Misplaced Pages

The Deniers: Difference between revisions

Article snapshot taken from Wikipedia with creative commons attribution-sharealike license. Give it a read and then ask your questions in the chat. We can research this topic together.
Browse history interactively← Previous editContent deleted Content addedVisualWikitext
Revision as of 19:54, 9 January 2009 editGoRight (talk | contribs)6,435 editsm rv: Please use the talk page before reverting again, as is customary.← Previous edit Latest revision as of 05:06, 21 July 2023 edit undoNKEll (talk | contribs)406 editsNo edit summaryTag: Visual edit 
(191 intermediate revisions by 85 users not shown)
Line 1: Line 1:
{{Short description|2008 book by Lawrence Solomon}}
⚫ {{Infobox Book
{{Multiple issues|
{{Unbalanced|date=January 2013}}
{{Third-party|date=May 2020}}
}}
⚫ {{Infobox book
| name = The Deniers | name = The Deniers
| title_orig = The Deniers: The world-renowned scientists who stood up against global warming hysteria, political persecution, and fraud**And those who are fearful to do so | title_orig = The Deniers: The world-renowned scientists who stood up against global warming hysteria, political persecution, and fraud*<br/>*And those who are fearful to do so
| translator = | translator =
| image = ] | image = Cover The Deniers low res.jpg
| image_size = 200px
| image_caption = First edition cover | caption = First edition cover
| author = ] | author = ]
| illustrator = | illustrator =
| cover_artist = Charles Bork | cover_artist = Charles Bork
| country = ] | country = United States
| language = ] | language = English
| series = | series =
| subject = | subject = ]/]
| genre = ] | genre = ]
| publisher = ] | publisher = ]
Line 18: Line 24:
| media_type = Print (]) | media_type = Print (])
| pages = 239 | pages = 239
| isbn = ISBN 9780980076318 | isbn = 978-0-9800763-1-8
| dewey= 363.738/74 22
⚫ | oclc =
| congress= QC981.8.G56 S57 2008
⚫ | oclc= 213837960
| preceded_by = | preceded_by =
| followed_by = | followed_by =
}} }}
''''' The Deniers: The world-renowned scientists who stood up against global warming hysteria, political persecution, and fraud ''''' is a book by ], a ] writer and columnist for the '']'', a newspaper based in ]. In this book, Solomon draws attention to a number of scientists and other individuals whom he considers to have advanced arguments against what he defines as the "alarmist" view of global warming, as presented by ], the ], the mainstream media and other organizations and individuals. '''''The Deniers''''' is a 2008 book by ], a Canadian environmentalist and writer. Subtitled "The world-renowned scientists who stood up against global warming hysteria, political persecution, and fraud," the book draws attention to a number of scientists and others who, according to Solomon, have advanced arguments against what he calls the "alarmist" view of ], as presented by ], the ] (IPCC), the mainstream media, and others. The book is based on a series of columns Solomon wrote for Canada's '']''. It has been criticized for misquoting the scientists it featured.


== Overview== ==Background==
Solomon states that, as an environmentalist and active member of the Canadian environmental, ], activist organization ], he did not originally question the mainstream opinion on global warming or views that ] who reject the ] were paid shills of the ]. Solomon, however, states that he was aware, based on his experiences opposing nuclear power during the 1970s that it was possible, "that scientists with integrity can hold unconventional and unpopular views," by dissenting with the conventional wisdom of the day. Solomon states that at a dinner in 2004, his friend and fellow environmentalist Norm Rubin remarked that the science on global warming was "settled". Solomon challenged Rubin to name three climate-change areas that he felt were settled and Solomon would try to find a credible dissenting opinion for each.<ref>Solomon, Lawrence, ''The Deniers'', pp. 3-6.</ref>
According to Solomon, he began his search for reputable dissident scientists and published the findings in his column in the ]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nationalpost.com/story.html?id=22003a0d-37cc-4399-8bcc-39cd20bed2f6&k=0|title=Series "The Deniers"| author=] |publisher=]|accessdate=2008-07-15}}</ref><ref name="Deniers series">{{cite web|url=http://network.nationalpost.com/np/blogs/fpcomment/pages/the-deniers.aspx|title=Series “The Deniers”| author=] |publisher=]|accessdate=2008-07-22}}</ref> beginning in November 2006. In it, Solomon questions the assertion that the “science is settled” as claimed by advocates of the "consensus theory"<ref>{{cite news |first=Andrea |last=Seabrook |title=Gore Takes Global Warming Message to Congress |date=March 21, 2007 |accessdate=9 January 2009|quote=The science is settled, Gore told the lawmakers. |url=http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=9047642 }}</ref> and attacks the "alarmist" view on global warming. Among the issues raised and alleged flaws presented are the ]; the ]; ] frequency and intensity; the lack of signs of ] in ]; reservations on the predictability of ] and its lack of ]; the ]-]-] controversy; and the alternate ], regarding the ] of the warming being driven by the interaction of the ] wind with ] affecting cloud formation. Each chapter includes end notes with references and website addresses.


