Special Report: Networks Hide the Decline in Credibility of Climate Change Science

cru_bldg-180pxBy Julia A Seymour

It’s been a rough five months for the credibility of many of the “leading” climate scientists.

First, the ClimateGate e-mails appeared to show unethical or illegal behavior of high profile scientists and a potential conspiracy to distort science for political gain. These weren’t just a few renegade scientists; in the following months, damning information came to light about the world’s leading climate alarmists and their work with the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), the Stern Report, the U.S. National Climate Data Center and even NASA.

 

Even with the 40th anniversary of Earth Day coming up on April 22, Americans are skeptical about the threat of climate change. A March 2010 Gallup poll found that 48 percent of Americans think the threat of global warming is “generally exaggerated.” That’s the highest in 13 years, according to Gallup.

 

The public’s receding fear of climate change may be related to the series of scandals and admissions that have been uncovered since Nov. 20 when e-mails from University of East Anglia’s Climatic Research Unit (CRU) were leaked. Those e-mails provided “ammunition” to climate skeptics about the authenticity and ethics surrounding the CRU’s work on global warming science.

 

The networks news media were unshaken by the apparent bad behavior on the part of the very climate scientists and organizations whose claims they had pushed for years. Less than 10 percent of stories mentioning global warming or climate change since Nov. 20, 2009, referenced any of the climate science scandals.

 

The first scandal of many – ClimateGate – involved thousands of stolen e-mails showing the potential manipulation of temperature data, a willingness to destroy information rather than release it under British Freedom of Information (FOI) law and the intimidation of publications willing to publish skeptical articles.

 

Read the Executive Summary

Read the rest of this story at Business & Media Institute.

30 Responses to Special Report: Networks Hide the Decline in Credibility of Climate Change Science

  1. Neil F. AGWD/BSD April 22, 2010 at 7:58 pm #

    Wow that pretty much sums it all up.
    So what will Rob post now to distract from discussing this one. A study on how Republicans are decended from pigs, and goats?

  2. paul wenum April 22, 2010 at 9:00 pm #

    Never changes does it Neil.

    • Neil F. AGWD/BSD April 23, 2010 at 5:48 am #

      Well Paul some things do, but some don’t. You know I find it interesting that Rob is always railing against the status quo. But what is the status quo? Is it not the official govt. position that AGW is real, and greenhouse gas emissions must be capped? Isn’t the current state of affairs that everything is going green?

  3. Rob N. Hood April 24, 2010 at 3:56 pm #

    Yes, you are correct, sort of. You see there is a relatively thin veneer of “Green” that has become popular and is being used commercially, for… wait for it…….commercial purposes…! (The exact same thing occurred in the 70’s for those old enough to remember it- and look how long that lasted- a few years only) But that’s ok for a number of reasons, espeically if it helps out things even a little bit. Plus, it does keep the “issues” in (some) people’s minds, which is another positive thing.

    However, all this does something else too. It makes people complacent- makes them believe the issue/s are being taken seriously by Big Business and Big Government, when in fact it really isn’t. And so when the average person buys a certain product that is “Green” they feel good about it and themsleves and go on with all the other behaviors as they always have.

    The thing that keep people like me sane (the only thing sometimes) is the realization that over time some things have changed for the better- almost as if humans are evolving, or learning, or both. I’m talking about the long haul here- decades, not years. Then again I see some things that appear to me to be getting worse- like our political system. And then I have to stop the negative thinking and hope that there will be some postive changes, over time, for that big issue as well.

    Shades of grey guys, shades of grey. That black and white thinking is very unsophisticated. Course it’s probably less depressing…

  4. Neil F. AGWD/BSD April 24, 2010 at 5:46 pm #

    Thin? A thin veneer? Rob, You’re kidding right?

