Josef H. Reichholf
Credentials
- Dr. rer.nat. (Doctorate of Science), Ludwig-Maximilians University (1969). [1]
Background
Josef H (Helmut) Reichholf is a German zoologist, evolutionary biologist and ecologist. He was an honorary professor at the Technical University of Munich from 1974 to 2010, has headed the State Zoological Collection in Munich, and is a past board member of WWF Germany. [1]
Reichholf studied biology, chemistry, geography and tropical medicine at the Ludwig-Maximilians University in Munich, obtaining a doctorate of science in 1969. [1]
Reichholf has claimed global warming would be beneficial to mankind, a view that he describes in his book False Prophets. [2], [3], [4]
German oceanographer and climatologist Stefan Rahmstorf has criticized Reichholf’s claims about climate change. He described a number of “misleading climate curves” used by Reichholf, and suggests that there is “ample evidence of his lack of understanding of basic relationships in the climate system.” [5]
Stance on Climate Change
May 28, 2017
In an article at Welt, Reichholf wrote (translated from German via Google Translate): [11]
“Global temperature is not rising despite growing CO2 emissions. This does not fit into the forecasts of politics and science. You have to be allowed to talk about it without being vilified.
[…]
“A distanced, journalistic commentary is hardly possible. Anyone who dares to risk being vilified as a ‘climate skeptic’ or even as a ‘climate denier’.”
May 8, 2007
In an interview with Der Spiegel (see translated to English): [2]
SPIEGEL: “Mr. Reichholf, are you worried about global warming?”
Josef Reichholf: “No. Personally, I’m even looking forward to a milder climate. But it will also not pose any major problems for mankind as a whole.”
Key Quotes
November 3, 2012
Reichholf was quoted in an article by Right Side News: [8]
“In warmer regions, it takes far less effort to ensure survival. How did the polar bear survive the last warm period? Whether bears survive will depend on human beings, not the climate.” [8]
May 7, 2007
Reichholf, later quoted by climate change denier Dennis Avery in 2009, said climate change could benefit biodiversity in his interview with Der Spiegel (See English Version here) : [7], [2]
SPIEGEL: “And what is your view of the prognoses that global warming will cause up to 30 percent of all animal species to become extinct?”
Reichholf: “It’s nothing but fear-mongering, for which there is no concrete evidence. On the contrary, there is much to be said for the argument that warming temperatures promote biodiversity. There is a clear relationship between biodiversity and temperature. The number of species increases exponentially from the regions near the poles across the moderate latitudes and to the equator. To put it succinctly, the warmer a region is, the more diverse are its species.”
SPIEGEL: “Are you saying that the greenhouse effect could even help improve biodiversity in the long term?”
Reichholf: Exactly. And this can also be clearly inferred from the insights of evolutionary biology… .”
April 18, 2007
Reichholf was interviewed by the newspaperTaz: [6]
“And it is completely wrong, as is often argued, is that it would have never been as warm as today. This is absurd: 120,000 years ago, there were hippos along the Rhine and the Thames. This data should be evaluated before you exaggerate the current figures on horror scenarios. In addition, and in retrospect of the past thousand years makes it abundantly clear: it was the cold times in which we and other parts of the world have been hit by major disasters. Not the warm periods.” [6]
Key Deeds
December 10, 2019
Reichholf is scheduled to speak at the ECAEF/CEPROM conference in Monaco, a conference focused on “Markets and Entrepreneurship to Protect the Environment.” He is scheduled to speak during the first session on “The Environment and Natural Change” in a session titled “Our not so Stable Ecological Past: A Brief History.” [12]
Some “partners” listed on the of ECAEF website include the Atlas Network, the Austrian Economics Center, Cato Institute, George Mason University, Heartland Institute, Hoover Institution, Institute of Economic Affairs, Ludwig von Mises Institute, Property and Environment Research Center, and numerous other free market groups. [12]
November 30, 2012
Josef Reichholf was a speaker (PDF) at the combination event of the eighth International Conference on Climate Change (ICCC-8) and Fifth International Conference on Climate and Energy (ICCE-5) sponsored by both the Heartland Institute and EIKE. His speech was titled “Climate Change – Good or Bad?” [9]
January 27, 2010
Josef Reichholf appeared before European Parliament for a public hearing on EU agriculture and climate change. He presented on “Impact of climate change on plant and animal health: some elements for debate.” [10]
Affiliations
- Committee for Ecology of the Bavarian Academy of Science. [9]
Publications
Bild der Wissenschaft, introducing Reichholf in an interview, said he has published hundreds of scientific papers and written or coauthored more than three dozen popular books on biology, ecology or evolution [3]
While a search of Google Scholar confirms this, it also reveals that Josef Reichholf has not published any articles in peer-reviewed journals directly on the subject of climate change.
Resources
- “Josef Reichholf,” Academia Engelberg. Archived June 15, 2013. Archive.fo URL: https://archive.fo/pKX3f
- “We are children of the tropics,” Der Spiegel, Issue 19, 2007. See English/international version here. Archived October 25, 2019. Archive.fo URL: https://archive.fo/h4juK
- “WER SICH IRRT, SOLL ZAHLEN!”, bild der wissenschaft Online, 10/2008, page 42 – Life & Environment. Archived January 28, 2013. Archive.fo URL: https://archive.fo/E599i
- Reiner Klingholz. “Everything flows – even for good,” Zeit Online, 2002. Archived April 27, 2003
- “Everything climate hysteria?”, Universitas, September, 2007. Republished at the Home Page of Stefan Rahmstorf.
- “Historically, warm periods good times,” Taz.de, April 18, 2007. Translated from German.
- Dennis Avery. “Germans tried to warn us of Climate Fraud,” Canada Free Press, November 29, 2009.
- “A Review of 2012 Climate Change Issues,” Right Side News, November 3, 2012. Archived October 25, 2019. Archive.fo URL: https://archive.fo/vsFm2
- “8th International Conference on Climate Change (ICCC-8): V International Conference on Climate and Energy (ICCE-5). Hotel Bayerischer Hof, Munich, November 30 – December 1, 2012” (PDF) retrieved from eike-klima-energy.eu on November, 2012.
- “Draft Agenda: Public hearing on EU agriculture and Climate Change” (PDF), Committee on Agriculture and Rural Development.
- “Quick one is labeled as ‘Klimaleugner’,” WELT, May 28, 2017. Archived October 25, 2019. Archive.fo URL: https://archive.fo/0l8Gl
- “IV. ECAEF/CEPROM CONFERENCE, MONACO 2019,” ECAEF. Archived October 25, 2019. Archive.fo URL: https://archive.fo/5vdHU
Other Resources
- “Josef H. Reichholf,” Wikipedia.
