Climate sceptic's views are flawed
Thursday July 10 2008
This report, entitled 'Nature, Not Human Activity, Rules the Climate', was actually published by The Heartland Institute, in conjunction with SEPP, a group which disputes the prevailing scientific views on the depletion of the ozone layer.
The Heartland Institute is a US public policy think-tank, lobby group and once member of the 'Cooler Heads Coalition', a now defunct global-warming sceptics organisation.
Moreover, the board of directors for The Heartland Institute includes Thomas Walton, an executive of General Motors Corporation -- no conflict there, I see.
So of course they'll say it's nature, and not human activity, that contributes to global warming; on the one hand they're busy trying to sell you a car, while on the other telling you it does no harm to the planet.
Perhaps this kind of biased, partisan "research" impresses Mr Keane; thankfully real scientists deal in facts based on objective findings and evidence.
Your contributor also recommends reading Nigel Lawson's book 'An Appeal to Reason -- a Cool Look at Global Warming'. But this book actually admits that global warming is happening, although he says its economic impact will be moderate, rather than disastrous.
Why would Mr Keane cite a book by an economist that contradicts his frivolous and fallacious point? How embarrassing.
GARY BYRNE
IFSC, DUBLIN 1