    • Rob N. Hood April 25, 2010 at 7:28 pm #

      I said “relatively” thin. Sheesh. Bust a guy’s chops why dontcha…

  5. paul wenum April 25, 2010 at 12:12 am #

    AS stated before, I love clean air, clean water, etc. I have never used fertilizer at my lake place for which I may be the only one. Been natural for 40 years. Do I chastize my neighbors for their actions? No. That’s their option. That said, don’t tell me or others what I must buy, eat, grow. how to mow my yard without a gas mower, to fertilizer or not, etc. It’s My choice! Change is good if change is thought out before hand with FACTS, before any laws are enacted. Don’t make laws based off touchy feelie!

    • Rob N. Hood April 25, 2010 at 7:20 pm #

      Would you perhaps not be so saintly if/when weeds start choking your lake from your neighbors’ fertilizer and/or the old outhouses surrounding it, not to mention some septic systems that aren’t up to code? What then my forgiving and lover-of-all-things-clean friend?

  6. Hal Groar April 25, 2010 at 11:22 am #

    This article was about the MSM deliberately ignoring the truth about the Science behind AGW. When they sum-up all the problems with the claims of disaster, and how the big three treated the revelations, I gasp at the blatant bias. How can these people call themselves journalists? On a side note, my two children had the “earth day” program at school and I was proud of my 9 year old girl. She said all they did was pick up trash around the school, none of that other monkey business. (Meaning anti-global warming agenda activity’s). I have taught her well.

  7. Rob N. Hood April 25, 2010 at 7:25 pm #

    WHAT?! The schools have STOPPED teaching, uh, sorry, indoctrinating our children about the evils of pollution????????!!!!!!!!!!!!!

    What happened to the Elitist Liberal plan of capturing the minds and spirits of all future humans to live a Socialistic and freedomless life?????!!!!!!!

    Dammit! My promotion to control and lord over Central Minnesota may have been compromised!! What a sad day it is!

  8. paul wenum April 25, 2010 at 11:25 pm #

    Rob, Teachers are still doing what you state. Do you read???”? By the way Hal, congrats on your children cleaning up. Did that in the 50s/ 60’s every Spring. We do have pigs in our society and it will never change.

    • Rob N. Hood April 26, 2010 at 9:15 am #

      No reply to my question above? Why?

  9. Cubanshamoo April 26, 2010 at 7:49 am #

    The Global Humanitarian Forum (closing its offices in Geneva for lack of founds) is saying that between 150’000 to 300’000 people deaths last year were related to the Global Warming. For these lunatics (liberals, a great majority of them) poverty (the real reason of these deaths) is not the answer, but the climate changing. This is why the political argument is using the climate change as a problem in behalf of the poor. Obama is doing so, instead of taking in consideration that poverty is due to the lack of wealth and technological development. When you see things like this I wonder on the importance to expose the fraud of all these believers (scientists), because the core of the story seem to be already imprinted in the head of the politicians as a policy mater.

  10. Carl Stoll April 26, 2010 at 1:09 pm #

    Arctic Plants Feel the Heat
    Global warming is dramatically revamping not only the ice but also tundra and forests at the top of the world, greening some parts and browning others. The alterations could exacerbate climate change
    From the May 2010 issue of the Scientific American

  11. paul wenum April 26, 2010 at 9:20 pm #

    Some teachers, not all, are confusing our children with agendas that are their personal belief. Pro Global warming scare, anti hunting, telling children to be a certain sexual person and teaching same, what to read, not to read, politics to back because they do versus the child’s parents. It goes on and on. If you are a teacher today and you don’t follow the teachers Union agenda you are chastised and looked down upon. It’s not getting any better unfortunately in my personal opinion.

  12. Rob N. Hood April 27, 2010 at 8:41 am #

    Thousands of teachers will not have jobs next year due to budget cuts, due to the massive deficits created by Republicans (and many Dems too).

    So this is probably good news to you. That should help the poor kids with they’re lernin’. Serves those commie teachers right!

  13. paul wenum April 27, 2010 at 9:33 pm #

    Tell that to my Brother! He’s a teacher. You know nothing for what you speak. Check the Dem’s for your next talking point!

  14. Rob N. Hood May 1, 2010 at 3:38 pm #

    I’m talking about nationally, not just in Minn.