To Solomon's stated surprise, he was able to find reputable scientists who Solomon believed disputed conclusions contained in the IPCC's reports on climate change or media reports on global warming issues. Solomon began profiling these scientists in a series of columns for the '']'' under the title, "The Deniers". The series began on November 28, 2006, with its debut article, ''Statistics needed'', describing ]'s ] to the ] on the ].<ref>Solomon, Lawrence, ''The Deniers'', pp. 6-7; Solomon, Lawrence, "", '']'', November 28, 2006.</ref>
⚫ The scientists mentioned in the book are, in order of appearance in the book’s chapters: ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], the late ], ], ], ], ], the late ], ], and the cautious position of the late ]. A brief ] for each scientist is presented. In the final chapter, Mr. Solomon presents his personal point of view on this controversy. At least five of the scientists profiled in the book also appeared in the polemic British documentary ], namely ], ], ], ], and ].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://folk.uio.no/nathan/web/statement.html|title= Regarding: “The Great Global Warming Swindle”, broadcast in the UK on Channel 4 on March 8, 2007|author= Nathan Rive and Eigil Friis-Christensen |publisher=Authors statement on the folk.uio.no site |date=2007-04-27|accessdate=2008-07-15}}</ref>


⚫ By 2007 the series had grown to 38 separate articles. Solomon states that he was frustrated with the limitations of newspaper columns, such as a limit on how much he could write, no footnotes, and no graphs. Thus, Solomon states that he decided to write a book expanding his columns on those he labeled "Deniers".<ref>Solomon, Lawrence, ''The Deniers'', p. 7.</ref><ref>], who was profiled in one of Solomon's columns, "rebutted claims that a fall in solar activity could somehow compensate for the man-made causes of global warming"({{Cite news| author= Nigel Weiss| title = Climate change is chiefly man-made |publisher= ] | date = 2007-02-07 | url = http://www.admin.cam.ac.uk/news/dp/2007020201| accessdate =2008-07-20}}) and ''The National Post'' retracted the allegation and published an apology.({{Cite news| author= Lawrence Solomon| title = Will the sun cool us?: Apology To Dr. Nigel Weiss|publisher= ] | date = 2007-02-07 | url = https://nationalpost.com/story.html?id=17fad0e2-6f6b-41f3-bdd8-8e9eeb015777&k=0| accessdate =2008-07-20}}) Weiss is not mentioned in the book.</ref>
As of July 22, 2008, the American ] store ranks "The Deniers" sales as 712 overall, 4th in both Scientists and Public Policy, and as 6th in ] books;<ref>{{cite web|last= |first= |title= The Deniers: The World Renowned Scientists Who Stood Up Against Global Warming Hysteria, Political Persecution, and Fraud**And those who are fearful to do so (Hardcover)|publisher=] |date= |url=http://www.amazon.com/Deniers-Renowned-Scientists-Political-Persecution/dp/0980076315/ref=cm_cr-mr-title |accessdate= 2008-07-22|quote =U.S. Amazon.com Sales Rank: #712 in Books as of 2008-07-22}}</ref> the ] store ranks the book sales as 145 overall, and as first in ] books;<ref>{{cite web|last= |first= |title= The Deniers: The World Renowned Scientists Who Stood Up Against Global Warming Hysteria, Political Persecution, and Fraud**And those (Hardcover) |publisher=] |date= |url=http://www.amazon.ca/Deniers-World-Renowned-Scientists-Political-Persecution/dp/0980076315/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1216158887&sr=8-1|doi= |accessdate= 2008-07-22|quote =Amazon.ca Sales Rank: #145 in Books as of 2008-07-22}}</ref> and the ] store ranks the book overall sales as 9,743, and as 4th in ] books.<ref>{{cite web|last= |first= |title= Deniers, The (Hardcover) |publisher=] |date= |url=http://www.amazon.co.uk/Deniers-Lawrence-Solomon/dp/0980076315/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1216159708&sr=8-1|doi= |accessdate= 2008-07-22|quote = Amazon.co.uk Sales Rank: 9,743 as of 2008-07-22}}</ref>


