C4 film denying global warming under fire

A CONTROVERSIAL Channel 4 documentary that claimed global warming was not happening has come under fresh attack with a point-by-point rebuttal of some of its key claims being sent to Ofcom, the television regulator.

The 90-minute The Great Global Warming Swindle, described as persuasive even by its detractors, claimed that any rise in temperatures was "mild, beneficial" and not caused by humans.

However, a complaint sent to Ofcom by Bob Ward, the global science networks director at the international consultancy Risk Management Solutions, said the current science on climate change was misrepresented and listed seven examples.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

These include the claim that the world was hotter during the "Medieval Warm Period" based on a graph that ended in 1975, and that volcanoes produce more carbon dioxide than humans. According to one study, volcanoes produce about 2 per cent of the emissions from human use of fossil fuels.

Mr Ward and nearly 40 climate scientists have also written to the documentary maker, Martin Durkin of Wag TV, urging him to drop plans to issue a DVD, which is being marketed as "the definitive response to Al Gore's An Inconvenient Truth".

The letter says the programme "misrepresented both the scientific evidence and the interpretations of researchers".

However, Mr Durkin said: "The reason they want to suppress The Great Global Warming Swindle is because the science has stung them. Look at the mountains of absurd nonsense pedalled in the name of 'man-made climate change'. How many of these people complained when Hurricane Katrina was blamed on global warming?

"This letter is gutless. The DVD will be on sale shortly at a shop near you."

Related topics: