Engineering Body Cancels Climate Science Denier Talks After Member Backlash

Phoebe Cooke headshot - credit Laura King Photography
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Controversial talks by a climate science denier have been axed by the Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET) after mounting pressure fromย members.

The IETโ€™s London branch was set to hold two virtual talks by retired engineer Brian Catt from next Tuesday. The first webinar, entitled โ€œWhat controls the climate?โ€, was to be followed on 20 October by โ€œHow climate has changed since recordsย beganโ€.

However, it soon emerged that the speaker rejects mainstream climate science, writing on his website deconfused.com that โ€œtheoriesโ€ about human-caused climate change had been proven wrong over the last 20 years, and dubbing climate science a โ€œreligion, enforced by social exclusion, not byย scienceโ€.

Catt has regularly shared such views from his Twitter account, including information from climate science denial campaign group, the Global Warming Policy Foundation (GWPF).

Despite pressure on social media, the IET initially made no plans to cancel the event, tweeting on Tuesday that the events were โ€œtwo of hundreds of activities organised by membersโ€. It said that the โ€œviews of the speaker do not reflect the views of the IETโ€.

However, the engineering body today bowed to pressure from members who threatened to โ€œresign in disgustโ€, admitting it โ€œfell short of providing balanceโ€ and announcing it had cancelled theย events.


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A spokesperson tweeted: โ€œWe believe climate change is the most significant challenge ever faced and we support the ambitions of net-zero. As a professional body we have a duty to encourage debate on challenging issues even where views do not necessarily align with those of theย Institution.โ€

โ€œFor such issues we would always expect both views to be represented to ensure fair and balanced debate. On this occasion we fell short of providing this balance and have cancelled thisย event.โ€

They added: โ€œWe’re working hard to support the move to net-zero and our recent publication outlines our views across several engineering and techย areasโ€.

Bob Ward, policy and communications director at the Grantham Research Institute on Climate Change and the Environment at the London School of Economicsย congratulated the IET on the decision, saying โ€œit is good that the IET has belatedly decided against hosting a crank lecture on climate change.โ€

โ€œProfessional institutions should be vigilant against promoting this sort of misinformation and propaganda that could damage lives and livelihoods,โ€ heย said.

Earlier this year, the IETโ€™s magazine, Engineering and Technology, published an investigation into British climate science deniers, exploring how groups including the GWPF were taking advantage of a favourable political environment to strengthen ties to internationalย supporters.

Catt and the IET have been approached for furtherย comment.

Photo credit: Glyn Baker/The IET/Wikimedia. Updated 11/09/20: A comment from Bob Ward wasย added.

Phoebe Cooke headshot - credit Laura King Photography
Phoebe joined DeSmog in 2020. She is currently co-deputy editor and was previously the organisation's Senior Reporter.

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