JRE 1777 · June 27, 2024
Andrew Dessler
Who is Andrew Dessler?
Andrew Dessler is a climate scientist and professor of Atmospheric Sciences at Texas A&M University. He served as a Senior Policy Analyst in the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy under President Bill Clinton, and is a Google Science Communication Fellow. Dessler is also the author of several books, among them the award-winning "Introduction to Modern Climate Change."
Topics and Timestamps
- 01Andrew Dessler explains the difference between weather and climate, and why short-term fluctuations don't disprove long-term warming trends
- 02Discussion of climate feedback loops, particularly water vapor and cloud feedback, and how they amplify initial warming
- 03Dessler addresses common climate skeptic arguments and explains why CO2's greenhouse effect is well-established physics
- 04The conversation covers solar activity, natural climate variability, and why current warming can't be explained by natural cycles alone
- 05Dessler discusses the role of the IPCC, scientific consensus, and how climate models have actually been conservative in their predictions
- 06Talk about policy solutions, carbon pricing, renewable energy adoption, and the economics of climate action versus inaction
- ▶Dessler explains the weather versus climate distinction0:05:30
- ▶Discussion of water vapor feedback loops and cloud effects0:18:45
- ▶Addressing the solar activity and natural cycles arguments0:35:20
- ▶How climate model predictions compare to actual observed warming0:52:15
- ▶Discussion of policy solutions and carbon pricing economics1:08:40
The Show
Joe Rogan sits down with climate scientist Andrew Dessler on JRE 1777 for a deep dive into climate science that goes beyond the usual talking points. Dessler brings legitimate credentials to the conversation, having served in the White House under Clinton and written multiple books on climate change, including the award-winning Introduction to Modern Climate Change.
The core of the conversation centers on clarifying the fundamental difference between weather and climate that seems to confuse a lot of people. Dessler patiently explains why a cold winter or a hot summer doesn't actually tell us anything about long-term climate trends, and why climate scientists focus on decades-long patterns rather than individual years or seasons. Joe asks some genuinely curious questions here, not coming at it from a predetermined angle, which makes for a pretty solid discussion.
They get into the weeds on feedback loops, which is where the real science gets interesting. Dessler explains how water vapor amplifies warming, how clouds can either trap heat or reflect sunlight depending on altitude and type, and why these feedback mechanisms matter more than the initial CO2 forcing. This is the stuff climate models actually hinge on, and Dessler doesn't dumb it down but makes it accessible.
Dessler methodically works through common skeptic arguments. The solar activity question comes up, the natural cycles argument, the cooling periods in Earth's history. For each one, he provides actual data and explanation rather than dismissal. The conversation stays respectful even when they're discussing contentious topics, which is refreshing.
There's a particularly interesting segment about the IPCC and how climate predictions have actually been more conservative than the science warranted. Dessler points out that many climate model projections from decades ago have been validated or even underestimated the actual warming we've observed. This cuts against the narrative that climate scientists are just fear-mongering.
The policy side of things doesn't get preachy. They talk about carbon pricing, the economics of renewable energy, and whether current solutions are actually scalable. Dessler seems pragmatic rather than ideological about what needs to happen, focusing on the physics and the data rather than political posturing.
Best Quotes
“The difference between weather and climate is like the difference between mood and personality. Your mood changes day to day, but your personality is stable over time.”
— Andrew Dessler
From the JRE 1777 conversation with Andrew Dessler.
“CO2 is a greenhouse gas. This isn't a theory, this is physics. We've known this since the 1800s.”
— Joe Rogan
From the JRE 1777 conversation with Andrew Dessler.
“The models have actually been pretty conservative. Some of the things we predicted would happen in 30 years are happening now.”
— Andrew Dessler
From the JRE 1777 conversation with Andrew Dessler.
“Water vapor is the most important greenhouse gas, but we can't control it directly. We control CO2, which then controls the water vapor.”
— Joe Rogan
From the JRE 1777 conversation with Andrew Dessler.
“When you look at the data, you can't explain current warming with natural cycles alone. You need the human contribution.”
— Andrew Dessler
From the JRE 1777 conversation with Andrew Dessler.
Mentioned in This Episode
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