​David Deming

Credentials

• Ph.D, geophysics, University of Utah (1988).¹ “David Deming,” NCPA profile.
• B.S., geology, Indiana University (1983).² “David Deming,” NCPA profile.
• National Research Council postdoctoral fellowship at the US Geological Survey in California.³ “David Deming,” NCPA profile.

Background

David Deming is associate professor of Arts and Sciences at the University of Oklahoma in Norman. He graduated from Indiana University in 1983 with a B.S. degree in geology, and received a Ph.D. in geophysics from the University of Utah in 1988.

Prior to his arrival at the University of Oklahoma in 1992, Deming held a National Research Council postdoctoral fellowship at the US Geological Survey in California.

Deming believes that we should not move away from a petroleum-based economy, as there is no danger of peak oil. As a geophysicist, he has written numerous newspaper articles skeptical of global warming, and has worked with the National Center for Policy Analysis (NCPA) on environment issues.

Stance on Climate Change

“Weather and climate change are natural processes beyond human control. To argue otherwise is to deny the factual evidence.”⁴ David Deming. “Global warming freeze?” Washington Times, December 10, 2008.

Key Quotes

“The largest mistake would be to start to move away from petroleum, a proven and economic energy source, to more speculative and expensive sources…The world will eventually leave the age of oil, but there is no geologic reason for this to happen until near the end of the 21st century.”⁵ David Deming. “The oil price bubble,” Washington Times, June 14, 2006.

“Global warming has long since passed from scientific hypothesis to the realm of pseudo-scientific mumbo-jumbo.”⁶ David Deming. “Year of global cooling,” Washington Times, December 19, 2007

“I’m a geophysicist who has conducted and published climate studies in top-rank scientific journals. My perspective on Mr. Inhofe and the issue of global warming is informed not only by my knowledge of climate science but also by my studies of the history and philosophy of science.”⁷ David Deming. “Inhofe correct on warming,” Washington Times, October 15, 2006.

Key Deeds

February 23, 2017

David Deming was a signatory of a petition (PDF) organized by Richard Lindzen of the Cato Institute urging President Donald Trump to pull the United States out of the United Nations international convention on climate change (UNFCCC).⁸ “PETITION” (PDF), February 23, 2017. Richard Lindzen. PDF Archived at DeSmog.

“In just a few weeks, more than 300 eminent scientists and other qualified individuals from around the world have signed the petition below,” Lindzen wrote in the letter.⁹ “PETITION” (PDF), February 23, 2017. Richard Lindzen. PDF Archived at DeSmog.

DeSmog investigated the list, and found that only a small handful of the signatories could be considered “even remotely ‘qualified’ or ‘eminent’ — but not in the field of climate science.” The list included individuals “interested in climate,” and one signatory who only identified as an “emailer who wished to sign the petition” while some signers provided no affiliation or address whatsoever.¹⁰ Graham Readfearn. “Climate Science Denier Richard Lindzen’s List of 300 “Scientists” Sent to Trump Is the Usual Parade of Non-Experts,” DeSmog, February 27, 2017.

March 1, 2007

Deming debated David Karoly (a climatology professor at the University of Oklahoma) on global warming, arguing that that “the projection that the temperatures are becoming warmer is nothing more than speculation.” ¹¹ “OU Debate on Human-Induced Climate Change (Mar 08, 2007),” KGOU. Accessed December 6, 2011.

December, 6, 2006

Testified Before the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee (run by Senator James Inhofe). In his testimony, Deming refers to a 1995 paper he published in the journal Science. It is worth noting that his paper was published in the “Perspective” section of the journal.¹² “Climate Change and the Media,” David Deming’s testimony before the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee, December 6, 2006. Republished by the National Center for Policy Analysis.

Deming concludes that “There is no sound scientific basis for predicting future climate change with any degree of certainty. If the climate does warm, it is likely to be beneficial to humanity rather than harmful. In my opinion, it would be foolish to establish national energy policy on the basis of misinformation and irrational hysteria.”

See a video of Deming’s testimony here.

Affiliations

• National Center for Policy Analysis (NCPA) — Formerly listed as an “Environmental Expert,” Adjunct Scholar. Also member of the NCPA’s “Environmental Task Force.” (?)¹³ “Environment Experts,” National Center for Policy Analysis. Archived February 21, 2011. Archive.fo URL: https://archive.fo/O38L3 ¹⁴ “About the NCPA’s Environment Team (E-Team),” Energy and Environment: Clearing the Air (NCPA Blog). Archived August 7, 2011. Archive.fo URL: https://archive.fo/o75il
• Oklahoma Council of Public Affairs (OCPA) — “Adjunct Scholar.”¹⁵ “ADJUNCT SCHOLARS,” Oklahoma Council of Public Affairs. Accessed March, 2012.

