Photo: Mark Ramsay
In this interview on the BBC Radio 4 Today programme, Justin Webb conflated opinion about the appropriate measures to take in dealing with the climate and ecological emergency (CEE), with the overwhelming scientific evidence that a CEE exists. As a reminder, the UK Parliament declared a climate and environment emergency in 2019.
THAT IS A MATTER OF OPINION, ISN’T IT?
JW: When you say accurate information, I mean it’s just access to what people say about things isn’t it, as well? That’s what worries people, and you obviously have the right to say what you believe about things, but do you accept that other people who disagree with you, including actually Mr Murdoch, but more importantly a lot of other people in this country, also have the right to have those things read, discussed, talked about?
TC: The climate and environmental emergency is not a matter of opinion, it’s a matter of scientific fact.
JW: Well no, here we are you see, because it is a matter of opinion, isn’t it? So for instance, Extinction Rebellion want us to be carbon neutral by 2025, plenty of environmental campaigners think that’s absolutely mad, it would destroy our economy. That is a matter of opinion, isn’t it?
TC: The climate and environmental emergency has been recognised by parliament in May 2019.
JW: Yes but they don’t want to do the things that you are suggesting should be done, all I’m suggesting is that there is room, is there not, for a disagreement, a legitimate disagreement between people about what is going on?
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If you think that this broadcast demonstrates the BBC is failing in its duty to properly inform the public about the urgency and severity of the climate and ecologocial emergency, you can submit a complaint to them online: