The Greenhouse Conspiracy
Encyclopedia
The Greenhouse Conspiracy is a documentary film broadcast by Channel 4
in the United Kingdom
on 12 August 1990, as part of the Equinox
series, which criticised the theory of global warming
and asserted that scientists critical of global warming theory were denied funding. It is one of the earliest instances of the suggestion of a conspiracy
to promote false claims supporting global warming. Although the title of the program implied the existence of a conspiracy, when interviewed on the program Patrick Michaels
played down the idea, saying, "It may not quite add up to a conspiracy, but certainly a coalition of interests has promoted the greenhouse theory: scientists have needed funds, the media a story, and governments a worthy cause".
Critical of global warming theory
Supporting global warming theory
Channel 4
Channel 4 is a British public-service television broadcaster which began working on 2 November 1982. Although largely commercially self-funded, it is ultimately publicly owned; originally a subsidiary of the Independent Broadcasting Authority , the station is now owned and operated by the Channel...
in the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
on 12 August 1990, as part of the Equinox
Equinox (television)
Equinox was a long-running Channel 4 popular science and documentary programme. The series ran from 1986 to 2001, originally aired on a weekly basis....
series, which criticised the theory of global warming
Global warming
Global warming refers to the rising average temperature of Earth's atmosphere and oceans and its projected continuation. In the last 100 years, Earth's average surface temperature increased by about with about two thirds of the increase occurring over just the last three decades...
and asserted that scientists critical of global warming theory were denied funding. It is one of the earliest instances of the suggestion of a conspiracy
Global warming conspiracy theory
Global warming conspiracy theory refers to an allegation that the data with which the theory of anthropogenic global warming is derived has been tampered with, adulterated, achieved through anecdotal means and/or is being misrepresented so as to inaccurately accuse mankind of causing global climate...
to promote false claims supporting global warming. Although the title of the program implied the existence of a conspiracy, when interviewed on the program Patrick Michaels
Patrick Michaels
Patrick J. Michaels is an American climatologist. Michaels is a senior research fellow for Research and Economic Development at George Mason University, and a senior fellow in environmental studies at the Cato Institute...
played down the idea, saying, "It may not quite add up to a conspiracy, but certainly a coalition of interests has promoted the greenhouse theory: scientists have needed funds, the media a story, and governments a worthy cause".
Contributors to the programme
The film includes contributions from the following individuals:Critical of global warming theory
- Dave Aubrey
- Robert BallingRobert BallingRobert C. Balling, Jr. is a professor of geography at Arizona State University, and the former director of its Office of Climatology. His research interests include climatology, global climate change, and geographic information systems...
- Sherwood Idso
- Peter Jonas - Professor, Centre for Atmospheric Science, University of ManchesterUniversity of ManchesterThe University of Manchester is a public research university located in Manchester, United Kingdom. It is a "red brick" university and a member of the Russell Group of research-intensive British universities and the N8 Group...
- Richard LindzenRichard LindzenRichard Siegmund Lindzen is an American atmospheric physicist and Alfred P. Sloan Professor of Meteorology at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Lindzen is known for his work in the dynamics of the middle atmosphere, atmospheric tides and ozone photochemistry. He has published more than...
- Professor, Department of Meteorology, M.I.T. - Patrick MichaelsPatrick MichaelsPatrick J. Michaels is an American climatologist. Michaels is a senior research fellow for Research and Economic Development at George Mason University, and a senior fellow in environmental studies at the Cato Institute...
- Professor, Department of Environmental Sciences, University of VirginiaUniversity of VirginiaThe University of Virginia is a public research university located in Charlottesville, Virginia, United States, founded by Thomas Jefferson... - Reginald Newell
- Julian Paren
- Roy Spencer - Weather Satellite Team Leader, NASANASAThe National Aeronautics and Space Administration is the agency of the United States government that is responsible for the nation's civilian space program and for aeronautics and aerospace research...
Supporting global warming theory
- John T. HoughtonJohn T. HoughtonAs co-chair of the IPCC, he defends the IPCC process, in particular against charges of failure to consider non-CO2 explanations of climate change. In evidence to, the Select Committee on Science and Technology in 2000 he said:...
- Tom WigleyTom WigleyTom Wigley is a climate scientist at the University Corporation for Atmospheric Research . He was named a fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science for his major contributions to climate and carbon-cycle modeling and to climate data analysis, and because he is "one of the...
- Stephen SchneiderStephen SchneiderStephen Henry Schneider was Professor of Environmental Biology and Global Change at Stanford University, a Co-Director at the Center for Environment Science and Policy of the Freeman Spogli Institute for International Studies and a Senior Fellow in the Stanford Woods Institute for the Environment...
- John MitchellJohn F. B. MitchellProfessor John F B Mitchell OBE FRS is a British climatologist and climate modeller.He was a convening lead author for the first and third IPCC Working Group I reports and lead author for the second...