Point 2 of this sheet states that "natural variability often leads to climate extremes and disasters."  We continue to agree.  Point 3 acknowledges that "every region of the world experiences record-breaking climate extremes from time to time."  Again we agree.  Point 4 asks "Do today's frequent reports of record-breaking events mean that climate extremes are becoming more common?"  The information sheet states that there are "inadequate data" to make that determination, citing the findings of the most recent IPCC report.  A more telling statement from that document says bluntly that "there is no evidence that extreme weather events, or climate variability, has increased, in a global sense, through the 20th century."  And, of course, we agree again.

Consider carefully, then, the information sheet's incredibly strident claim in the explanatory text of Point 6 that "any shift in mean climate will almost inevitably affect the frequency of extreme events."  How can the creators of this Information Kit possibly make such a claim, when facts they accept and report clearly refute this contention?  They have repeatedly referred to the fact that the earth has warmed substantially over the past century, i.e., that it has experienced a "shift in mean climate."  They also acknowledge that there has been no change in climate variability or weather extremes over the same time period.  These two real-world observations conclusively demonstrate that any shift in mean climate need NOT affect the frequency of extreme events; and this realization should put to rest all of the media hype surrounding this subject.  But it probably won't; for the cart has been put so far before the horse in this matter that it may never be possible to properly realign them.