"Climate change is 'a myth,' sea levels are not rising and Britain's
chief scientist is 'an embarrassment' for believing catastrophe is
inevitable. These are the controversial views of a new London-based
think-tank," the International Policy Network. IPN's latest report
claims that "the science warning of an environmental disaster caused
by climate change is 'fatally flawed,'" while global warming benefits
include "increasing fish stocks in the north Atlantic." IPN has
received funding from ExxonMobil, which "list[ed] the donation as
part of its 'climate change outreach.'" Stephen Tindale of Greenpeace
compared IPN's work to when "tobacco companies blocked action on
smoking by sowing doubt about the science."
SOURCE: Guardian, November 28, 2004
http://observer.guardian.co.uk/international/story/0,6903,1361276,00.html
The Observer | International |
Greenhouse effect 'may benefit man'
Claims by pro-Bush think-tank outrage eco-groups
Antony Barnett and Mark Townsend
Sunday November 28, 2004
The Observer
Climate change is 'a myth', sea levels are not rising and Britain's
chief scientist is 'an embarrassment' for believing catastrophe is
inevitable. These are the controversial views of a new London-based
think-tank that will publish a report tomorrow attacking the
apocalyptic view that man-made greenhouse gases will destroy the
planet.
The International Policy Network will publish its long-awaited study,
claiming that the science warning of an environmental disaster caused
by climate change is 'fatally flawed'. It will state that previous
predictions of changes in sea level of a metre over the next 100
years were overestimates.
Instead, the report will say that sea level rises will reach a
maximum of just 20cms during the next century, adding that global
warming could, in fact, benefit mankind by increasing fish stocks.
The report's views closely mirror those held by many of President
George Bush's senior advisers, who have been accused of derailing
attempts to reach international agreement over how to prevent climate
change.
The report is set to cause controversy. The network, which has links
with some of the President's advisers, has received cash donations
from the US oil giant ExxonMobil, which has long lobbied against the
climate change agenda. Exxon lists the donation as part of its
'climate change outreach' programme.
Environmentalists yesterday said the network report was an attempt by
American neo-conservatives to sabotage the Prime Minister's attempts
to lead the world in tackling climate change.
Last week, the network's director Julian Morris attacked Britain's
highly respected chief scientist. 'David King is an embarrassment to
himself and an embarrassment to his country.' He criticised
preparations by Tony Blair to use his presidency of the world's most
powerful nations next year to lead attempts in tackling climate
change.
Morris described Blair's plans to use his G8 tenure to halt global
warming as 'offensive'. Bush is understood to have objected to Blair
placing the issue at the top of the agenda and to the robust tone of
his recent speeches on climate change.
Blair, however, has garnered considerable international support for
describing the issue as 'the single, biggest long-term issue' facing
the world. According to the network, however, his passion on the
matter is not shared by the British public. A poll it commissioned
claims six out of 10 Britons believe Blair should not implement the
Kyoto protocol if it will harm the economy.
The executive director of the environment group Greenpeace, Stephen
Tindale, said: 'We've been watching how the network employs the same
tactics as Washington neo-cons, now we know they employ some of the
same people as well.
'For years, the tobacco companies blocked action on smoking by sowing
doubt about the science. Esso and its friends have done the same
thing in the US on climate change and now they're busy in Britain.
Global warming is the biggest threat we face, the science is certain.'
Environmentalists believe this week's report will provoke a similar
storm to that inspired by Danish statistician Bjorn Lomborg, who
maintains climate change is not the greatest threat facing mankind
and resources should be spent on more pressing issues, such as
tackling HIV.
Tomorrow's findings echo a number of Lomborg's themes, as well as
maintaining that 'extreme weather' is more likely caused by a natural
cycle rather than man-made. It also challenges assumptions that
climate change will lead to a rise in malaria along with more
positive effects, such as increasing fish stocks in the north
Atlantic and reducing the incidence of temperature-related deaths
among vulnerable people.
Morris admitted receiving money from a number of companies, including
$50,000 from Exxon, but denied the organisation was a front for
neo-conservative opinion. 'I have written about these issues for many
years. If a company wants to provide money, then I'd be happy to
accept it.'
He added that his $1 million budget is small compared to those of
international groups, such as Greenpeace and Friends of the Earth.
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