'Deny climate change? Then you're as ignorant as those who think the world is flat'

Published on Tuesday 20 October 2009 22:07

CLIMATE-change sceptics are as ignorant as people who believe the earth is flat, according to one of Scotland's most influential conservationists.

Professor Colin Galbraith, director of policy at Scottish Natural Heritage,

also warned that the more people who refused to accept climate change was an issue, the worse the consequences for the planet.

Of the sceptics, Prof Galbraith said: "They also believe the world is flat. I'm absolutely scathing of them. The more people that ignore this, the worse it will be. They should open their eyes. There is evidence all around us.

"It's not about climate change happening in 20 years' time. It is happening now."

The UN Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change concluded in 2007 that it was more than 90 per cent likely that human greenhouse gas emissions were responsible for climate change. This is accepted by all major UK scientific institutions, including the Royal Society and the Met Office, as well as the UK and Scottish governments and informs the 7 December UN summit in Copenhagen.

However, there is evidence to suggest scepticism over the claim that humans are changing the climate is growing. A Cardiff University survey earlier this year suggested one in five people were "hard-line sceptics". Men, people who lived in rural areas, older people and high earners were the most sceptical.

Professor Des Thomson, policy and advice manager at SNH, said he thought it was "dangerous" that people were continuing to question the evidence.

The Scottish Government has set legally-binding targets of reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 80 per cent by 2050.

However, the Royal Society of Edinburgh launched a new inquiry on Monday to examine the gap between the policies necessary to deal with climate change, and what the Scottish public will currently accept.

Dr Jim Buckee, a global warming sceptic who has a doctorate in astrophysics and is a former chief executive of Talisman Energy, rejected Prof Galbraith's views. "Ad hominem (personal] attacks are easier than rebutting arguments," he said.

He also questioned whether climate models used to predict global warming could be trusted. "Anybody who believes models hasn't done any modelling," he said. "The observable data now contradicts the model findings and the models have never been able to reproduce existing conditions."

He said: "Direct observation of nature shows that the ice is coming back, polar bears are very adaptable and everything is within normal cycles."