Three of those profiled by Solomon in his "Deniers" columns disputed his portrayals of their opinions and/or research. ] stated on his personal website that Solomon's article was a misleading account of his views and reiterated his belief that manmade greenhouse gases are responsible for global warming and that their effects would continue to be felt as concentrations increase. Solanki also stated that he felt that ''The National Post'' had similarly misquoted other scientists regarding the topic.<ref>{{Cite web|author=Sami Solanki|title=Sami's home (Science)|url=http://www.mps.mpg.de/homes/solanki/science.html|accessdate=2008-12-02|author-link=Sami Solanki}}</ref> ] disputed Solomon's 2007 ''National Post'' profile of some of his opinions and research findings. Shaviv stated on his blog that he was never interviewed by Solomon and that there were inaccuracies in Solomon's article, but Shaviv did state that global warming happened but he does not believe that it is caused by man.<ref>Shaviv, Nir, "", ''ScienceBits'', February 5, 2007, accessed 14 May 2010.</ref> ], "rebutted claims that a fall in solar activity could somehow compensate for the man-made causes of global warming"<ref>{{Cite news| author= Nigel Weiss| title = Climate change is chiefly man-made |publisher= ] | date = 2007-02-07 | url = http://news.admin.cam.ac.uk/news/2007/02/02/climatechangeischieflymanmade/| accessdate =2008-07-20}}</ref> and ''The National Post'' retracted the allegation and published an apology.<ref>{{Cite news| author= Lawrence Solomon| title = Will the sun cool us?: Apology To Dr. Nigel Weiss|publisher= ] | date = 2007-02-07 | url = https://nationalpost.com/story.html?id=17fad0e2-6f6b-41f3-bdd8-8e9eeb015777&k=0| accessdate =2008-07-20}}</ref> Solanki and Shaviv were included in Solomon's subsequent book; Weiss was not.
== Why ''The Deniers''? ==
⚫ The term "''The Deniers''" is controversial even among some of those profiled in the book, which often raises the question of why Solomon would choose it as the title for both his book and its related newspaper series. The following two quotes provide some insight into Solomon's thinking in that respect.
{{Quotation|”More important, I am a layman trying to understand, and help other laymen to understand, how we should think about the global warming debate. For us, the answer cannot be to settle the science directly. For the most part, the layman must rely on the argument from authority, including a careful sifting of the credibility of the authorities and the relevance of their expertise to their particular claims for which they are advanced as witnesses.<br/>
<br/>
<br/>
<br/>
⚫ I have been asked many times why I titled my series and now this book ''The Deniers'', in effect adopting their enemies’ terminology. Many of the scientists in this book hate the term and deny it applies to them.<br/>
<br/>
⚫ I could give several reasons, but here is the most important. The scientists are not alone in having their credibility on trial in the global warming debate. They are not the only “authorities” in the argument, and not even the most important “authorities.” Most laymen, most citizens, owe most of what we think we know about global warming not to science directly, but to science as mediated by the media and by political bodies, especially the UN and our governments. We citizens, trying to discern what to do about global warming, must judge not only the credibility of the scientists but of those who claim to tell us what the scientists say. To that end, as you read through this book, judge for yourself the credibility of those who dismiss these scientists as cranks or crooks, and call them ''The Deniers''.”| ], pp.7-8 , in "''The Deniers''"}}


