports as political tools used to create climate policies without a solid understanding of the long-term climate predictions
• 00:05:00 In this section of the YouTube video titled "Ken DeGraaf: Ex-fighter pilot/now CO Rep. on Chicken Little climate hysteria | Tom Nelson Pod #180," former fighter pilot and Colorado Representative Ken DeGraaf discusses his skepticism towards carbon emissions regulations and the exaggeration of the role of carbon dioxide in global warming. According to DeGraaf, water vapor and clouds contribute more significantly to greenhouse gas warming than CO2 does. He also challenges the single-factor theory of global warming, stating that ignoring other factors, such as solar radiation, is irresponsible. Furthermore, DeGraaf highlights the insignificant role of the Earth's atmosphere in regulating temperature compared to the vastness of space. In contrast, Mars, with its thin atmosphere, experiences substantial temperature swings due to its proximity to the Sun. DeGraaf reiterates that considering the atmosphere as the only factor in warming or cooling the Earth is not accurate
• 00:10:00 In this section of the YouTube video titled "Ken DeGraaf: Fmr fighter pilot/now CO Rep. on Chicken Little climate hysteria | Tom Nelson Pod #180," DeGraaf discusses the discrepancy between Mars and Earth's carbon dioxide levels and temperatures. Mars, despite having nearly 2,000% more carbon dioxide than Earth, is only 50% farther away from the sun and has an average temperature that is 50 degrees Fahrenheit lower. DeGraaf points out that if carbon dioxide were trapping heat as climate alarmists believe, Mars would be much warmer than it is. Furthermore, carbon dioxide levels in the Earth's atmosphere, which were around 280 parts per million when reliable measurements began in the mid-1950s, have been increasing, with levels now at about 400 parts per million. However, DeGraaf explains that water vapor and clouds, which make up at least 90% of greenhouse warming according to some scientists, are often excluded from discussions about greenhouse gases. He also points out that during cold periods in Earth's history, when carbon dioxide levels were similarly low, temperatures were much lower as well
• 00:15:00 In this section of the YouTube video titled "Ken DeGraaf: Frmr fighter pilot/now CO Rep. on Chicken Little climate hysteria | Tom Nelson Pod #180", former fighter pilot and now Colorado Representative Ken DeGraaf discusses the climate debate, specifically focusing on the role of carbon dioxide (CO2) in plant growth and the Earth's climate. He points out that historical data shows periods when CO2 levels were higher and the Earth was warmer, and that plants are optimized to grow under these conditions. DeGraaf also points out that human contribution to CO2 levels is much smaller than natural fluctuations and that CO2 is essential for plant growth. He argues that climate goals are presented as CO2 goals, but the impact on the climate is uncertain and that the focus on reducing human CO2 emissions is disproportionate when compared to other factors contributing to the Earth's climate. The speaker also emphasizes that the evaporation process carries away more energy than human-generated CO2 emissions daily
• 00:20:00 In this section of the YouTube video titled "Ken DeGraaf: Frmr fighter pilot/now CO Rep. on Chicken Little climate hysteria | Tom Nelson Pod #180," former fighter pilot Ken DeGraaf explains the concept of the Earth's energy curve and its absorption of incoming and outgoing radiation. He tells us that most of the incoming radiation is absorbed by the Earth, primarily in the form of infrared radiation, and that carbon dioxide absorbs very little of the green radiation compared to water vapor. The graph DeGraaf references shows us where we are situated in the visible light spectrum and the infrared spectrum, and he explains that adding more carbon dioxide to the atmosphere might not make a difference due to water vapor being a more prolific absorber of energy. He emphasizes that the deception in climate change discussions often comes from analyzing data using dry air, which overlooks the significant role water vapor plays in energy absorption
• 00:25:00 In this section of the YouTube video entitled "Ken DeGraaf: Frmr fighter pilot/now CO Rep. on Chicken Little climate hysteria | Tom Nelson Pod #180," former fighter pilot and now Colorado Representative Ken DeGraaf discusses the current level of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere and its impact on energy production and plant growth. DeGraaf notes that plants begin to experience difficulty in photosynthesis below 200 parts per million (ppm) of carbon dioxide, and at 280 ppm, which is currently where we are, and where it was 63 years ago, we're only 1% energy-wise above the historical level. He further explains that less than 10% of the greenhouse effect is anthropogenic CO2, and water vapor, which makes up over 90%, is the primary contributor. Despite spending trillions of dollars to reduce CO2 emissions, DeGraaf argues that it's a minuscule fraction of the greenhouse effect and that concerns over its impact are causing significant price increases for essentials like food and rent. DeGraaf also emphasizes the importance of considering the varying output of the sun and historical climate patterns, such as the Little Ice Age, which saw much lower CO2 levels and widespread famine and death. Ultimately, he questions the wisdom of attempting to return to such conditions
