The One That Is Joining The Dots. . .

Isn’t it interesting to see how quickly people’s perceptions change? A poll for Al-Jabeeba shows that ‘Climate scepticism is on the rise.’ This would seem to be a bad thing.

It showed that 25% of those questioned did not think global warming was happening, an increase of 10% since a similar poll was conducted in November.

To be honest, given the hammering that the global warming lot have taken recently, I’m surprised that the increase is as low as that.

Do not forget, dear reader, that this is the BBC we are talking about, an organisation which has a management with a clear vested interest in the reporting of this subject. This is reflected in the way the article is presented.

"More people are now doubters than firm believers."

Look, it isn’t a case of faith, it is a case of the scrutiny of the science. Not since the publication of Darwin’s ‘The Origin of the species’ has a scientific theory been subject to such intense scrutiny, and certainly not since then has one come with such emotive, irrational and (almost, in the case of CC) theistic outbursts. Science is about fact, proven, concrete, bomb-proof fact. Even with my limited knowledge of science, I know that scientific fact is pretty hard to come by.

It is likely that the human race shares common ancestry with the other apes and lesser primates. This is theory. It has not been proven, even now 150 years after the publication of The Origin of the Species, we cannot be 100% absolutely sure that what Darwin suggested is true.

Climatology is such a young science, with such a limited reliable data set, that a good deal of the work is, and can only be, guess work. Anyhow, I digress, back to the BBC agenda.

The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs' (Defra) chief scientific adviser, Professor Bob Watson, called the findings "very disappointing".

Just to clear up any misunderstanding, this is Bob Watson, former chair of the IPCC. That’s the same IPCC who based a publication on an article in a climbing magazine and the dissertation of a student.

"Action is urgently needed," Professor Watson warned.

This is also the same Bob Watson who is the Director of Strategic Development at UEA. That’s the same UEA who were hacked into, or leaked out of, which brought material into the light which seriously damaged the credibility of the whole operation and output.

"We need the public to understand that climate change is serious so they will change their habits and help us move towards a low carbon economy."

WE need? We? Who is 'we'? Or is it, Bob, just possible, just a little, that your whole income and lifestyle is dependent upon us following your decrees without question and being very scared and pathetically grateful?

Still, you’ve got to love the BBC. We don’t want you drawing any links between a Defra expert (who I’m sure we’re to believe is impartial and just wanting the best), an educational establishment with a slightly marked copy-book vis-à-vis the veracity of its output and that output in itself. Or are they just trying to spare Bob’s embarrassment?

In November, the contents of emails stolen from a leading climate science unit led to accusations that a number of researchers had manipulated data.

Hmmm, which researchers would they be then?

Oh yes, the ones that work at UEA, under Bob.

And in January, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) admitted that it had made a mistake in asserting that Himalayan glaciers could disappear by 2035.

Hmmm, and which IPCC would that be? Would it be the Independent Police Complaints Commission? No? The Independent Press Complaints Commission? No? It must the International Panel on Climate Change then.

Oh hang on, wasn’t that the lot that old, ohhhhh, what’s his name?

Oh, yes, Professor Robert Watson, anyhow it was the lot that he ran. They did that.

It’s not a glowing track record, is it?

For the record, I’m sceptical. The fact that more and more evidence is being shown to be flawed at best and intentionally misleading at worst, that sections of the media, academia, government and NGOs are so keen to shut down any debate, or y’know, scientific examination of the evidence, that the IPCC has declared a pause in climate change (is it like a PS3? Perhaps someone’s called, or they need a wee) and actually admitted deception, even though they’ll maintain it is an honest mistake (like the honest mistakes made by Chaytor, Morley and Devine) and the fact that a very profitable service industry has sprung up around the whole idea (I understand there’s some conference or other in India at the moment, how do they all get around? I’m betting they didn’t cycle from Copenhagen) leads me to believe that this may all not be on the level.

On the balance of probability, I think the climate is probably changing. I think it’s getting colder. And that it’s nothing to do with man’s activities. It’s just one of those things.

I’m not a scientist, but people like Leg-Iron and Salted Slug who seem to be proper scientists, with lab coats, test tubes, goggles and oddly shaped pyrex pots with smoke billowing out of the top of bubbling blue liquid, are questioning the quality of the work here. If they’re not happy, then I think the shouting about ‘deniers’ and the like needs to viewed with extreme caution, as it seems to me that that is what you do when you run out of argument.

However, I do know beyond doubt, that we are being manipulated, stolen from and lied to, even if it were all true, it would have been taken advantage of in a most calculated and cynical fashion. Looking at the poll results it would appear I’m not alone. We are now giving our politicians and scientists quizzical looks. Some are even saying ‘Yeah? Prove it.’

The age of deference is well and truly over, as deference can only be replaced with accountability. That’s accountability on OUR terms, not theirs. The BBC will have to catch up, and smartish.