==Overview==
⚫ {{Quotation|<br>"As these rather dramatic reversals for the doomsday view mounted, however, I also noticed something striking about my growing cast of deniers.</br>
The book expands Solomon's '']'' columns about scientists who dissented in some way from the ]. In the book, Solomon ]. Among the issues raised are allegations of flaws in the ]; the ]; ] frequency and intensity; the lack of ]; reservations on the predictability of ] and alleged lack of ]; the ]-]-] controversy; and the alternate ], regarding the ] of the warming being driven by the interaction of the ] wind with ] affecting cloud formation. Each chapter includes end notes with references and website addresses.


⚫ Those mentioned in the book are, in order of appearance in the book's chapters: ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], and an alleged change of position by ]. A brief ] for each scientist is presented. In the final chapter, Solomon presents his personal point of view on the ].
<br>None of them were deniers."</br>| ], pp.45 , in "''The Deniers''"}}


==Reasons for title==
== Book Reviews ==
⚫ The term "''The Deniers''" is controversial even among some of those profiled in the book, which often raises the question of why Solomon would choose it as the title for both his book and its related newspaper series. In explaining his decision, Soloman writes:
On the ], ] said:
{{Cquote| "The Deniers" is a timely, necessary antidote to a political and scientific discussion poisoned by hubristic groupthink and the kind of scorched earth (mis)behavior that inevitably arises when a movement becomes so uncritically wedded to the commandments of a pseudo-religion its adherents would rather destroy their adversaries than risk debating them.|||]|<ref>{{cite news | author= Shawn Macomber| title = The climate change deniers | publisher = ] | date = 2008-05-06 | url = http://washingtontimes.com/news/2008/may/06/the-climate-change-deniers/ | accessdate =2008-07-15 }}</ref>}}


⚫ : I have been asked many times why I titled my series and now this book ''The Deniers'', in effect adopting their enemies' terminology. Many of the scientists in this book hate the term and deny it applies to them.
On ], ] book review said:
⚫ {{Cquote| The "deniers" and The Deniers matter because the book is about the search for scientific explanations for a complex phenomenon by eminent scientists in a better position than most to judge whether a consensus exists on global warming. Their collective verdict, much varied in the particulars, is "No."|||]|<ref>{{cite news | author= Mark Milke | title = 'The Deniers' details flaws in the theories on global warming| publisher = ] | date = 2008-05-09 | url = http://www.canada.com/vancouversun/news/editorial/story.html?id=68c9a6c9-4f1d-4fc8-b330-d26c4b56549a | accessdate =2008-07-15 | quote = }}</ref>}}


⚫ : I could give several reasons, but here is the most important. The scientists are not alone in having their credibility on trial in the global warming debate. They are not the only "authorities" in the argument, and not even the most important "authorities." Most laymen, most citizens, owe most of what we think we know about global warming not to science directly, but to science as mediated by the media and by political bodies, especially the UN and our governments. We citizens, trying to discern what to do about global warming, must judge not only the credibility of the scientists but of those who claim to tell us what the scientists say. To that end, as you read through this book, judge for yourself the credibility of those who dismiss these scientists as cranks or crooks, and call them ''The Deniers''.<ref>], pp. 7-8, in "''The Deniers''"</ref>
A rebuttal was published a week later, by ] saying that:


⚫ : As these rather dramatic reversals for the doomsday view mounted, however, I also noticed something striking about my growing cast of deniers. None of them were deniers.<ref>], p. 45, in "''The Deniers''"</ref>
{{Cquote| The problem is that Solomon's "deniers" don't actually deny climate change. They quibble about the details... Solomon says there are quibblers. He's right. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change says there's only a 90-plus-per-cent likelihood that global warming endangers the world as we know it.|||]|<ref>{{cite news | author= Richard Littlemore| title = Climate change denier at least admits he's playing a game| publisher = ] | date = 2008-05-15 | url = http://www.canada.com/vancouversun/news/editorial/story.html?id=12d547f8-af20-490a-9049-b22c5f2c5df9| accessdate =2008-07-20 | quote = }}</ref>}}


