Globalisation:International Policy Network: Views on climate change

Views on climate change

“Julian Morris, director of IPN in London, has argued for many years that climate change is a hoax.” In a letter by Julian Morris to the Toronto Star, in response to their editorial titled “Time for the World to Unite on Climate Change” (7 December), Morris states that “Poverty largely results from government policies which hinder people from generating wealth and prosperity. Tragically, the leaders of poor countries invoke the climate change scapegoat to explain hunger, sickness and climate vulnerability.” This is a response to the Toronto Star’s statement that climate change will “ravage our planet, and with it our prosperity and security”. Morris implies in this letter that climate change is not the cause of poverty, it is merely a scapegoat used by governments. Furthermore, IPN argues that “attempts to prevent (or mitigate) man-made climate change are a waste of money. It would be better to let it happen and adapt to its effects.” Critics say that this response if fuelled by donations from companies such as Exxon, who would financially suffer from the actions taken to control climate change. IPN state that, with regards to climate change, “attempting to control it through global regulation of emissions would be counterproductive” IPN argues that attempts to prevent (or mitigate) man-made climate change are a waste of money. It would be better to let it happen and adapt to its effects. The Network published a book this year arguing that "humanity has until at least 2035 to determine whether or not mitigation will also be a necessary part of our strategy to address climate change". Before the Kyoto Protocol took force the IPN funded a poll from which they claimed that 57% of the UK’s population believe the UK should not implement Kyoto if it will harm Britain's economy and 70% believe that Britain should pursue alternative, less costly strategies. They claimed that “studies show that as Kyoto is implemented during 2008-2010, it is likely to harm Britain's economy by increasing the price of electricity, fuel and consumer goods, leading to slower economic growth and higher operating costs for employers, and causing job losses”