    Oh, yeah, sorry, cuz your brother is a teacher, suddenly you’re expert enough on this issue to berate me? Really Paul? You’re old, but you need to grow up some still.

  15. paul wenum May 2, 2010 at 10:35 pm #

    When you have facts, we can discuss further. Blather and excuses are cheap. Hear it everyday. Nothing new.

  16. Rob N. Hood May 4, 2010 at 3:23 pm #

    Excuses? whatever

  17. paul wenum May 4, 2010 at 10:41 pm #

    Saul’s been a good read. Never answer a direct question.

  18. Rob N. Hood May 5, 2010 at 7:05 am #

    I did so above. How can I keep answering if you keep dismissing the answers? Is that Alinsky I detect? Yup.

  19. paul wenum May 5, 2010 at 9:46 pm #

    Your comment about my age gives me a chuckle. My Grandfather that passed away at 99 always told me “Boy, the day you grow up is the day you die.” I live by that comment and I’ve yet to grow up my friend.

  20. Cubanshamoo May 6, 2010 at 2:42 am #

    Paul, take it easy, Rob is only a 13 years old boy, look at his reasoning :-)))) He surely have more than 3 colors in the hair, some nouse rings and one Che Guevara tatoo there… in place….

  21. paul wenum May 7, 2010 at 11:49 pm #

    Cubanshammo, I don’t take it personal. I truly live by what my grandfather said as stated. “The day you grow up is the day you die.” He also said, “Remember,that every day you wake up you are closer to death. Live life to it’s fullest.” I live by his statements so Rob’s comments fall off my back like water off a duck. It’s what you do in life that matters, not how long you lived. I’ve had numerous friends that passed away that never got as far as Des Moines, Iowa and died with money in their estate that is beyond your imagination. In other words, they never had a “Life.” Very sad when you think about it. The old “woulda, coulda, shoulda, but didn’t!.” That’s an American saying by the way. Take care my friend. Later.

  22. Rob N. Hood May 16, 2010 at 4:19 pm #

    Sexist- I may be a 13 year old girl… !

    And Paul you are so full of contradictions it’s no wonder your confused much of the time.

  23. pojoe May 16, 2010 at 9:25 pm #

    More properaganda by big oil and big coal paid by there billion of dollars in profits, you know the call drill baby drill or is it spill baby spill. I hope this oil spill will cost BP billions .

    • Dan May 16, 2010 at 11:21 pm #

      Well I hope it’s quickly contained to limit the environmental and economic damage. I also hope that BP pays for whatever harm they are clupable for, but I don’t wish needlessly exorbitent financial harm to them. Ultimately, corporations rarely (if ever) pay for things. Consumers do. The higher the cost of this spill, the higher the cost of petroleum products for all of us. Think about it.

  24. paul wenum May 18, 2010 at 10:04 pm #

    BP should be liable and will. The 75 Million cap will be exceeded times 10 as a conservative estimate. Should it stop off shore drilling? NO. If a boat sinks, ban shipping?, plane crashes, ban planes? Oil spill and damages, I don’t like it but it happens. Valdez? It’s pristine now. Was it after the spill? No. Things happen beyond our control when you push boundries in science, exploration, space (Challenger) for an example, etc. It is done with R & D for Profit which comes with a huge expense. The bottom line, for the common good of the people. Do We like the environmental damaged? No. Do We want energy? Yes! 70% of American’s lives depend on this resourse. Let’s continue to use it wisely. Of course others will say put up solar that the average Joe like I cannot afford. Nuclear has always been a viable option. Enough said.

  25. Jacob June 21, 2010 at 2:33 am #

    It seems like there is finally some good news with the spill. The Houston Chronicle reports, U.S. ships were being outfitted earlier this month with four pairs of skimming booms airlifted from the Netherlands and should be deployed within days.” Could this be the turning point? For all those feeling pretty gloomy about this situation, I recommend a good laugh… Here’s a funny joke, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N3j7uSbccSc

A project of Minnesota Majority, hosted and maintained by Minnesotans for Global Warming.