==Reception==
On ], ] wrote:
⚫ In '']'', a book review by ], a senior fellow at conservative think-tank the ], based in Alberta, said ''The Deniers'' "is about the search for scientific explanations for a complex phenomenon by eminent scientists in a better position than most to judge whether a consensus exists on global warming. Their collective verdict, much varied in the particulars, is "No."<ref>{{Cite news | author = Mark Milke | title = 'The Deniers' details flaws in the theories on global warming | publisher = The Vancouver Sun | date = 2008-05-09 | url = http://www.canada.com/vancouversun/news/editorial/story.html?id=68c9a6c9-4f1d-4fc8-b330-d26c4b56549a | accessdate = 2008-07-15 | url-status = dead | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20080612190601/http://www.canada.com/vancouversun/news/editorial/story.html?id=68c9a6c9-4f1d-4fc8-b330-d26c4b56549a | archive-date = 2008-06-12 }}</ref>
{{Cquote| For investors who know that human-caused global warming is hokum, as proved by the new book The Deniers by Lawrence Solomon, this is a supreme moment of contrarian upside promise.|||]|<ref>{{cite news | author= George Gilder| title = When Moore Meets Metcalfe |publisher= ] | date = 2008-04-30 | url = http://www.forbes.com/finance/2008/04/30/telecosm-gilder-intel-pf-ii-in_gg_0430soapbox_inl.html| accessdate =2008-07-15 | quote = }}</ref>}}


A rebuttal was published by ], the senior writer at the climate change website ], who argues that the scientists that are portrayed by Solomon as climate change "deniers" do not deny "that observed global warming is real" but that they in fact rather ] about the tiny details of climate research.<ref>{{Cite news | author = Richard Littlemore | title = Climate change denier at least admits he's playing a game | publisher = ] | date = 2008-05-15 | url = http://www.canada.com/vancouversun/news/editorial/story.html?id=12d547f8-af20-490a-9049-b22c5f2c5df9 | accessdate = 2008-07-20 | url-status = dead | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20140704015143/http://www.canada.com/vancouversun/news/editorial/story.html?id=12d547f8-af20-490a-9049-b22c5f2c5df9 | archive-date = 2014-07-04 }}</ref>
== Newspaper Series ==
In its own words, the ]'s newspaper series, ''The Deniers'', profiles "the ideas and the scientists who do not share the “consensus” United Nations’ theories on climate change and global warming." The series began on November 28, 2006 with its debut article, ''Statistics needed''. That article described the events wherein ] and an "expert panel of statisticians" in a report before the energy and commerce committee of the U.S. House of Representatives concluded that "the assessments that the decade of the 1990s was the hottest decade in a millennium and that 1998 was the hottest year in a millennium cannot be supported." This was in reference to the original ] produced by ] and prominently featured within the 2001 ] ] (IPCC) ] (TAR).