• 00:30:00 In this section of the YouTube video titled "Ken DeGraaf: Frmr fighter pilot/now CO Rep. on Chicken Little climate hysteria | Tom Nelson Pod #180," former fighter pilot and current Colorado representative, Ken DeGraaf, discusses his concerns with climate data and temperature increase claims. DeGraaf questions the absence of data in certain graphs and asserts that there has been no significant temperature increase since around 2000. He also contends that climate activists manipulate data to fit their narrative and points out discrepancies in the presentation of data. Furthermore, he emphasizes the role of solar variability in heating the Earth, explaining that even a 1% change in solar radiation outweighs human contributions. According to DeGraaf, geothermal energy and solar variability contribute more to the Earth's energy balance than human-induced carbon emissions
• 00:35:00 In this section of the YouTube video titled "Ken DeGraaf: Fmr fighter pilot/now CO Rep. on Chicken Little climate hysteria | Tom Nelson Pod #180," DeGraaf discusses the inaccuracies of Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) models in predicting the effects of greenhouse gases on the Earth's temperature. He explains that carbon dioxide does not trap heat but instead acts more like a Pachinko machine, where heat drops in and bounces around before leaving the atmosphere. DeGraaf argues that net-zero emissions by the US or even the entire world may not result in the desired temperature reduction, citing a significant disparity between IPCC models and real-world data. He criticizes the IPCC for assuming the atmosphere radiates like a black body, ignoring the fact that gases have a much lower radiating capacity, and suggests a massive inaccuracy in their models. The speaker also mentions that the focus on human-induced climate change and CO2 may be due to funding priorities
• 00:40:00 In this section of the YouTube video titled "Ken DeGraaf: Fmr fighter pilot/now CO Rep. on Chicken Little climate hysteria | Tom Nelson Pod #180", Ken DeGraaf discusses the inaccuracies of the infamous hockey stick graph often used to depict global warming trends, stating that it was manipulated to create a specific scare. He argues that the graph is not predictive, and therefore not scientific, as it does not correspond with reality. DeGraaf also criticizes the reliance on climate models, suggesting that they have not accurately predicted the observed trends and that putting all efforts into an all-electric grid could leave us vulnerable to disasters like EMPs or solar flares. Additionally, he discusses the historical, political manipulation of climate fears for political gain, and how a significant portion of global pollution comes from China. Overall, DeGraaf expresses skepticism towards the science behind the climate crisis narrative and the motives of politicians for pushing it
• 00:45:00 In this section of the YouTube video titled "Ken DeGraaf: Frmr fighter pilot/now CO Rep. on Chicken Little climate hysteria | Tom Nelson Pod #180", DeGraaf discusses the political use of climate science by politicians. He argues that politicians thrive on instigating existential crises, which require drastic solutions for them to legislate. DeGraaf shares an anecdote from his time at the Air Force Academy where he ascertained that cadets, due to fear-induced misinformation, significantly overestimated the amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. The Realpolitik speaker expresses his concern over people being "useful idiots", manipulated by the climate change narrative for political agendas. DeGraaf mentions facing little pushback from voters regarding his skepticism towards climate change, despite some opposition in the house. Overall, he emphasizes the need for politicians, energy experts, and scientists to engage with the scientific facts related to climate change rather than relying on scaremongering narratives
• 00:50:00 In this section of the YouTube video titled "Ken DeGraaf: Fmr fighter pilot/now CO Rep. on Chicken Little climate hysteria | Tom Nelson Pod #180", DeGraaf discusses the complexity of understanding the relationship between carbon dioxide in the atmosphere and its impact on the climate. He mentions how difficult it was to find accurate information on the subject and expresses concern over the lack of knowledge among politicians who advocate for policies based on climate change. DeGraaf also mentions the role of water vapor in the climate and challenges the narrative that carbon dioxide is the primary cause of global warming. He feels alone as a politician with a deep understanding of the issue and is trying to connect with other politicians and scientists to learn more
• 00:55:00 In this section of the podcast, Tom Nelson interviews Ken DeGraaf, a former fighter pilot and current Colorado Representative. DeGraaf expresses his concern over the lack of understanding of climate science on both sides of the political aisle. He mentions correspondence with a scientist named Art Robinson, who is known for his involvement in the CO2 Coalition and the 10,000 petition project. DeGraaf urges people to educate themselves on the issue and push back against legislation based on faulty science. He also expresses his concern over the level of "craziness" surrounding climate change in politics and the agenda of individuals such as Jared Polis