Ofcom Verdict On Climate Change Programme Noted

Met Office (UK)

Met Office has noted Ofcom verdict on climate change programme

The Met Office has noted the judgement made by Ofcom on the Channel 4 programme "The Great Global Warming Swindle", a film that presented arguments of those who are sceptical of man made climate change.

Ofcom's investigation found that that the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, the former Government Chief Scientist Sir David King and Professor Carl Wunsch from the Massachussetts Institute of Technology, were treated unfairly in the programme.

Ofcom has concerns about aspects of the presentation and omission of facts and views within the programme, however it is not within their remit to adjudicate on the validity of a particular scientific view.

Prof. John Mitchell OBE FRS, Director of Climate Science at the Met Office said: "We note Ofcom's ruling today. The Great Global Warming Swindle programme put the message about man made global warming back by 10 years in the public's mind. The Met Office, along with the mainstream scientific community, firmly believes that climate research has captured the essential aspects of what is causing our planet to warm. The Met Office will continue to work to inform and advise that climate change is real and an issue which needs to be addressed."

Meanwhile, Professor Robert Watson, former chair of the IPCC said, "In my opinion The Great Global Warming Swindle inaccurately portrayed the scientific evidence, was not impartial, was unbalanced and totally misrepresented the scientific consensus on the role of human activities in causing Global Warming."

For more on the facts behind climate change go to: http://www.metoffice.gov.uk/corporate/pressoffice/myths/

NOTES

* The Met Office is the UK's National Weather Service, providing 24x7 world-renowned scientific excellence in weather, climate and environmental forecasts and severe weather warnings for the protection of life and property.

* The Met Office Hadley Centre is the UK's foremost centre for climate change research. Partly funded by Defra (the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs) and the Ministry of Defence.

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