], in a review for '']'', found the book biased and inaccurate. McBean concluded that the book, "Is not useful, nor is it worthy of recommendation."<ref>], "The danger of misinformation: the Deniers is so full of misinformation that it is impossible to list it all", '']'', 34.4 (2008): 37.</ref>
Within about a year the series had grown to 38 separate articles,<ref name="Deniers series"/> which discussed a wide range of inconvenient topics for those who accept the IPCC view of climate change and global warming. These include topics such as the science is ''not'' settled,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.nationalpost.com/story.html?id=7e23a550-9cc4-4697-b730-b2d094f1628a |title=Unsettled science |accessdate=2008-08-31 |author=] |publisher=] |date=2007-03-14 }}</ref> there is evidence of warming on Mars,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.nationalpost.com/story.html?id=edae9952-3c3e-47ba-913f-7359a5c7f723&k=0 |title=Look to Mars for the truth on global warming |accessdate=2008-08-31 |author=] |publisher=] |date=2007-02-02 }}</ref> Jupiter's orbit has a significant effect on the Earth's climate,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.nationalpost.com/news/story.html?id=bfeddc8e-90d7-4f54-9ca7-1f56fadc7c2b |title=Climate change by Jupiter |accessdate=2008-08-31 |author=] |publisher=] |date=2007-11-10 }}</ref> the warming may actually be beneficial rather than catastrophic,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.nationalpost.com/story.html?id=1d78fc67-3784-4542-a07c-e7eeec46d1fc&k=0 |title=Warming is real - and has benefits |accessdate=2008-08-31 |author=] |publisher=] |date=2007-02-02 }}</ref> the role of CO<sub>2</sub> has been exaggerated,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.nationalpost.com/news/story.html?id=0923043c-1302-4ab0-a2c4-58bd90f25552 |title=Limted role for CO<sub>2</sub> |accessdate=2008-08-31 |author=] |publisher=] |date=2007-02-02 }}</ref> the predictions of computer models depend on a lifetime for CO<sub>2</sub> in the atmosphere which far exceeds that which is observed by actual measurements,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.financialpost.com/story.html?id=433b593b-6637-4a42-970b-bdef8947fa4e |title=Models trump measurements |accessdate=2008-08-31 |author=] |publisher=] |date=2007-07-07 }}</ref> and this is only a small sample of the topics covered in the full series.


==See also==
⚫ Some of the those profiled by Solomon in the newspaper series have complained. Through a press release, ] "rebutted claims that a fall in solar activity could somehow compensate for the man-made causes of global warming."<ref>{{cite news | author= Nigel Weiss| title = Climate change is chiefly man-made |publisher= ] | date = 2007-02-07 | url = http://www.admin.cam.ac.uk/news/dp/2007020201| accessdate =2008-07-20}}</ref> The National Post published an apology and withdrew any allegation that Dr. Weiss is a global warming "denier".<ref>{{cite news | author= Lawrence Solomon| title = Will the sun cool us?: Apology To Dr. Nigel Weiss|publisher= ] | date = 2007-02-07 | url = http://www.nationalpost.com/story.html?id=17fad0e2-6f6b-41f3-bdd8-8e9eeb015777&k=0| accessdate =2008-07-20}}</ref> Similarly, ] complains on his website that "In contrast to what is written there I am not a denier of global warming produced by an increase in the concentration of greenhouse gases."<ref>{{cite web|author=]|title=Sami's home (Science)|url=http://www.mps.mpg.de/homes/solanki/science.html|accessdate=2008-12-02}}</ref>
{{portal|Global warming}}
*'']''
*'']''


==References== ==References==
{{reflist}} {{Reflist}}
==External links==
by Lawrence Solomon.


{{DEFAULTSORT:Deniers, The}} {{DEFAULTSORT:Deniers, The}}
] ]
]
] ]
⚫ ]
]
] ]
]
⚫ ]
]

Latest revision as of 05:06, 21 July 2023

2008 book by Lawrence Solomon
This article has multiple issues. Please help improve it or discuss these issues on the talk page. (Learn how and when to remove these messages)
This article may be unbalanced toward certain viewpoints. Please improve the article by adding information on neglected viewpoints, or discuss the issue on the talk page. (January 2013)
This article may rely excessively on sources too closely associated with the subject, potentially preventing the article from being verifiable and neutral. Please help improve it by replacing them with more appropriate citations to reliable, independent, third-party sources. (May 2020) (Learn how and when to remove this message)
(Learn how and when to remove this message)
The Deniers
First edition cover
AuthorLawrence Solomon
Original titleThe Deniers: The world-renowned scientists who stood up against global warming hysteria, political persecution, and fraud*
*And those who are fearful to do so
Cover artistCharles Bork
LanguageEnglish
Subjectclimate/climate change
GenreNon-fiction
PublisherRichard Vigilante Books
Publication date2008-04-01
Publication placeUnited States
Media typePrint (Hardcover)
Pages239
ISBN978-0-9800763-1-8
OCLC213837960
Dewey Decimal363.738/74 22
LC ClassQC981.8.G56 S57 2008

The Deniers is a 2008 book by Lawrence Solomon, a Canadian environmentalist and writer. Subtitled "The world-renowned scientists who stood up against global warming hysteria, political persecution, and fraud," the book draws attention to a number of scientists and others who, according to Solomon, have advanced arguments against what he calls the "alarmist" view of global warming, as presented by Al Gore, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), the mainstream media, and others. The book is based on a series of columns Solomon wrote for Canada's National Post. It has been criticized for misquoting the scientists it featured.

