<
https://www.theguardian.com/media/2023/sep/23/rupert-murdoch-climate-change-denial>
"Scientists have described the media tycoon Rupert Murdoch as a “climate
villain” who has used his television and newspaper empire to promote climate
science denial and delay action.
Murdoch’s outlets, including
Fox News, the
Wall Street Journal and
The
Australian, have long been known to promote doubts about the cause and
consequences of the climate crisis. Scientists said this had caused lasting
damage.
Following the news Murdoch is stepping down as chairman of News Corp and Fox
Corp, Dr Joëlle Gergis, a climate scientist at Australian National University,
said: “It’s hard to think of another person who has single-handedly done more
to muddy the public’s understanding of climate change.
“We have wasted decades debating the fundamental science in the media, when we
really should have been focused on urgently implementing climate policies that
will genuinely reduce emissions.
“Murdoch will be looked back on by historians as someone who used their media
monopoly to influence the destabilisation of the Earth’s climate.”
Prof Lesley Hughes, a member of the Australian government’s independent
advisory group the Climate Change Authority and of the not-for-profit Climate
Council, said: “Rupert Murdoch has been extraordinarily damaging.
“He bears enormous responsibility for the world’s lack of necessary action on
climate change. His outlets have actively promoted scepticism about climate
science that has undermined the need to act.”
Prof Michael Mann, a climate scientist at the University of Pennsylvania, said
Murdoch had been “one of the most destructive forces in modern history when it
comes to climate action”.
“He has wielded his global media empire as a cudgel to sow confusion and doubt
about the science and the solutions. He will go down in history as one of the
greatest climate villains,” said Mann."
Via Muse.
Cheers,
*** Xanni ***
--
mailto:xanni@xanadu.net Andrew Pam
http://xanadu.com.au/ Chief Scientist, Xanadu
https://glasswings.com.au/ Partner, Glass Wings
https://sericyb.com.au/ Manager, Serious Cybernetics
