Climate change sceptics are a group of vocal, yet frighteningly influencial, individuals who appear regularly in the papers and on TV, lining up to deny there's any problem with global warming. However, even though much of their diatribe has been discredited, they're still around. Come out, come out wherever you are climate change deniers; your time’s up. By Jennie Bailey and Owen English.

In 2001 the UN International Panel for Climate Change (IPCC) reached consensus that climate change is real, is happening and that something ought to be done about it[1]. This definitive statement by some of the world's top scientists should have been a rallying call to scientists and economists concerned with climate change. Instead it prompted a movement centred around fighting against the proposed Kyoto Protocol.

When Bjørn Lomborg's book The Skeptical Environmentalist [sic] came out in 2001, it seemed that many other deniers came out as well. The Skeptical Environmentalist argues that global warming is not getting progressively worse[2]. Indeed, Lomborg was quoted two years ago as saying 'gwarming will harm people in 100 years when there will be far fewer poor people. The best thing you can do is make people rich.' [3] So while Bjørn seems to be happy to bid bye-bye to Bangladesh, and other large chunks of the world's fertile land, he's obviously never heard that oft quoted Cree Nation Prophecy - you know, the one about our inability to eat money.

Bjørn Lomborg's work has been highly criticised by many members of the scientific community. This backlash against The Skeptical Environmentalist [4] has included an inquiry made into the validity of some of the claims. There still remain, however, those who even now question the science of climate change. Another tack that sceptics and deniers are taking based on arguments around economics - that we need economic growth in order to 'adapt' to the coming changes. Scarily enough, the arguments about adaptation seem to now admit that climate change could, just possibly, be happening, but say that if it is then it's too late to do anything about it.

These sceptics and deniers still have a talent for attracting publicity[5]. So just who is it that STILL needs to get their heads out of the sand? Featured below are some prominent current deniers who are still making sure their point of view is coming across loud and clear.

Professor Philip Stott

Stott features regularly on BBC Radio 4. In June 2006 Stott had his own series, Sceptical Landscapes, where he put forward his argument that the environment is always changing and that wildlife and humans will always adapt.[6] Inthe past, Stott has come out in support for genetically modified food[7]. He is often referred to as a contrarian rather than a sceptic.[8]

The International Policy Network (IPN)

IPN facilitates the Sustainable Development Network. This group believes that 'sustainable development can only be achieved with evolutionary institutions that harness human initiative, including property rights, contracts, the rule of law, open markets and open trade, and accountable, transparent government.'[9].

The IPN has received considerable amounts of money from ExxonMobil: $50,000 in 2003; $115,000 in 2004 and $130,000 in 2005[10]. IPN's belief that climate change is a myth is similar to the ideology of GW Bush's senior advisers[11]. Greenpeace director, Julian Tindale has concluded that the IPN 'employs the same tactics as Washington neo-cons' as well as employing some of the same people.[12]

Doctor Kendra Okonski

Kendra Okonski is an economist at the IPN. She is their 'Sustainable Development Director'[13] and is also co-ordinator of the deceptively-named Sustainable Development Network (SDN), a pro-industry 'coalition' which is in fact almost entirely organised and resourced by the IPN.[14]

Dr Okonski has worked as a research assistant at the Competitive Enterprise Institution (CEI), an organisation who received substantial funding from tobacco company Altria Group (formerly Philip Morris), Dow Chemicals and ExxonMobil. Myron Ebell of CEI once likened the chance of disaster caused by climate change to that of an alien invasion[15].

Okonski put in an appearance at the 2006 World Development Movement's conference arguing for the 'right kind' of water privatisation. In a recent book, The Water Revolution, this neo-liberal argument is expanded by Okonski. She is adroit at using the language of development agencies to push forward a privatisation agenda[16].

Jeremy Clarkson P(ie)hD

Jeremy Clarkson,a motoring journalist, is probably best known for being the presenter of BBC TV series Top Gear[17]. He is also renowned for his outspoken views especially his attitude toward climate change. Often dubbed 'motormouth' or 'petrol head' in the press;[18] Clarkson believes that tackling other political issues on an national and international level is more important than the issue of climate change.

Clarkson received a honorary doctorate in engineering from Oxford Brookes University[19] last year, amidst great controversy. At the ceremony he was also honoured with a pie in the face by an anti-roads campaigner[20]. This didn't seem to dent his mammoth ego and he still features as a key speaker at various conferences.

References
[1] Climate Change 2001: The Scientific Basis, IPCC, www.grida.no/climate/ipcc_tar/wg1/005.htm accessed 21/07/06
[2] www.lomborg.com/books.htm
[3] Vidal, John (2004) 'Forget climate change, that's the least of our worries, say Nobel winners ' Guardian Unlimited, www.guardian.co.uk/aids/story/0,7369,1331982,00.html accessed 12/01/06
[4] 'Something is Rotten in the State of Denmark', Grist Magazine, 12/12/01 www.grist.org/advice/books/2001/12/12/of/ accessed 21/07/06
[5] Author unknown, 'Toxic Sceptics', New Internationalist, Issue 357, June 2003
[6] Stott Philip, Episode 5, Sceptical Landscapes, Radio4 23/06/07, www.bbc.co.uk/radio4/scepticallandscapes/
[7] Author unknown, 'Toxic Sceptics', New Internationalist, Issue 357, June 2003
[8] www.gmwatch.org/p2temp2.asp?aid=47&page;=1&op;=1
[9] Sustainable Development Network, http://sdnetwork.net/home.php accessed 17/06/01
[10] Factsheet on International Policy Network, www.exxonsecrets.org/html/orgfactsheet.php?id=108 accessed 12/01/06
[11] Barnett, A & Townsend M, “Greenhouse effect 'may benefit man'”, The Observer, 28/11/04
[12] Barnett, A & Townsend M, “Greenhouse effect 'may benefit man'”, The Observer, 28/11/04
[13] www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=International_Policy_Network#Staff
[14] Sustainable Development Network, Sustainable Development Network, Sustainable Development Network, , accessed 21/07/06
[15] www.cei.org/gencon/003,03878.cfm www.cei.org/gencon/003,03878.cfm accessed 13/06/06
[16] P190, Cudjoe, F & Okonski, K. (2006) 'The reality of water provision in Africa' in Okonski, K (Ed.)(2006) The Water Revolution: Practical Solutions to Water Scarcity SDN:London
[17] O'Grady,Sean (2005) Jeremy Clarkson: Clown prince of the petrolheads, in Independentonline, http://motoring.independent.co.uk/features/article312218.ece accessed 12/01/06
[18] Author unknown (2005)'Eco-Psychology: 'Analysing Jeremy Clarkson', The Quest for the Truth, www.thequestfortruth.co.uk/ecopsychology_jeremy_clarkson.html accessed 12/01/06, other sources using the term 'petrolhead' include http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/magazine/4432279.stm the It also seems to be a term that has been embraced by the likes of Top Gear www.topgear.com/content/features/stories/2006/02/stories/08/1.html
[19] Author Unknown (2005) Oxford Brookes Profile on Jeremy Clarkson, https://www.brookes.ac.uk/hon_grads/2005/graduates/clarkson_j accessed 12/01/06
[20] Degree honour Clarkson hit by pie, in BBC Online, http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/oxfordshire/4235742.stm accessed 12/01/06