Climate Change Denial in Canada’s Capital
This week, the Committee for the Advancement of Scientific Skepticism at the Centre for Inquiry Canada released a damning report of climate change denial that has found a home at Carleton University in Ottawa. The 98-page report details every aspect of the pseudoscientific and incorrect conclusions drawn by Tom Harris in the course “Climate Change: An Earth Sciences Perspective” and was produced by a detailed analysis of videos of the lectures lead by Dr. Chris Hassall and his team in Ottawa.
A summary of their findings, available in detail here, is as follows:
1. Climate change represents a challenge to current and future civilisation. Warming of the climate system is unequivocal, and most of the observed increase in global average temperatures since the mid-20th century is very likely due to the observed increase in anthropogenic greenhouse gas concentrations. Schools and universities have a responsibility to ensure students understand the scientific basis for climate change.
2. We describe a case in which noted climate change deniers have gained access to the Canadian higher education system through a course taught at Carleton University - Climate Change: An Earth Sciences Perspective (ERTH2402). These academics are closely associated with a number of organisations that have involvement with the energy industry.