Leading UK Climate Scientist Challenges Skeptics - Lindzen, Michaels, etc. - To Put Up Or Shut Up

Britain's leading climate scientist has challenged those who question the impact of the human population on global warming to defend their claims that car and factory emissions of carbon dioxide are not heating up the planet.

Alan Thorpe, chief executive of the Natural Environment Research Council, said yesterday he planned to defeat so-called 'deniers', first on-line and later at a public debate. 'We need, very urgently, to discuss what to do now to mitigate the effects of climate change,' he said. 'Yet a handful of scientists, politicians and writers are still claiming humans are not responsible at all. We have got to kill off this notion so we can get on with the real work: protecting ourselves from future climate change. That is why I am challenging these deniers. I want them to outline their case so that it can be judged by scientists. That is something these people have been reluctant to do so far.'

Fiona Fox, director of the Science Media Centre, backed the battle. 'Too often mainstream science is accused of trying to close down debate and stamp on doubters and minority views. By involving sceptics now, we can demonstrate the strength of the scientific consensus.'

Particular targets for Thorpe's attack include scientists Pat Micheals and Dick Lindzen in the US, weather forecaster Piers Corbyn in the UK, British botanist David Bellamy and former Chancellor of the Exchequer Nigel Lawson. All have claimed, in recent articles and speeches, that carbon dioxide is not responsible for the increase in global temperatures that the world is currently experiencing. Bellamy claimed in 2004 that the theory of man-made global warming was 'poppycock' and argued the next year that instead of shrinking, as most scientists believed, the world's glaciers were advancing.

EDIT

http://observer.guardian.co.uk/uk_news/story/0,,1978470,00.html

I used to watch him on nature specials and he seemed to be an advocate for conservation.

Way too many people are calling for the shutdown of those who disagree with the global warming concerns, at times it soulds like a pogrom. Open and honest discussion is required to address the points they raise.

I wonder if we get to watch the online debate?

:popcorn:

EDIT: found the link to the online debate...
http://www.nerc.ac.uk/about/consult/debate/debate.aspx?did=1