Alabama’s State Climatologist John Christy is considered an outsider, if not a pariah, among most climate researchers. His critics say his work has been plagued by errors and many of his conclusions dismissed. Yet he defends his research and continues to have an outsized influence on the climate change debate well beyond Alabama’s borders.

Christy is no stranger to controversy and doesn’t shy away from the spotlight. By his count, he testified in front of Congress 20 times, mainly speaking on climate change.

He’s a favorite of the political right, in large part, because of his views that carbon dioxide emissions have very little influence on the climate.

“It has not been established that CO2 emissions have a confident and quantifiable causal link to climate change, whether one is talking about global temperature or about disruptive weather events,” he said before the House Natural Resources Committee in May 2015.

Christy, who is also on the faculty at the University of Alabama in Huntsville, offed unabashed praise for fossil fuels, despite their emission of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gasses. He told WBHM they’re the best energy option available.

“Carbon is the one that gets people to the energy that they desire,” Christy said. “When you think about the carbon dioxide emission going up, which it is … it represents people living longer and better lives.”

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Christy pushes back

Christy brushes off criticism of his work. He also outright dismissed concerns about what appears to be a significant acceleration of changes in the climate. He said data about rising temperatures and sea levels that are setting off alarm bells worldwide are really nothing to worry about.

“It’s a problem for people who want to see a disaster story,” he said. “But it’s clearly, from the evidence we have, it is not a climate crisis at all.”

As proof, Christy pointed to crops and weather-related deaths.

“Look at crops around the world. Record crop yields every year,” Christy said. “The number of deaths from climate and weather-related events is down 98% from what it was 100 years ago.”

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John Christy, as Alabama’s State Climatologist, doesn’t appear to get as much attention on the state level, as he does nationally. There also doesn’t appear to be rules limiting his tenure. According to a spokeswoman for Gov. Kay Ivey, the law only requires the state climatologist to be a member of UAH and appointed by the governor.

“Every governor since has recognized me as a state climatologist,” he said. “But I don’t have another declaration written out that says you are now the state climatologist, again. They just assume that I’m continuing on in that role.”

Gov. Don Siegelman first appointed Christy to the post in 2000.

“Looking back 20 years, my appointment of Dr. Christie was probably the right thing to do. He was from Alabama. He had a good reputation,” Siegelman said.

But now, Siegelman said Christy’s conclusions about climate change seem out of touch.

“His positions are not only contrary to my view, but seem to be in direct conflict with the majority of opinion of other climatologists, who are well-respected and their data has not been attacked as his has been,” Siegelman said. “This is not a drill. We are living in a climate crisis and we have to battle it and we have to fight it and we have to win it if civilization is going to survive.”

Christy shows no sign of stepping back from his role as state climatologist nor from the conversation that’s brought him so much heat.

“The information I produce stands, and that’s ultimately what’s important,” he said. “I sleep at night because I’m not trying to change the world.”

As proof, Christy pointed to crops and weather-related deaths. “Look at crops around the world. Record crop yields every year,” Christy said. “The number of deaths from climate and weather-related events is down 98% from what it was 100 years ago.” “The information I produce stands, and that’s ultimately what’s important,” he said. “I sleep at night because I’m not trying to change the world.”