An email sent to my Provost and cc'd to my Chancellor:
In regards to the report titled "Measuring the Impacts of Climate Change on North Carolina Coastal Resources" by the Walker School of Business, I am curious to know if this document was peer reviewed prior to its release?
This report completely ignores potentially positive aspects of global warming from which Coastal North Carolina would benefit significantly. For example, just to point out a couple of things, a warmer climate would result in a net increase of days available for boating and beach-going opportunities, with significant positive economic results. Also, agriculture will benefit from a longer growing season and allow farmers to diversify into other profitable crops, also with significant positive economic results.
Additionally, there is NO conclusive scientific evidence that hurricanes increase in intensity or number due to global warming. To make such a claim (and in this document this issue is regarded as an assumption!) is pure quackery raised to the level of divination and witchcraft.
Quite honestly, besides the obvious technical flaws of this document, I am most appalled at the tone of shameless environmental advocacy. Lending the good name of your university in such a flagrant attempt to skew public opinion and public policy is not the type of conduct I would expect from a credible academic institution.
Since Appalachian State is a publicly-funding institution, I am going to make my extreme displeasure known to my legislative representatives. I expect nothing less than a full retraction, public apology and discipline of the authors.
In answer to the question: yes, the report was peer-reviewed by an economist and a physical scientist.
Is this what tenure is for?
Update: In case anyone has forgotten, the other side hates me too! You know that you are an economist when both sides of a good debate hate your guts, call you names and disparage your profession.
