Have you seen the headline and front page??? This is the worst case of
climate misrepresentation I've ever seen. I have made a complaint to the
Press Complaints Committee, and urge others to do so too.
Here is my submission:
Please explain how you believe the Code of Practice has been breached
I believe that the item has breached the code of practice in terms of
accuracy.
The article concerns a report by the Inter-Academy Council (IAC) into the
workings of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC). The
report was critical of the IPCC, especially regarding a mistake in data
about Himalayan glaciers. The Express has exaggerated the report's findings
in a way which misleads readers to assume that the IPCC has been generally
untruthful. The IPCC admitted the Himalayan Glacier mistake in January this
year [source:
http://www.ipcc.ch/pdf/presentations/himalaya-statement-20january2010.pdf]
Here are some examples of how the express has misled the reader:
The headline is misleading. "Climate Lies are Exposed". My understanding
of a "lie" is purposeful misrepresentation. There is no evidence provided
in the article that the IPCC (the subject of the article) has purposefully
misrepresented anything.
Express: "THE world’s leading climate change body has been accused of losing
credibility after a damning report into its research practices."
This is untrue. The IPCC do not carry out research, they collate and
re-publish previous research. The report was critical but not "damning".
Express: "A high-level inquiry into the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate
Change found there was “little evidence” for its claims about global
warming."
This is untrue and misleading. The Inter-Academy Council (IAC) report did
not examine the science behind global warming. The report is complimentary
about much of the IPCC's work, praising it for creating a "remarkable
international conversation on climate research both among scientists and
policymakers".
Express: "The review by the InterAcademy Council (IAC) was launched after
the IPCC’s hugely embarrassing 2007 benchmark climate change report, which
contained exaggerated and false claims that Himalayan glaciers could melt by
2035.
The panel was forced to admit its key claim in support of global warming was
lifted from a 1999 magazine article. The report was based on an interview
with a little-known Indian scientist who has since said his views were
“speculation” and not backed by research."
This is misleading. The "key claim" referred to is not a key claim at all.
The Himalayan error was one paragraph in a 938-page Working Group
contribution to the underlying assessment. [source
http://www.ipcc.ch/pdf/presentations/himalaya-statement-20january2010.pdf]
The article goes on to quote Peter Taylor, an "Independent climate
scientist". Peter Taylor is not a climate scientist; he is the author of a
book called Chill refuting global warming.
Express: "Dr Pachauri has been accused of a conflict of interest, which he
denies, after it emerged that he has business interests attracting millions
of pounds in funding. One, the Energy Research Institute, is set to receive
up to £10million in grants from taxpayers over the next five years.
Speaking after the review was released yesterday, Dr Pachauri said: “We have
the highest confidence in the science behind our assessments."
This is misleading. The implication is that Dr Pachauri was accused of a
conflict of interests in the IAC report. He was accused of a conflict of
interests in an article published in the Express, [source:
http://www.express.co.uk/posts/view/156456/UN-climate-change-chief-under-fir
e]
not in the IAC report.
I believe that the article has been purposefully constructed using untruths
and misleading statements and as such it is highly inaccurate.
-----Original Message-----
From: Discussion list for the Crisis Forum
[mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Bob Ward
Sent: 31 August 2010 13:22
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Express Denial
If you want to have a good chortle, have a look at this 'Debate' just
launched on the website of the 'The Daily Express':
http://www.express.co.uk/posts/view/196681/DEBATE-Is-global-warming-just
-a-con-
Apart from its one-sided title ('Debate: Is 'global warming' just a
con?'), I particularly enjoyed the illiterate reference to "loss of
credibity". Well, after all, 'The Daily Express' should know about loss
of credibility!
Bob Ward
Policy and Communications Director
Grantham Research Institute on Climate Change and the Environment
London School of Economics and Political Science
Houghton Street
London WC2A 2AE
http://www.lse.ac.uk/grantham
Tel. +44 (0) 20 7106 1236
Mob. +44 (0) 7811 320346
Please access the attached hyperlink for an important electronic
communications disclaimer:
http://www.lse.ac.uk/collections/planningAndCorporatePolicy/legalandComplian
ceTeam/legal/disclaimer.htm
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