Environmental Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
2.5
Climate Sceptic Foundations and Their Websites
Many of the detractors from climate science are supported by organisations with
dedicated websites, such as those of the Global Warming Policy Foundation, the
Marshall Institute and the Heartland Institute. It is revealing to look at the language
used on these sites as well as in publications by their protagonists. A high moral
tone is not unusual, although this typically comes in the form of utilitarian
arguments.
2.5.1
Favoured Modes and Techniques
In many cases, authors and speakers make use of a strategy of ridicule and innuendo
instead of engaging in logical debate when attempting to convince their readership.
This applies, in particular, to those intent on attacking reports of environmental
degradation. It is diffi cult for a victim of ridicule to defend herself. The audience or
readership is drawn as it were into a conspiracy. The speaker or author acts as though
sharing a joke with the audience. A listener tends to feel embarrassed and puts her-
self in the wrong by reluctance to intervene, afraid of being thought a spoilsport. A
leading exponent of the technique is Lord Lawson whom I personally heard talking
scathingly about the notion that carbon dioxide emissions might be called 'pollu-
tion'. The strategy is also used by authors on other environmental issues who regard
continuing economic growth as a prerequisite to a brighter future, for instance,
Huber (
2000
: 5) in
Hard Green
, reacting to a report on overpopulation with 'Thomas
Malthus back to life, torrents of gloomy electrons in the solid-state brain of a
machine'. Authors like Huber tend to emphasise the inventiveness of mankind,
arguing that technology will surely save humanity from any tight spot. Unfortunately,
these kinds of mocking stock phrases are quite insidious, because they tend to be so
eminently memorable.
Others opposed to a relaxation of 'growth as usual' use the techniques of rheto-
ric, for instance, by linking two or more disparate concepts. This is possible by a
process of association aimed at creating the impression that climate scientists and
environmental activists unnecessarily exaggerate the serious character of climate
change. One example is the story woven around the worldwide 'lights out cam-
paign' in Lomborg's foreword to
Cool It
, written by himself (
2008
: xii-xiii).
According to the 'lights out' website, the rationale for the campaign is to inspire
and motivate participants to change their lifestyle, thereby saving energy with the
implication that it might well lead to greater satisfaction in life. Instead, Lomborg
paints a ludicrous picture of families sitting comfortably around a candle - or rather
a forest of candles - enjoying the warm and cosy atmosphere. He then emphasises
that it is a futile exercise, which defeats the avowed purpose of saving energy and
instead generates a great deal of pollution, with candles lit all over the world instead
of keeping the lights on as usual. Here, he makes two assumptions, fi rst, that the
annual lights out hour is solely intended to save energy rather than to act as
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