PRAISE FOR CLIMATE COVER-UP
“Absolutely superb—one of the best dissections
of the climate information war I have ever
seen. This is one terrific piece of work!”
ROSS GELBSPAN
author of The Heat Is On
“Through impeccably documented analysis, Climate Cover-Up exposes the well-oiled propaganda campaign designed to manufacture dissent and uncertainty about the science of global warming. It is essential reading for anyone who cares about the future of democracy.”
ANDREW WEAVER
author of Keeping Our Cool: Canada in a Warming World
“A clear and courageous battle cry against
those who, for profit’s sake, would lead us to
environmental and, ultimately, economic ruin.”
LESTER R. BROWN
author of Plan B 3 .0: Mobilizing to Save Civilization
“An important and disturbing book about the lies and
corrupt language that government and industry
still employ to dismiss the facts on global warming.”
ANDRE WNIKIFORUK
author of Tar Sands: Dirty Oil and the Future of a Continent
“To those of us who have been unknowingly made
to turn a blind eye to the terrifying and true facts about
global warming, there’s no time left for ignorance. Please
read this shocking and incredible book, learn how
we’ve been manipulated, get angry, and take action.”
NEVE CAMPBELL
actress and producer
“Climate Cover-Up reveals how strategic corporate public relations, an unwitting media, and feckless scientists have created a rhetoric-driven public conversation about climate change that defies logic and reason. If you are interested in positive social change on climate issues, this book is a must-read.”
FRANKLIND. GILLIAM JR.
dean, School of Public Affairs, and professor of public policy
and political science, University of California, Los Angeles
“Jim Hoggan in this essential book illuminates
our folly, even as he points a way forward with hope.”
WADE DAVIS
author of The Serpent and the Rainbow
“Climate Cover-Up clears the way for a new era of honesty and climate progress.”
TZEPORAH BERMAN
campaign director and founder, Forest Ethics
CLIMATE COVER-UP
THE CRUSADE TO DENY GLOBAL WARMING
JAMES HOGGAN with RICHARD LITLEMORE
CLIMATECOVER-UP
D&M PUBLISHERS INC.
Vancouver/Toronto/Berkeley
Copyright © 2009 by James Hoggan with Richard Littlemore
09 10 11 12 13 5 4 3 2 1
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted, in any form or by any means, without the prior written consent of the publisher or a license from The Canadian Copyright Licensing Agency (Access Copyright). For a copyright license, visit www.accesscopyright.ca or call toll free to 1-800 -893-5777.
Greystone Books
A division of D&M Publishers Inc.
2323 Quebec Street, Suite 201
Vancouver BC Canada V5T 4S7
Library and Archives Canada Cataloguing in Publication Hoggan, James, 1946- Climate cover-up : the crusade to deny global warming/ James Hoggan and Richard Littlemore. Includes bibliographical references.
ISBN 978-1-55365-485-8
1. Climatic changes. 2. Climatic changes—Government policy.
I. Littlemore, Richard II. Title.
QC903.H63 2009 363.738’74 C2009 - 903508-1
Editing by Susan Folkins
Copy editing by Eve Rickert
Cover design by Martyn Schmoll
Cover illustration by Martin Barraud/Getty Images
Text design by Naomi MacDougall
Printed and bound in Canada by Friesens
Printed on acid-free paper that is forest friendly (100% post-consumer
recycled paper) and has been processed chlorine free
Distributed in the U.S. by Publishers Group West
We gratefully acknowledge the financial support of the Canada Council for the Arts, the British Columbia Arts Council, the Province of British Columbia through the Book Publishing Tax Credit, and the Government of Canada through the Book Publishing Industry Development Program (BPIDP) for our publishing activities.
In thanks and as a tribute to ROSS GELBSPAN,
whose early scoops and dedicated journalism exposed the
climate change denial campaign and inspired this book.
CONTENTS
one LEMMINGS AND LIFEGUARDS Keeping humankind from crashing on the rocks
two THE INCONVENIENT TRUTH Who says climate change is a scientific certainty?
three FROM BERNAYS TO TODAY A brief history of private prophets and public lies
four THE AGE OF ASTROTURFING In which industry steals credibility from the people
five INTERNATIONALIZING UNCERTAINTY Taking the doctrine of doubt on the road
six MANGLING THE LANGUAGE Making doubt reliable and science unbelievable
seven THINK TANK TACTICS Moving public policy into private hands
eight DENIAL BY THE POUND Many wrongs don’t make a right, but they sound better
nine JUNK SCIENTISTS An expert for every occasion; an argument for every position
ten FROM DENIAL TO