Background

Solomon states that, as an environmentalist and active member of the Canadian environmental, anti-nuclear, activist organization Energy Probe, he did not originally question the mainstream opinion on global warming or views that climate change deniers who reject the scientific consensus were paid shills of the Energy Lobby. Solomon, however, states that he was aware, based on his experiences opposing nuclear power during the 1970s that it was possible, "that scientists with integrity can hold unconventional and unpopular views," by dissenting with the conventional wisdom of the day. Solomon states that at a dinner in 2004, his friend and fellow environmentalist Norm Rubin remarked that the science on global warming was "settled". Solomon challenged Rubin to name three climate-change areas that he felt were settled and Solomon would try to find a credible dissenting opinion for each.

To Solomon's stated surprise, he was able to find reputable scientists who Solomon believed disputed conclusions contained in the IPCC's reports on climate change or media reports on global warming issues. Solomon began profiling these scientists in a series of columns for the National Post under the title, "The Deniers". The series began on November 28, 2006, with its debut article, Statistics needed, describing Edward Wegman's report to the United States House Committee on Energy and Commerce on the hockey stick graph.

By 2007 the series had grown to 38 separate articles. Solomon states that he was frustrated with the limitations of newspaper columns, such as a limit on how much he could write, no footnotes, and no graphs. Thus, Solomon states that he decided to write a book expanding his columns on those he labeled "Deniers".

Three of those profiled by Solomon in his "Deniers" columns disputed his portrayals of their opinions and/or research. Sami Solanki stated on his personal website that Solomon's article was a misleading account of his views and reiterated his belief that manmade greenhouse gases are responsible for global warming and that their effects would continue to be felt as concentrations increase. Solanki also stated that he felt that The National Post had similarly misquoted other scientists regarding the topic. Nir Shaviv disputed Solomon's 2007 National Post profile of some of his opinions and research findings. Shaviv stated on his blog that he was never interviewed by Solomon and that there were inaccuracies in Solomon's article, but Shaviv did state that global warming happened but he does not believe that it is caused by man. Nigel Weiss, "rebutted claims that a fall in solar activity could somehow compensate for the man-made causes of global warming" and The National Post retracted the allegation and published an apology. Solanki and Shaviv were included in Solomon's subsequent book; Weiss was not.

Overview

The book expands Solomon's National Post columns about scientists who dissented in some way from the scientific consensus on climate change. In the book, Solomon questions that the science is settled. Among the issues raised are allegations of flaws in the hockey stick graph; the Stern Review; hurricane frequency and intensity; the lack of signs of global warming in Antarctica's climate; reservations on the predictability of climate models and alleged lack of falsifiability; the Singer-Revelle-Gore controversy; and the alternate solar variation theory, regarding the hypotheses of the warming being driven by the interaction of the solar wind with cosmic rays affecting cloud formation. Each chapter includes end notes with references and website addresses.

Those mentioned in the book are, in order of appearance in the book's chapters: Edward Wegman, Richard Tol, Christopher Landsea, Duncan Wingham, Robert M. Carter, Richard Lindzen, Vincent R. Gray, Syun-Ichi Akasofu, Tom Segalstad, Nir Shaviv, Zbigniew Jaworowski, Hendrik Tennekes, Freeman Dyson, Antonino Zichichi, David Bromwich, Eigil Friis-Christensen, Henrik Svensmark, Sami Solanki, Jasper Kirkby, Habibullo Abdussamatov, George Kukla, Rhodes Fairbridge, William M. Gray, Cliff Ollier, Paul Reiter, Claude Allègre, Reid Bryson, David Bellamy, and an alleged change of position by Roger Revelle. A brief curriculum vitae for each scientist is presented. In the final chapter, Solomon presents his personal point of view on the climate change debate.