Although Deming appears on SourceWatch’s list of Environmental Task Force members, a list of members in an official NCPA report (PDF) fails to mention his name. Deming is also listed as a member of the NCPA’s “Environment Team (E-team)” at the NCPA’s blog.

Publications

According to his profile at NCPA, Dr. Deming is the author of more than thirty research papers, and a textbook on hydrogeology. He is an associate editor for the journals Petroleum Geology and Ground Water. Some of Deming’s sample publications below:

• David Deming. “On the possible influence of extraterrestrial volatiles on Earth’s climate and the origin of the oceans.” Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology, Volume 146, Issues 1-4 (February 15, 1999), Pages 33-51.
• Deming, D. “Climatic Warming in North America: Analysis of Borehole Temperatures.” Science, v. 268, p. 1576-1577, June 16, 1995 (Note that this is a “Perspective” article, rather than an official paper.)
• David Deming. “The oil price bubble,” Washington Times, June 14, 2006.
• David Deming. “How ‘Consensus’ On Global Warming Is Used To Justify Draconian Reform,” Investor’s Business Daily, March 18, 2005.
• David Deming. “Global warming freeze?” Washington Times, December 10, 2008.
• David Deming. “Year of global cooling,” Washington Times, December 19, 2007
• David Deming. “Are We Running Out of Oil?” (PDF) Policy Backgrounder No. 159, January 29, 2003.
• David Deming. “Inhofe correct on warming,” Washington Times, October 15, 2006.
• David Deming. “Environmental Hysterics,” Washington Times, April 6, 2008.
• David Deming. “Malthus Reconsidered” (PDF), National Center for Policy Analysis, Brief Analysis No. 469 (March 22, 2004).
• “Testimony Before the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee,” December 6, 2006. Republished by NCPA.
• “The Warmest Year on Whose Record?” (PDF), National Center for Policy Analysis, Brief Analysis No. 337 (August 31, 2000).
• David Deming. “Petroleum Age is Just Beginning,” The Washington Times, August 15, 2003. Republished by NCPA.
• David Deming, “Are We Running Out of Oil?” (PDF) National Center for Policy Analysis, Policy Backgrounder No. 159, January 29, 2003.
• “The Media Shows Irrational Hysteria On Global Warming.” U.S. Newswire, December 6, 2006. Republished by NCPA.

Other Resources

• “David Deming – ExxonSecrets’ Denier of the Day,” Greenpeace, December 19, 2007.
• ExxonSecrets Factsheet: David Deming.
• “Deniers:Scientists:David Deming,” ExxonSecrets Wiki.

Resources

• 1
  “David Deming,” NCPA profile.
• 2
  “David Deming,” NCPA profile.
• 3
  “David Deming,” NCPA profile.
• 4
  David Deming. “Global warming freeze?” Washington Times, December 10, 2008.
• 5
  David Deming. “The oil price bubble,” Washington Times, June 14, 2006.
• 6
  David Deming. “Year of global cooling,” Washington Times, December 19, 2007
• 7
  David Deming. “Inhofe correct on warming,” Washington Times, October 15, 2006.
• 8
  “PETITION” (PDF), February 23, 2017. Richard Lindzen. PDF Archived at DeSmog.
• 9
  “PETITION” (PDF), February 23, 2017. Richard Lindzen. PDF Archived at DeSmog.
• 10
  Graham Readfearn. “Climate Science Denier Richard Lindzen’s List of 300 “Scientists” Sent to Trump Is the Usual Parade of Non-Experts,” DeSmog, February 27, 2017.
• 11
  “OU Debate on Human-Induced Climate Change (Mar 08, 2007),” KGOU. Accessed December 6, 2011.
• 12
  “Climate Change and the Media,” David Deming’s testimony before the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee, December 6, 2006. Republished by the National Center for Policy Analysis.
• 13
  “Environment Experts,” National Center for Policy Analysis. Archived February 21, 2011. Archive.fo URL: https://archive.fo/O38L3
• 14
  “About the NCPA’s Environment Team (E-Team),” Energy and Environment: Clearing the Air (NCPA Blog). Archived August 7, 2011. Archive.fo URL: https://archive.fo/o75il
• 15
  “ADJUNCT SCHOLARS,” Oklahoma Council of Public Affairs. Accessed March, 2012.