The Great Global Warming Swindle
March 11th, 2007 by Zsofia
Last week, Channel 4 aired a documentary - ”The Great Global Warming Swindle” - which aims to discredit environmentalists and climate change scientists, alleging that they are part of a corrupt, self-centered political movement, whose only goal is to keep research funds flowing. Said environmentalists and scientists are now furious, and the film’s allegations are being debated worldwide.
In the film, “climate change denier” scientists, interviewed by director Martin Durkin of WagTV, argue that global warming is not caused by increased carbon dioxide in the air, but rather by the sun’s fairly inconsistent and unpredictable activity. Plus, we are told that vulcanoes, dying vegetation and oceans release much more CO2 into the atmosphere than industrialisation, so the alarm-raising conclusions of the environmental movement are misleading. The film’s argument that the use of apocalypic messages is a key ingredient of successful civil society campaigns is supported by Greenpeace founder Patrick Moore, who says he left the organisation over a similar dramatisation incident.
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The film is also critical of the environmental movement’s position that - as part of a global precautionary strategy - Africa should not use coal or oil, but try use solar and wind energy only. However, African development workers quoted in the film say these are expensive and unreliable, and will not faciliate economic progress. One of the experts goes as far as saying that the environmental movement is in fact the “main force that prevents development in Africa today”.
Overall rating: To a layman, the film seems to be well-researched and well-argued, although it is striking that the argument is presented in a very biased, one-sided manner. The idea of “balance” and “objectivity” - which on a subject as complex as this would be welcome - were tossed away as if they were unnecessary complications. (Hint: Can be viewed on Google Video, although might soon be removed.)
Update on March 13 - the film has now been attacked from all sides, and the filmmakers have admitted some mistakes. Read the Independent’s analysis on the film’s distortions and errors.
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