Reasons for title

The term "The Deniers" is controversial even among some of those profiled in the book, which often raises the question of why Solomon would choose it as the title for both his book and its related newspaper series. In explaining his decision, Soloman writes:

I have been asked many times why I titled my series and now this book The Deniers, in effect adopting their enemies' terminology. Many of the scientists in this book hate the term and deny it applies to them.
I could give several reasons, but here is the most important. The scientists are not alone in having their credibility on trial in the global warming debate. They are not the only "authorities" in the argument, and not even the most important "authorities." Most laymen, most citizens, owe most of what we think we know about global warming not to science directly, but to science as mediated by the media and by political bodies, especially the UN and our governments. We citizens, trying to discern what to do about global warming, must judge not only the credibility of the scientists but of those who claim to tell us what the scientists say. To that end, as you read through this book, judge for yourself the credibility of those who dismiss these scientists as cranks or crooks, and call them The Deniers.
As these rather dramatic reversals for the doomsday view mounted, however, I also noticed something striking about my growing cast of deniers. None of them were deniers.

Reception

In The Vancouver Sun, a book review by Mark Milke, a senior fellow at conservative think-tank the Frontier Centre, based in Alberta, said The Deniers "is about the search for scientific explanations for a complex phenomenon by eminent scientists in a better position than most to judge whether a consensus exists on global warming. Their collective verdict, much varied in the particulars, is "No."

A rebuttal was published by Richard Littlemore, the senior writer at the climate change website DeSmogBlog, who argues that the scientists that are portrayed by Solomon as climate change "deniers" do not deny "that observed global warming is real" but that they in fact rather quibble about the tiny details of climate research.

Gordon McBean, in a review for Alternatives Journal, found the book biased and inaccurate. McBean concluded that the book, "Is not useful, nor is it worthy of recommendation."

See also

References

  1. Solomon, Lawrence, The Deniers, pp. 3-6.
  2. Solomon, Lawrence, The Deniers, pp. 6-7; Solomon, Lawrence, "Statistics needed", National Post, November 28, 2006.
  3. Solomon, Lawrence, The Deniers, p. 7.
  4. Nigel Weiss, who was profiled in one of Solomon's columns, "rebutted claims that a fall in solar activity could somehow compensate for the man-made causes of global warming"(Nigel Weiss (2007-02-07). "Climate change is chiefly man-made". University of Cambridge. Retrieved 2008-07-20.) and The National Post retracted the allegation and published an apology.(Lawrence Solomon (2007-02-07). "Will the sun cool us?: Apology To Dr. Nigel Weiss". National Post. Retrieved 2008-07-20.) Weiss is not mentioned in the book.
  5. Sami Solanki. "Sami's home (Science)". Retrieved 2008-12-02.
  6. Shaviv, Nir, "On the IPCC's summary for policy makers, and on getting interviewed without noticing", ScienceBits, February 5, 2007, accessed 14 May 2010.
  7. Nigel Weiss (2007-02-07). "Climate change is chiefly man-made". University of Cambridge. Retrieved 2008-07-20.
  8. Lawrence Solomon (2007-02-07). "Will the sun cool us?: Apology To Dr. Nigel Weiss". National Post. Retrieved 2008-07-20.
  9. Lawrence Solomon, pp. 7-8, in "The Deniers"
  10. Lawrence Solomon, p. 45, in "The Deniers"
  11. Mark Milke (2008-05-09). "'The Deniers' details flaws in the theories on global warming". The Vancouver Sun. Archived from the original on 2008-06-12. Retrieved 2008-07-15.
  12. Richard Littlemore (2008-05-15). "Climate change denier at least admits he's playing a game". The Vancouver Sun. Archived from the original on 2014-07-04. Retrieved 2008-07-20.
  13. McBean, Gordon, "The danger of misinformation: the Deniers is so full of misinformation that it is impossible to list it all", Alternatives Journal, 34.4 (2008): 37.
Categories: