08/11/2004

As a taste of what is to come during a second Bush term, an advisor to President Bush on climate issues came out last Thursday claiming global warming is a myth cooked up by the EU to 'hamper American competitiveness.' Myron Ebell, a director at the Competitive Enterprise Institute, told Radio 4 that claims the climate is threatened are "ridiculous, unrealistic and alarmist."

"The whole tissue of argument that makes climate change into the greatest problem facing humanity is based on a long series of improbabilities," he said.

Of course, Mr Ebell neglected to mention that his organisation - the Competitive Enterprise Institute (CEI) - has received $1.5m from Esso since 1998 (see www.exxonsecrets.org) . Faced with international efforts to reduce CO2 emissions from the burning of fossil fuels, Esso has engaged in a covert public relations war intended to maintain controversy over climate change. Since 1998, Esso has given over $12 million dollars to supposedly independet 'think tanks', which use slick websites and professional PR to question the need to comabt global warming. The CEI is one of the biggest of these groups.

Mr Ebell claimed that Britain's chief scientist, Sir David King, "knows nothing about climate science." He said Sir David is an "alarmist" who is "promoting this ridiculous claim."

Mr Ebell might as well be claiming that Elvis is alive and well and living in Croydon or that the Earth is flat. The world's best climate scientists agree the threat is real and growing. It is terrifying that this man is advising the White House on the gravest threat this planet faces. It just goes to show what was at stake on Tuesday, and what was lost. Mr Ebell is a mouthpiece for Esso and should not be taken seriously, but his views are policy in the oval office.

Mr Ebell did not accept the suggestion that the world's temperature has risen more quickly than at any time in recorded history. Asked whether European countries were 'not out to save the world, but out to get America,' Mr Ebell replied, "I think that is pretty obviously and explicitly the programme of the EU Commission, yes."

This kind of idiocy would be a mere distraction if it were not for the fact that Bush believes this nonsense. If Tony Blair really regards global warming as a huge threat, like he says he does, he needs to give the President a dose of straight talking the next time they meet.

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Read more about Myron...

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